1. How has OB technology and workflow evolved over the years?
In the days of analog, camera operators were basically tethered to the camera via cable. Additionally, when doing a remote transmission the production required line-of-sight to the receive site or to a satellite. It took a small army and lots of hardware to make an on-location shoot happen.
A big leap was the advent of digital transmission, particularly COFDM digital transmission that made non-line-of-sight possible. Small transmitters attached to a camera makes so much more sense from the operator's standpoint, rather than running cables. This allows crews to be smaller, and being untethered means better shots from more locations, so content improves.
Today, even small crews are often expected to do everything, including editing stories from the field. Because of this, ease-of-use and reliablity have increased in importance. Time is limited to troubleshoot problems in the field, so a simple, lightweight wireless system for getting a story back to the OB van is required.
2. What are the "must-haves"' for wireless camera transmission?
Customers continue to demand ever-increasing reliability and robustness, non-line-of-sight capabilities, extended transmission distance and the use of a non-proprietary core technology. Ease of set-up and use are also becoming increasingly important, particularly for wireless systems deployed in new markets, beyond broadcast stations. New markets, including the rapidly growing use of wireless in conjunction with UAVs and drones, require a reliable wireless link.
3. Why is COFDM the most reliable modulation?
Unlike other modulation schemes, COFDM maximizes its parameters for uncompromised reliability. In the presence of interference, it does not fail like Wi-Fi or other technologies. The "C" in COFDM stands for additional coding, and thus additional reliability in multipath environments. This makes COFDM a much more dependable, robust modulation scheme. In real-world terms these features translate into superior non-line-of-sight performance in buildings, sports venues and urban environments.
4. What are the benefits of having a fully-equipped OB vehicle as part of the station's equipment?