Broadcast Systems Integration
+44 (0)7887 673 702
Broadcast Systems Integration
+44 (0)7887 673 702
Practical knowledge, technical tips, equipment reviews and lessons learned from more than 30 years working in broadcast and post-production.
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The TS100 is light and powerful, with a digital display letting you know what temperature the iron is at. You can set the device for three preset temperatures and it can go up to 400ยฐC, and can be powered from a USBC cable.
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Recently, we were on site and needed to make up some D-Sub 9 pin cables for remote control of some BlackMagic Hyperdeck disk recorders. Unfortunately we were prohibited from soldering on site. So I purchased a crimp tool and pins from Canford Audio Limited.
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Looking at three different ways to wire an XLR, some for speed, and some for prestige
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If you have a smartphone, you can test whether a fuse is broken or not. Simply touch one end of the fuse and put the other end on the screen. If the screen still reacts the fuse is in tact, and if you dont get a signal the fuse is broken.
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A quick reminder that when installing equipment in to broadcast racks, ๐ฐ๐ป๐๐ฐ๐๐ screw in the ๐ฑ๐พ๐๐๐พ๐ผ rack bolts first. The weight of the kit will cause it to cantilever backwards pushing the rack ears flat to the rack strip.
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For all of those who terminate audio cables, the use of hellerman sleeving, [otherwise known as symol sleeving] is a must to ensure the screen is protected. Normally, I would use a pair of snips to cut 25mm lengths of sleeving, but here is a trick that a wireman showed me over 15 years ago. And I thought I would share.
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Here's a little trick to check if you re getting a Video Sync Reference ( Black & burst ) signal. As it is an analogue signal, rather than a digital on the voltage of the signal varies with time between 0V and 1V from sync tip to the highest video signal. This appears as an oscillating signal if you look closely on an oscilloscope.
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not all 1/4" jacks are made equal
GPO connectors are similar to the standard ยผ" jack we're all familiar with, but there are some surprisingly important differences.
If you look at this picture of the CAT6 cable with its four twisted pairs, you will notice that they have different twists, with the blue pair wound much tighter than say the brown pair. In fact they all have different twists rates [ how many twists per metre ]
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" โAn article for junior and non-technical staff, who might be perplexed when they first come into contact with rackstrip, trying to install equipment in a rack"
READChoosing the right type of cable for your next network project, and more importantly making sure they are installed and tested to comply with the standard
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How MTPยฎ/MPO helped us simplify a high-density fibre installation, and reduce the amount of cabling needed.
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" Here I describe a recent broadcast facility build which became destined to fail, until we hired Darryl Easton, who calmly steered the ship back on course. Well he is an ex Navy man after all ! Read how his broadcast project management skills prove invaluable in our technical delivery "
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" Here I describe the installation of SMPTE cabling for the Roundhouse music venue to enable them to record video as well as the sound
READ" Here I describe how we managed to relocate a trasmission company who are ON-AIR 24 hours a day, every day !!"
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" RS422 are you sure ? Great to re-connect with my old friend Lloyd Summers at Iron Mountain Entertainment Services to produce an additional machine room to double their ingest capabilities "
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Absolute CAD design a revolutionary curved machine room for Premier PR as they take over the iconic DUBBS archiving facility
READ"We work with a range of specialist partners and know from experience that itโs all about collaborating with the best people in the business, so we thought that we would delve into the working life of some of our key partners.The first person featured in our occasional series is the superbly organised Mike Watson, founder and Technical Director of Absolute CAD"
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I thought I'd review this amazing little camera fibre interface from MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems.
Having installed mostly SMPTE camera studios, I was invited to install one with these MultiDyne V6 camera fibre converters. Even thought these small units are only 1/3 rack width and 1U high, they are really powerful converters
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I just wanted to give a big shout out to Penn Elcom for their new and improved panel designer tool. I tried it a few years ago, and it was a little clunky, but they have completely revamped it, and I absolutely love it . I thought I would try it out and had one manufactured, which turned up yesterday, and it looks fabulous.
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I'm sure you are all familiar with Neutrik XLRs, often the preferred connector for professional audio cables. But here are the Canford Audio Limited XLRs, that we tried for the first time on a new 7.1 studio this month. They arrived in a handy little box of 20, and were in simple to open wrappers, pre-assembled.
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Weโve recently integrated a number of Barnfind COLOUR units into a new installation. These compact half width boxes are designed to convert a range of signals to fibre, allowing them to be extended over long distances.
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So on the Canford Audio Limited website I saw a labelling software solution called PATCHCAD 3 PRO Patchbay Design and Labelling Software. It was a modestly priced at ยฃ65, so thought I'd give it a try. After downloading and having a play with it, I was converted
