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MotoGP gets the Gigawave digital treatment
MotoGP and its Official Radio Frequency Supplier, Gigawave, made history in Shanghai after successfully transmitting live digital on-board images on 4 separate channels simultaneously during free practice at the MotoGP Grand Prix of China.
Gigawave’s latest digital on-board camera system, which is also in action at the FIA GT Championship at Silverstone this weekend, is designed to operate without a helicopter, dramatically reducing the cost of broadcasting each race.
Four receive heads were suspended on a construction crane, and the live images were transmitted from the bikes to the crane and then to a Gigawave ‘Flyaway’ receive system, set up in the back of a people carrier.
Sergi Sendra, TV Production Director at Dorna was delighted with the results. He said, “With a terrible old crane, a small van and a clever system, we have achieved your (Gigawave’s) predictions and promises. Last year, at this same spot we were nearly crying, disappointed, depressed…this year we are over exited, encouraged and so proud to be working with a company like yours that believes in the future.”
Dorna and Gigawave will continue to use and develop the system for the live broadcasting of MotoGP races. American rider, John Hopkins was fastest in free practice on the Rizla Suzuki bike, although the Ducati’s are tipped for success because of their speed on the circuits long straights.
Shanghai International Circuit, China – May 2007 |
Chocks away for HD at the Red Bull Air Race
As the Red Bull Air Race World Series took to the skies over Abu Dhabi, SIVision's Technical Producer, Imre Sereg, used a total of seven Gigawave D-Cam High Definition wireless camera systems to film the action.
The Digital Gigawave D-Cam HD wireless camera systems used by SIVision for the innaugural event of this season's Red Bull Air Race World Series were supplied by Presteigne, one of the UK's leading broadcast hire company.
The Red Bull Air Race World Series features 14 of the world’s best pilots, going head to head in a series of sprint races just a few metres above the water. In extremely hot conditions, the strong breeze may have pleased the crowd of 250,000 lining the city’s famous ‘Corniche’but it caused big problems for the pilots, who had to navigate a series of 20 metre high ‘Air Gates’ at speeds of up to 400kph.
In the end, Hungary’s Peter Besenyei beat the American, Mike Mangold in the head to head final by 1.03 seconds to win the first round of this season.
From Abu Dhabi, the pilots head west for the next round of the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Abu Dhabi, UAE – April 2007 |
Digital On-board Camera Images Impress Chinese Race Fans
The latest Gigawave digital on-board camera system made its racing debut at Zhuhai in the People's Republic of China during the first round of the this season's FIA GT Championship.
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The spectacular images were used extensively by the host broadcaster for their live coverage of the race, which was shown on large screens around the circuit. One screen,positioned facing the main grandstand, affording everyone in the Pit Lane a unique view of the drivers in action, during the race.
Gigawave are supplying digital on-board camera systems for all ten rounds of the FIA GT Championship, providing the host broadcaster with live footage from up to ten cars in every race. Each car is fitted is fitted with a miniature camera on a remotely controlled pan and tilt head, which can be used to follow the action both inside and outside the car. In addition, selected cars are fitted with exterior and other speciality cameras headinside the car as well as on the cars exterior. Ultimately, all of this enhanses the viewers race experience.
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Gigawave's involvement with the FIA GT Championship includes sponsorship of the Barwell Motorsport entered Aston Martin DBR9. This is used by Gigawave engineers as part of their test and development programme for the Company's digital on-board camera system. Howver, the people who really benefit from this level of product testing are companies like Total RF who use Gigawave products for their coverage of major sporting events such as the New York Marathon. It is also the same technology that forms the basis of 'RF Extreme' products. These products are manufactured by Gigawave but are exclusively marketed by RF Central in the United States.
In Zhuhai, an All-inkl.com entered Lamborghini Murciélago was the eventual winner. However, the Gigawave sponsored Aston Martin DBR9 took the checkered flag to finish a credible 8th at the end of the Barwell Motorspor't first FIA GT Championship race. As for the digital on-board camera systems - click here and judge for yourself!
