Router Project Update
On and off here and there, I've talked about the new equipment we're getting at work. It includes a new routing switcher, console, cameras, etc. It will set us up for much more efficient operation and will allow us much easier expansion into the future. Well, work is moving along briskly now and equipment is being installed! Here's some of the more interesting stuff (click pictures for larger versions):
One thing that our vendor, AVI Systems, recommended that we do is repaint the new control room to bring down the brightness of the walls. In this picture, half of the room is painted in the more medium, neutral grey (left) while the old light blue (right) awaits painting. In the foreground our Avid editing system has been pulled away from the wall to allow the painters access to the walls while we remain operational -- but VERY high from paint fumes!
These are some of the spools of cable that AVI has pulled throughout the building. The white cable is for audio while the yellow is coaxial cable capable of high-definition digital video transfer (4.5Ghz bandwidth). While we currently don't produce in HD, his cabling basically future-proofs our operations and will allow for that in time. I crunched the numbers, and we're installing more than 7500 feet of cabling throughout City Hall -- not including what will be inside the racks themselves. That's almost a mile and a half! When everything is finished being installed, we'll immediately have the capability to route any number of signals to or from our old control room (which will remain in use for tape storage and program monitoring during meetings) and two of the building's conference rooms. We could never do that before.
This is the new console into which all of our new and existing equipment will be installed. Above the lower left four spaces will be a table top that will house our program switcher, camera controller, keyboard, mouse, etc. This console, at its tallest, is nine feet and misses the flourescent light by no more than four inches. Notice the rails on the floor. Because of the room's space limitations, the entire console is designed to slide in and out from the wall behind it. When we need access behind, we can pull it out. Otherwise, it'll sit about six inches from the wall.
These boxes house the actual routing switcher...for now. I included this picture for a very specific reason: The box on the left has a shipping weight of 99 pounds and houses the analog video portion of the router. AVI's staff estimates that the above console is currently about 500 pounds empty, and when fully populated with the router and everything else, the entire stack could weigh up to 2000 pounds! It's a good thing we're on the ground floor!
Finally, more spools, but these are really special. These are two of the three fiber optic cables that will connect our control room to the robotic cameras in the City Council Chamber. The fiber will carry a full digital video signal and all the control information necessary to operate the cameras. They are each 100 meters long (about 328 feet) and cost a bundle. You can imagine the heart attacks we almost had when we found out someone stepped on them! Fortunately they came away unscathed, but we don't want to relive that experience.
More pictures are on the way, including before and after shots of everything. I hope you enjoyed this little tour of our project. Smiles!
One thing that our vendor, AVI Systems, recommended that we do is repaint the new control room to bring down the brightness of the walls. In this picture, half of the room is painted in the more medium, neutral grey (left) while the old light blue (right) awaits painting. In the foreground our Avid editing system has been pulled away from the wall to allow the painters access to the walls while we remain operational -- but VERY high from paint fumes!
These are some of the spools of cable that AVI has pulled throughout the building. The white cable is for audio while the yellow is coaxial cable capable of high-definition digital video transfer (4.5Ghz bandwidth). While we currently don't produce in HD, his cabling basically future-proofs our operations and will allow for that in time. I crunched the numbers, and we're installing more than 7500 feet of cabling throughout City Hall -- not including what will be inside the racks themselves. That's almost a mile and a half! When everything is finished being installed, we'll immediately have the capability to route any number of signals to or from our old control room (which will remain in use for tape storage and program monitoring during meetings) and two of the building's conference rooms. We could never do that before.
This is the new console into which all of our new and existing equipment will be installed. Above the lower left four spaces will be a table top that will house our program switcher, camera controller, keyboard, mouse, etc. This console, at its tallest, is nine feet and misses the flourescent light by no more than four inches. Notice the rails on the floor. Because of the room's space limitations, the entire console is designed to slide in and out from the wall behind it. When we need access behind, we can pull it out. Otherwise, it'll sit about six inches from the wall.
These boxes house the actual routing switcher...for now. I included this picture for a very specific reason: The box on the left has a shipping weight of 99 pounds and houses the analog video portion of the router. AVI's staff estimates that the above console is currently about 500 pounds empty, and when fully populated with the router and everything else, the entire stack could weigh up to 2000 pounds! It's a good thing we're on the ground floor!
Finally, more spools, but these are really special. These are two of the three fiber optic cables that will connect our control room to the robotic cameras in the City Council Chamber. The fiber will carry a full digital video signal and all the control information necessary to operate the cameras. They are each 100 meters long (about 328 feet) and cost a bundle. You can imagine the heart attacks we almost had when we found out someone stepped on them! Fortunately they came away unscathed, but we don't want to relive that experience.More pictures are on the way, including before and after shots of everything. I hope you enjoyed this little tour of our project. Smiles!
posted by Michael Buttgen - The "Barefoot Voice" at
22:37
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