Telecast Releases CopperHead 3200 Transceiver

Telecast Fiber Systems’ CopperHead 3200 is now available. The first in the company’s new Series 3000 family of camera-mounted fiber optic transceivers, the CopperHead 3200 offers an affordable yet powerful mid-range multicasting solution for a range of HD broadcasting applications, including TV news and sports production, electronic cinematography, and multi-camera studio, truck, and flypack field production.

“Since we introduced our CopperHead line in 2001, it has become the industry leader in camera-mounted video transport solutions — enabling broadcasters to extend the power of their camcorders and take maximum advantage of the high quality and reliability of fiber transmissions,” says Jim Hurwitz, director of product management at Telecast Fiber Systems. “The CopperHead 3200 includes significant improvements and a range of products matched to specific broadcasting and film production requirements all at a cost-effective price point never available before.”

The CopperHead 3200 provides a robust fiber optic link between any professional camera or camcorder and the broadcaster’s truck, control room, or video village position. Over a single fiber connection, the system simultaneously transports bidirectional digital (SDI or HD/SDI) and analog (NTSC or PAL) video, as well as all two-way camera control, audio, video, data, sync, tally/call, prompter, and intercom signals between the camera and the base station. In addition, the CopperHead 3200 is the first to feature a 10/100 Ethernet path to provide camera control for next-generation cameras or a remote link to laptops and servers. Because the system transmits all signals digitally and optically, broadcasters and producers are assured of quality video and audio — free from interference, grounding problems, or drifting due to temperature variations.

The CopperHead 3200 camera unit mounts directly to any professional camera’s battery interface system such as Anton-Bauer, “V”-Mount, or PAG. The CopperHead 3200 base station is a lightweight 1RU frame located in the broadcaster’s truck, control room, or video village that provides true plug-and-play operation without requiring any front panel adjustments.

Following the launch of the CopperHead 3200, Telecast Fiber Systems will be rolling out the other members of the CopperHead 3000 family — including a model designed specifically for mobile ENG applications, one designed for budget-conscious organizations (houses of worship, educational institutions, and governments), and higher-end versions for 3-D cinema production and cinema-quality cameras with dual-link requirements.

The CopperHead 3200 has already been adopted by numerous broadcasting and production professionals, including All Mobile Video (AMV), which has made the system a key component in its new HD Tapeless Carrypack system. AMV will be demonstrating the system in Telecast’s booth at the 2010 NAB Show, #C8925.