Click here to view our FIA GT - Zhuhai Image Gallery
Zhuhai Circuit, China – March 2007 |
It’s Official: The D-Cam is 100% Pasta Proof!!!
Gigawave equipment is designed to deal with most things Mother Nature can throw at it. But we never thought the D-Cam would have to cope with 5kg of pasta being tossed at it by top chef, Jamie Oliver.
The Naked Chef threw the tagliatelle at his support act who ducked out of the way and the pasta hit the camera head on. It wasn’t a one-off either, infact it’s happening daily, without any performance problems from the equipment. The stunt was performed as part of his live cookery tour, which has recently passed through the UK and Germany.
Australian facilities company, Blacksheep Productions, who put on the Jamie Oliver Live shows, are using a brand new Gigawave low-delay D-Cam Wireless camera system to interface with their Sony D50 camera. Both Jamie Oliver and the show's Director, Ben Alcott from Blacksheep agreed that they needed a reliable and easy to use wireless camera system for the show, and knew that Gigawave was a name they could trust. The set was based on a trendy urban open-plan living area and Oliver wanted a cable free zone, meaning they had to go wireless.
Director, Ben Alcott, explains their decision, “the Gigawave system is so simple to set up that it took us less than 30 minutes from the time the cases arrived at the venue to having pictures up and ready to go”.
The wireless system plays a big part in the show, allowing Blacksheep’s cameraman, Tony Marinceski, to follow Oliver as he races round the audience. Indeed the show opens with shots of the chef sitting among the audience appearing on a large 20’x15’ screen. Screen visuals play a big part in the show, with close-ups of the food as well as members of the audience routinely being shown along with witty captions so there was no room for compromise on quality.
During the current German leg of the tour, local chef Tim Mälzer was involved in some stunts. Alcott says, “At the start of the 2nd Act, Tim came out pretending to be Jamie, talking to the audience in German, meanwhile cameraman, Tony Marinceski went backstage with the D-Cam to find the real Jamie tied up and gagged. This was shown on the big screen and the audience loved it!”
He added, “As Director of the show, the D-Cam gives me the flexibility to do this kind of crazy stuff.”The D-Cam will continue to feel the full force of Oliver's pasta throughout his live cookery tour.
Frankfurt, Germany - February 2007 |
Gigawave Digital hits Colombia
Representatives of Colombian systems integrator, Electrónica Industrial and engineers from TeleCaribe and Telecafe have completed their systems training at the Gigawave technical centre.
They are the first Colombians to visit Gigawave and will be responsible for operating the MVL-D2 systems that they have recently purchased.
They were trained in digital theory and also given practical training on the systems and their workings as well as given a full tour of Gigawave’s technical centre in Essex.
The Gigawave Chairman, Henry Barczynski and Operations Director, Steve Rogers presented the visitors with their certificates upon completion of the training course.
Gigawave Technical Centre - February 2007 |
Gigawave Starts in Pole Position with World's first Digital HD On-board Camera System
Warm clothing was the order of the day when Gigawave engineers tested the company's new digital high-definition on-board camera system under simulated race conditions at a bleak race circuit in the UK!
The new Gigawave digital on-board camera system incorporates a single chip HD camera, which was mounted on a remotely controlled pan and tilt head in the passenger seat well of an Aston Martin DBR9 for the test.
As part of the test, cameramen will also be taking the opportunity to put the company’s new digital high-definition wireless camera system in the Pit Lane and Paddock through its paces, prior to the start of this year’s Season.
Gigawave engineers plan to carry out on going testing of the new digital HD camera systems under actual race conditions as part of Gigawave's involvement in the FIA GT Championship and FIA GT3 European Championship.
Snetterton Circuit, England- February 2007 |
BAS 2GHz Relocation Update
Sprint Nextel says that Yuma, Arizona, is the first part of the United States to switch on their new digital microwave gear and use it for electronic newsgathering operations, as part of the BAS 2 GHz Relocation process being conducted by Sprint Nextel.
