Germany’s HDwireless delivers complex wireless transmission for Turkey’s Kamera Teknik

The recent Istanbul Eurasia Marathon event, which took place on 13 November, required the implementation of a complex RF plan and the effective capture of images mounted on helicopters and motorbikes. To oversee this aspect of the operation, Turkish broadcasting company Kamera Teknik engaged the services of German wireless specialist HDwireless, which is based in Mechernich, near Cologne.

Kamera Teknik decided in favour of HDwireless to operate with three helicopters: one with a Cineflex camera system, one with relay function, and the third was equipped with a Cineflex camera system and RF relay technology. The two motorbikes were directed towards focusing on the leading runners. The third bike captured live footage from the entire field of runners.

Patrick Nussbaum, CEO of HDwireless, comments: “We equipped two so-called relay-helicopters with receiving and transmitting technology in order to enable us to [still be able to] send dependable images – despite the considerable distance between the bikes. At the same time we procured a stable signal dependability with redundant relay stations in the air.”

The helicopters transmitted the RF signals they received from the bike-cameras as ASI transport streams to a cross-linked antenna-array on the ground. This is where the helicopters also sent their live aerial images of the sports event. For this, the helicopters had been equipped with a gimbal-mounted Cineflex camera system.

In total, HDwireless supplied the host broadcaster with five live signals from the race to the OB van for live transmission on Turkish TV. Simultaneously, HDwireless was responsible for the entire team’s radio communication from the ground to all airborne stations.