Adtec Gear Makes for Smooth Transmission During Patriots’ Preseason

Thistle Communications is utilizing Adtec Digital encoders and decoders to provide transmission and engineering support for Kraft Sports Production’s pre-season New England Patriots games this season. Additionally, Thistle Communications oversees the production of the New England Revolution soccer games. The company manages transmission for regional affiliates who take in the feed and then distributes that feed to their own market.

“We did the first [New England Patriots’ pre-season game] last Thursday and it went fantastically,” says Thistle Communications Engineer Manager Josh Greenstein.

According to Greenstein, Adtec Digital units work well with all types of affiliates and vendors’ equipment, and he likes Adtec’s “proven record” of performance.

“The web interface is really a good selling feature,” says Greenstein of Adtec’s mediaHUB-HD 422 encoder,” he says. “With newer trucks like ours, the majority of components can be configured via the web-interface. Some interfaces can be flaky and unreliable, but you can tell that Adtec spent a lot of time making sure theirs is not.”

The six-year-old Thistle Communications has close to 50 clients all over the U.S. that they provide TV production services, broadcast fiber systems, full transmission, and satellite services. The company is also a telecast rental house. Last July, Thistle Communications upgraded their uplink truck with the purchase of two Adtec Digital mediaHUB-HD 422 encoders and an EN-80 multi-CODEC high end encoder.

“The EN-80 is a similar unit but with the modulator integrated,” explains Greenstein. “There is also no learning curve with the EN-80 because Adtec maintained the same interface design.”

“The most important thing since we’ve had these units has been the impeccable customer service,” says owner Jim Thistle. “Our decision to go with Adtec was based on colleagues and clients in the industry. We are a big fan of Adtec. Adtec has been instrumental in getting us through challenges.”

Greenstein adds, “Many competitor companies will only assist you if you have a large quantity of their units and it is hard to get ahold of someone to help with an issue when there are problems. “Being able to get someone on the phone is worth its weight in gold.”