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As per FCC mandate, all of the broadcasters who use the Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) spectrum for transmitting live news feeds and other applications will have to switch from analog to digital microwave gear that allows them to operate in a new, smaller slice of microwave spectrum. Sprint Nextel, which is receiving new spectrum for wireless services as part of its February 2005 deal with the FCC, will spend $500 million reimbursing stations for the new equipment as part of the process, which is due to be completed by September 2007. |
The conversion process had been bogged down over complicated negotiations between Sprint Nextel and broadcasters over legal and accounting issues, but last spring the two sides reached common ground on several issues. Since then, Sprint Nextel has announced Frequency Relocation Agreements with ABC, Hearst-Argyle and Tribune for their stations, and indicated that the overall 2GHz process is steadily picking up speed.
Gigawave has been collaborating with RF Central, a Sprint/Nextel 'Preferred Vendor' to design and build a new range of equipment that complies with the BAS 2GHz requirements. It is marked in the United States under the name 'RF Extreme'.
Click on the above image to see the advertisment that RF Central are currently running in trade magazines across the United States.
Arizona, USA - November 2006 |
RF Central Hosts Second Digital Awareness Conference
RF Central LLC recently held its second Digital Awareness Conference at their offices in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Both conferences were designed to bring industry experts and engineers together for informational exchange, BAS transition information, and new technology demonstrations.
Emmy Award winning industry veteran, Jim Malone, presided over the event, which included among the technology demonstrations a diversity receiver implemented in a typical urban setting. Commenting afterwards.
The previous conference, in August,proved to be a valuable networking and educational tool to those in attendance. Commenting on the conference, the Vice President of Engineering/TV for Lincoln Financial Media Co., Henry Boze, said:
"The interaction with other broadcast professionals, live COFDM demonstrations, and wealth of information obtained was extremely useful in seeing just how the BAS transition will impact not only our group, but the broadcast industry as a whole."
RF Central, Carlisle, PA - October 2006 |
Dia de la Hispanidad
Día de la Hispanidad.is held on October 12th each year - the day Columbus discovered America. This year, the Spanish State Broadcaster, TVE, used a D-Cam wireless camera system for their live coverage of the important military parade.
This important national public holiday commemorates the historic re-unification of Spain, and also Christopher Columbus's first successful voyage from Spain to the Americas in 1492. Most of all it is a celebration of Spanish culture.
The main event of the day is a massive and vibrant procession through the centre of the capital city, which is attended by members of the Spanish royal family and prominent government officials. Every year the streets of Madrid are abundantly decorated with national flags and lined with thousands people eagerly anticipating the fantastic annual spectacle.
The parade consists of representatives from Spain's military institutions, public services and prominent businesses accompanied by bands and dancers representing every region of Spain.
Madrid, Spain - October 2006 |
Rossi Leads MotoGP World Championship
Valentino Rossi goes into the final round of this year's Championship, at Valencia, eight points ahead of Nicky Hayden who was involved in a disastrous crash on lap five.
Viewers around the world are used to joining Rossi and other riders as part of Dorna's live coverage of MotoGP. However, few people realise that Gigawave engineers have, in conjunction with Dorna, been testing digital links alongside conventional analogue links, this season.
For the Estoril race, Rossi's fellow Camel Yamaha Team rider, Colin Edwards, carried one digital on-board system, whilst Ducati rider, Loris Capirossi, carried a second system.
One of the big advantages of digital links is that one does not need to use a helicopter as a mid-point relay. The advantage of this was clearly demonstrated at Estoril, where adverse weather conditions restricted the mid-point relay helicopter to around 900 feet agl. In turn, this adversely affected the live coverage of those bikes still equipped with analogue links.
In readiness for the 2007 season, a new digital on-board 'fly-away' system was being tested at Estoril. This portable system can receive up to seven channels as well as providing telemetry data. The whole system fits in two standard 12U flight cases that can be installed in a specially designed truck or air freighted to events outside Europe.
Estoril, Portugal - October 2006 |
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