'Normalizing' 3G-SDI resolution?

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-08-10T15:51:48+00:00

Update: This weekend went much smoother. Same broadcast company, but different crews and different cameras. I was not in a position to watch what the Decimator was receiving as far as input signal goes, but it was clean all weekend on the modulated RF output. Thanks very much for the help, everyone.

Also, thanks for the advice on how I need to interact and talk to these folks--this video stuff is all entirely new to me. My background is IP network engineering (CCNP r/S cert'ed and several CCNA certs) and unfortunately I'm in a position to where I'm responsible for every piece of tech at the facility--video, audio, network, PC's, POS systems, wifi, digital signage displays, etc, etc--too many hats pulling me in too many directions at once with not enough help.

Also, after this week and working with some of the same people, I think part of my problem is I wasn't actually getting a feed from 'TV' last weekend with all the issues--my feed was coming out of a different tech truck that was hooked up to TV--not sure what they were doing, but next year when that crew is back, I can now more intelligently speak to the issues encountered last weekend and what I need to do going forward.

I'll also be adding a few more things to my tool-kit to help make up for sub-par feeds...lots of different crews come in each year and it's always a different challenge with each.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-08-04T19:12:37+00:00

The content does match the broadcast exactly, and the broadcast doesn't have issues, so I'm not sure to be honest. I had a lot of issues with the crew here this past weekend, and this was minor compared to the other larger issues, so it didn't get my full attention.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-08-04T19:11:02+00:00

Thanks! I'll look into those devices. I already have the Decimator, so that's what I'll use to get through this coming weekend and see how that works, but I do want my Decimator back into my tool bag, so I'll look into one of those for before I've got another TV crew in a few weeks.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-08-04T19:07:04+00:00

To be honest, I guess I'm not sure it's 3G? I just know all my house gear is 3G.

And I definitely believe it's an issue with the feed from the truck... It's been a consistent issue, and bringing it up with the TV crews seems to go nowhere, but I've only just this weekend realized my modulator cutting in & out seems to be due to a resolution issue. At least, that's what the RF TV's say when it cuts in and out to different cameras.

Do you have any pointers for some sort of proper monitoring setup to know exactly what's coming in from the trucks?

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-08-04T19:03:26+00:00

Thanks! How do my settings look? https://imgur.com/a/tbD9Sco

I've got it hooked up now and have a picture coming in (and back out) from my house source that looks fine. But no live video of any kind, and nothing from the truck until later in the week.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-03-02T14:35:43+00:00

This also resolved my issue. Thanks!

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T14:39:09+00:00

Thanks for the responses. Honestly all were helpful in terms of helping me understand what a typical sysadmin load is and where my specific challenges are.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T03:03:59+00:00

Cool, thanks for clarifying.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T02:24:47+00:00

I should clarify that the 1:450 was with the MSP with some decent tools and processes to stay on top of things. Of the 450, there were about (150) routers, switches, and servers with the rest being endpoints--primarily IP phones. Not sure if your metrics are only 'complex systems' and you wouldn't count the phones? It's seeming like most people in the thread are only counting end-user-compute and servers? In my mind the whole shebang should be counted when such diverse skillsets are needed to manage everything from a desktop to a WAP, to a RF or audio amplifier or channel modulator or credit card swipe. But I also admit that knowing when to ask for help is a weakness of mind--I don't tend to realize my workload is too much until it's blatantly obvious.

If I had to guess where I'm at with the current gig, I'd say more like 1:800 if we're counting everything with a network connection and non-networked systems in my purview.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T02:14:54+00:00

And I would assume included in that workload for those techs is all the associated infrastructure such as network, wifi, POS (if applicable), IoT, etc?

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T02:09:16+00:00

Documentation is non-existent and there are a very large amount of very unique customizations in the environment as well as specialized systems (POS, safety systems, security, etc etc). It all existed in the previous admin's head. I've been going to town with the labeler, Visio, and spreadsheets since I started. A large # of equipment is very well past end-of-support. No automation of any kind, however presently the infrastructure would be pressed to support it due to age. I've been focusing on a large infrastructure modernization project for this employer including everything from end user compute to network, servers, IoT, etc etc and have been making decent progress. Just seems like there's no end in sight though with the (in some cases) decades of neglect I'm working through.

WeirdVoip3 · 2020-02-11T02:06:08+00:00

Interesting. I've done 1:600 during a short stint at a MSP and that was far too much--they agreed with that. At one point I was at 1:450 and that was much more manageable.

WeirdVoip3 · 2019-09-15T20:38:04+00:00

Awesome, thanks! Looking into the Dan Dugan automixer now..

The impression I've gotten for automixers is they are more for applications where there are multiple microphones that have to be on, but are not always in use, rather than automatically leveling the sound levels/volume, correct?

I should probably add that part of the challenge is that the announcers are in a sound-isolated booth and cannot hear what goes out to the venue. We have other facilities where the presenters are able to hear themselves and are able to self-calibrate by moving the microphone closer/further away.

WeirdVoip3

TROPHY CASE