Archive for the ‘Systems Integration – UK’ Category
South African Broadcaster M-NET Turn To Gearhouse Broadcast For New HD Integrated Truck
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010When South African broadcaster M-NET needed an HD outside broadcast truck quickly and on budget they looked no further than UK system integration specialists Gearhouse Broadcast.
In the past Gearhouse Broadcast had supplied M-NET with multi-camera flyaway solutions and, based on the service they received on that occasion, they looked to Gearhouse Broadcast again to provide this large, custom-built multi-format trailer.
Andre Venter, Head M-Net Broadcast Services Africa, said: “We were looking for a solution to our outside broadcast requirement and as Gearhouse Broadcast supplied us with three flyaways in the past, which were delivered on time and to budget, we turned to them to assist us with a highly specified, time sensitive requirement for a 28 camera HD OB vehicle.
The vehicle was again delivered to South Africa well within the specified time frame and budget.”
Building to outside broadcast performance specifications
The outside broadcast trailer integrated by Gearhouse Broadcast is a triple expanding High Definition outside broadcast unit that caters for 28 HD cameras and up to three versions of 5.1 Dolby surround sound.
The unit’s lateral production area is large, spacious and air-conditioned, with three tiers of desks, which seat up to 12 production staff.
The front desk houses a 4ME vision mixer and space for 84 monitors. The second desk provides 16 monitors and comprehensive communications, while the third desk provides 32 monitors and comprehensive comms and monitoring facilities.
The third expand provides room for a second desk in the VTR area to provide space for up to 11 operators and a co-coordinator. The unit is wired for up to 12 EVS/ 14VTR.
In the vision area there is control for up to 28 cameras by seven operators, plus an engineering test position. The vision router is 576 x 576 and the audio router is 256 x 256 AES and analogue.
The unit is engineered with a large in/out capability to make it ideal for major events and is also fully air conditioned to maintain a comfortable operating environment even in ambient temperatures of 45 C°.
Take a 360° tour of a Gearhouse built OB truck.
OB truck systems integration services
“We were able to accommodate M-NET’s requirement for an OB truck within a tight deadline and to their exacting specification,” said Eamonn Dowdall, Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast.
“The selection of kit being used for this installation demonstrates that Gearhouse Broadcast can tailor the design to a specific market and budget according to individual customer’s needs.
“I believe Gearhouse Broadcast was selected for this project because of our proven and demonstrable experience in the provision of HD outside broadcast installations. We have delivered many previous high profile HD outside broadcast units in the UK and Europe.”
Gearhouse Broadcast to Deliver Systems Integration Solutions at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010AV Tech and Systems Integration
International Systems Integrator, Gearhouse Broadcast and associate company AV Tech have been awarded the contract to expand the existing broadcast services at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre in Doha, Qatar.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation and governed by the Qatar National Olympic Committee.
As the preferred supplier to the Qatar National Olympic Committee, Gearhouse Broadcast and AV Tech have previously completed a number of broadcast cabling and audio visual contracts at various sports arenas including; the Aspire Tower and Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre, Qatar Sports Club, Al Arabi Sports Club, Al Khor Sports Club, Al Wakrah Sports Club and the Al Saad Sports Club.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre complex consists of 2 indoor training and practice courts with a 130 seating capacity, 14 outdoor training and practice courts, 2 competition courts with a capacity of 600 people on each and a Centre Court with a capacity of 4,250 spectators.
The Gearhouse Broadcast’s previous project at the complex included installing a broadcast infrastructure which covered every area of the club including the field areas, commentator rooms, the stand areas, press rooms and practice courts.
Upgrading existing SD systems to HD
The new installation will consist of installing wall boxes in 2 new courts, upgrading the existing TV rooms SD system to HD, fibre linking all wall boxes and removing the existing TV room equipment, making them safe during building works then reinstalling them in a new complex when building work has been completed.
To complete the installation Gearhouse Broadcast will be providing a crew of 3 Riggers/Wiremen and a Project Manager/Engineer.
Eamonn Dowdall, Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast said, “We are highly skilled in the provision of broadcast infrastructure installations, and in particular, the area of venue cabling having carried out numerous installations in the region previously at prestigious arenas such as the
Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, the Aspire Tower and the previous installation at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Centre.”
