Here's how one company delivers smooth video streaming in the world's harshest environments

Here's how one company delivers smooth video streaming in the world's harshest environments

At first glance, the military and sports broadcasting industries have very little in common. However, one of the ways the two overlap is the need to deliver high-quality, real-time video streams without interruptions. As you can imagine, achieving this level of quality and consistency is no small feat. This requires a range of terrestrial microwave, satellite, fiber optic and wireless communication systems, all of which must work in harmony. To learn more about streaming video to and from the world's most remote and harsh environments, the demands of streaming live sports and more, TechRadar Pro spoke with Mickey Miller, CEO of Vislink.

Vislink (VISL) is the world leader in the development, use and management of wireless technology for live video communications for the live production, military government and satellite markets. For broadcast markets, Vislink offers solutions for collecting live news, sports, and major TV entertainment events. Vislink also provides the defense and public safety markets with real-time video intelligence solutions using a variety of custom transmission products. Vislink Professional and Technical Services employs a team of technology experts with decades of applied knowledge and real-world experience in the areas of terrestrial microwave, satellite, fiber optic, surveillance and monitoring systems. wireless communication, to provide a wide range of customer solutions. Our products include wireless TV camera systems for sporting events, satellite uplinks, and helicopter or drone video transmission systems for public safety, first responders, and military. Our case studies illustrate our leadership role in strengthening fan engagement at the London Marathon, MotoGP, NHL, Volvo Ocean Race and other events. The cases also highlight our solutions, which enable first responders and law enforcement to protect, serve, and carry out their missions as efficiently and safely as possible with the actionable intelligence we provide. they are able to provide them, whatever the circumstances, as our work illustrates. with the London Fire Department, Tucson Police Department, London Metropolitan Police and the London Counter Terrorism Unit. For law enforcement and the military, speed of reaction and the ability to take decisive action based on reliable information are essential. Vislink's leadership position in the live TV events industry can be directly utilized in lifesaving technology for public safety organizations. Our ability to deliver crystal-clear images for high-end wireless TV events, like the Olympics, and to deliver that video with just a few milliseconds of delay, can be directly applied to MilGov applications to deliver information. clear and immediate. During the COVID-19 crisis, first responders and law enforcement are tasked with securing large areas, both metropolitan and rural. This is an extremely difficult task and increases the demand for rapid and effective interventions to ensure public safety. As a core business, Vislink supports first responders and law enforcement by staying operational, providing and maintaining critical communications. We continue to deliver fast, actionable intelligence to first responders around the world, both on the ground and in the air, instead of these teams having to rely solely on voice communication between individuals. Vislink wireless systems are designed to perform in uncertain environments. In fact, while many transmission systems often struggle to maintain reliable transmission in the urban and reflective environments where our systems are often deployed, Vislink systems advantageously utilize multiple reflected radio paths with proven diversity reception and high reliability. . powerful error correction technology. as in our LMS-T modulation scheme.

How do you make sure that the quality of the video stream stays high and is not interrupted?

Vislink offers excellent RF range and robustness by combining video compression technology and sophisticated RF modulation techniques. By using highly efficient video compression, we are able to provide superior video quality over an RF link with robust modulation and strong error correction. For example, our latest HCAM wireless camera transmitter uses Vislink's HEVC video compression and LMS-T modulation to deliver up to twice the RF range of our previous generation products. RF bandwidth is an extremely valuable commodity. There are more and more frequency assignment requests for all kinds of applications. At Vislink, we find that our customers ask us to help them with this very problem. We respond with more bandwidth efficient solutions so they can find a niche in the available spectrum for their needs and get more out of the bandwidth they already have. We have recently implemented enhancements to racing systems where we have seen a growing demand to increase the number of vehicles with on-board cameras, as well as more cameras on these vehicles to provide an increasingly immersive visual experience. the viewer at home. Vislink solves the pressure on RF bandwidth due to the increased number of cameras by using more efficient HEVC compression. We even implement premium 4K UHD RF camera feeds for select vehicles.

What measures are in place to ensure that sensitive video content is not intercepted?

Whether Vislink's systems meet military or public safety needs where lives are at stake, or deliver stunning quality image content for high-profile sporting events, where broadcast rights are worth millions. dollars: content security is paramount. Vislink's systems feature fully integrated, industry-certified transmission security technology to ensure image content remains private. The world has changed under the COVID-19 pandemic. People have adapted the way they work to deliver essential services to the public, whether it's maintaining public safety or providing TV entertainment that revives the monotony of lockdowns. Vislink has found a safe way to continue working and developing solutions. Our television production clients have had to make drastic changes to the way they produce their programming under blackout conditions. Vislink solutions have been implemented in new ways to aid remote production techniques, and our wireless camera systems have been instrumental in deeply engaging viewers at sporting events, delivering immersive views from camera to camera. heart of the action so that the television audience can be there. without being physically in the stadium. In fact, our white paper - Being There Without Being There - delves into the business of sports and live events, and how our technology is bringing fun, escape, and a sense of community that belongs to millions of people around the world in this times. difficult. The viewing dynamics in the way we consume content have really changed in recent years. Customers are engaging more through social media and companion devices on the big screen. These additional services are driving the use of our wireless camera systems into a new normal. Take a look at the content of a sporting event being shared on social media – from your point of view, fast-paced, immersive cam action content is what drives engagement on social media and is precisely what they enable our wireless systems. Therefore, in addition to wireless camera transmitters that are suitable for shoulder-worn cameras, Vislink is now a leader in miniature transmitters that can be mounted on drones or as part of body-worn camera systems. . bodies that really take the viewer into the heat of the action.

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