AVS marks seventh Open in a row

2011 marked the seventh year running that AVS has provided RF services to ESPN and IMG for the Open Championship golf. The company provided a total of seven paths of HD RF via Link’s L-1500 HD microwave system in the 1.4GHz and 2.5GHz bands.

Six of the microwave paths were dedicated to ground based handheld cameras while the seventh was assigned to the aerial coverage for ESPN’s 37 hours of live coverage.

AVS also supplied all of the wireless on-course announcer mics and the complete audio effects package, providing ESPN with all of the sounds of the game…and the pouring rain. A RF return video programme feed for the roving announcers was provided. Three synchronous UHF transmitters delivered seamless full course coverage to small hand held monitors.

AVS also employed its second-generation universal camera control system dubbed Silverback, which provides control for virtually all HD cameras via the Link L-1500 microwave unit. Without camera operator involvement, the truck video engineer has full camera and transmitter control via the Silverback which also provides the ability to remotely adjust transmitter frequency and power output levels from the truck.

To free up the camera operators even more, AVS eliminated the tethered transmit system, opting for a camera mounted solution. This permitted the cameramen to work unencumbered by RF video pointers.

After last year’s successful debut, an AVS bunker cam was utilized at the dreaded fourth hole bunker known as The Coffin. AVS customized mounts for its Toshiba IK-HR1S mini HD camera provided an up close and personal view of any unfortunate lies.