“This installation will be challenging because we need to remove all the existing cables and re-terminate them during the re-install. Meticulous planning and flexibility will also be required to deal with the changing client requirements.”
Gearhouse Broadcast provides Systems Integration, Project Solutions, Broadcast Equipment Sales and Rental. With an HQ in the UK the company has regional offices in Doha and Dubai.
Build of India’s First HD OB Van
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010When India’s state broadcaster Doordarshan decided it was time to commission their very first custom-built, high definition (HD) outside broadcast van they turned to Gearhouse Broadcast to deliver the solution.
The newly built van is part of a major investment programme in HD technology by Doordarshan and much of the system building and integration work was carried out at Gearhouse Broadcast’s Watford headquarters.
Following an initial brief from Doordarshan and project managers Agiv (India) Pvt. Ltd, a TATA chassis was shipped to the UK to be adapted by coach-building specialists JS Fraser of Oxford before Gearhouse Broadcast’s team of specialist technicians and engineers got to work. The van was fitted with specialist equipment to meet Doordarshan’s requirements, including: four Ikegami cameras (expandable to six if needed), Canon box lenses, a multi-format Snell Kahuna vision mixer, Marshall/Barco monitors and a Harris Router.
Ten weeks later the van was ready to be shipped back to India for testing and final adjustments, carried out in partnership with a team of engineers from Doordarshan’s parent organisation Prasar Bharati, and it is now fully operational, providing news and sports outside broadcasts.
The arrival of the country’s first HD outside broadcast truck was quite an event and marked by an official visit from Ms Ambika Soni, the Honourable Minister for Information and Broadcasting in the Indian Government.An order for a second van is testament to Gearhouse Broadcast’s expertise and specialist system integration skills, and Managing Director Eamonn Dowdall says: “I believe we were selected for our proven and demonstrable track record in the provision of high definition outside broadcast instillations.”“We have delivered many previous high profile HD outside broadcast units in the UK and Europe and now Doordarshan’s high definition van raises the bar for standards in Indian broadcasting and sets a benchmark for other to follow.”
Zoom in on new Gearhouse Broadcast Website!
Thursday, April 29th, 2010As one of the market-leading international broadcast service companies, Gearhouse Broadcast required a website capable of showcasing everything we do and all the latest developments in each sector we operate in across the globe.
Gearhouse Broadcast recently teamed up with web design and online solutions specialists Optix Solutions, to develop a new web presence capable of keeping up with the demands of such a fast-moving industry, and we are pleased to announce the new site went live this month.
Optix Solutions were charged with creating a website that is truly easy to use, quick to navigate and flexible enough to be adapted to reflect every important development in the broadcast world on a daily basis.
At the same time it highlights all the products and services available from our Sales, Rental, System Integration and Project Management departments worldwide, as well as latest company and industry news.
“We wanted a site that is not only simple and satisfying to use and lets people know what we have to offer but that also reflects our position and gravitas within the industry,” said Eamonn Dowdall,Managing Director at Gearhouse Broadcast.
“Given the business we are in it wouldn’t be right to rely on a dull static site that didn’t give the visitor a feel for just what an exciting, technical business we are in. We are absolutely delighted with the result and believe our customers and visitors will be too.”
At the click of a mouse you can check out the latest outside broadcast truck being built at our UK headquarters, what cameras are available for rent in Australia, product sales in Doha or project solutions in India.
With so much to cover, it was vital that the site was designed to be as easy as possible to navigate, to take the visitor where they want to go quickly and efficiently.
We have incorporated a specifically designed filtered search facility which enables the visitor to, for instance, find a product by type, condition (new or used) or brand. In the near future you’ll be able to bid for an ex-rental or excess stock bargain via e-auction.
Case studies are used to introduce the sheer scope of the projects that Gearhouse Broadcast are involved in day in, day out.
Visitors are offered detailed insights into everything from the technology Gearhouse Broadcast supplies to bring ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ from the Australian rainforest to our living rooms to the creation of India’s state broadcaster Doordarshan’s first custom-built outside broadcast truck.
Specially incorporated 360° panoramic image technology allows the visitor to take a virtual tour of everything from the VTR and audio set up in a HD (High Definition) outside broadcast truck to the wiring and cabling that makes it all work.