Transmitting video signal to another room

MrBrook wrote on 10/16/2015, 3:50 AM
I realise this is not really the right place for this query but I hope that somebody here may be able to help based on their own experience.
At the school where I work I do the video using all-Sony stuff - HDR-PJ790 camera, Sony Vegas Pro etc.
I have been asked to find a way to simulcast videos from our Performing Arts Centre to other venues in the school for situations when there is insufficient seating in the main venue.
Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Comments

rs170a wrote on 10/16/2015, 5:27 AM
You could go wireless but good wireless isn't cheap.
Look into using CAT 5 or 6 cable and baluns to send the cable in any format (HDMI, SDI, composite, etc.) you want. I think you'll be pleased with the pricing.

Mike
musicvid10 wrote on 10/16/2015, 6:23 AM
The wireless transmitters on eBay don't work and are of dubious legality.
They will also burn your hands if you touch the antenna!!
Standard RF over cable distribution is the way to go.
Dexcon wrote on 10/16/2015, 6:36 AM
Agreed with Mike that hard wiring with Cat 6 and baluns is a solution well worth looking into.

A few provisos though ... depending on the installation based on hardware, 2 runs of Cat 6 is generally recommended for each balun - but Cat 6 is not overly expensive. Retro fitting could be a problem. In my case, our new house was wired during the build after lock-up stage with 3 runs of Cat 6 to allow for future-proofing - mostly, the 3rd cable has been used for internet connection.

You'll also need a video distributor from the source device. The AV experts who did our home install had had a bad experience with HDMI splitters, so be wary if you want to go that way.

We've used a Wyrestorm matrix (6x6), but it doesn't seem like you'll need this type of unit if simulcast is the aim - but a distributor of some kind will probably be needed.

Baluns allow for Cat 6 cable runs of up to 100 metres (if memory serves me right from a few years ago), and enable an HDMI signal to be carried from the distributor to the end balun where it is converted back to HDMI.

But a caution - due to the incredibly restrictive protocols of HDMI, the distributed video and audio standard will be limited to the lowest common denominator display device at the end of the distribution chain. For example, if you're sending out 1920x1080i/p video, and all the TV displays are of that spec except one which has a max of 576p, then all TVs in the chain will display at 576p. Even worse, if your presentation in the theatre is in 5.1 audio, then all TVs in the distribution chain must also be capable of resolving 5.1 otherwise those TVs will probably have no audio or distorted audio. I suffered this fate, and the AV experts confirmed it with Wyrestorm. The resolution was to leave the Wyrestorm default at stereo to cater fir the TVs around the house, and to wire the digital audio outputs from our various AV units directly into the AV amp so as 5.1 can be used in the home cinema. But if all your programmes are 2.0, then this shouldn't be an issue.

It shouldn't be this hard. A millennia of curses to those who designed and developed HDMI standards.

The best advice is to approach a few professional AV installation companies for advice and quotes.



Cameras: Sony FDR-AX100E; GoPro Hero 11 Black Creator Edition

Installed: Vegas Pro 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, HitFilm Pro 2021.3, DaVinci Resolve Studio 20, BCC 2025, Mocha Pro 2025.0, NBFX TotalFX 7, Neat NR, DVD Architect 6.0, MAGIX Travel Maps, Sound Forge Pro 16, SpectraLayers Pro 11, iZotope RX11 Advanced and many other iZ plugins, Vegasaur 4.0

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MrBrook wrote on 10/19/2015, 1:38 PM
Many thanks for these replies, which gave us several ideas. We're meeting with a consultant today.
astar wrote on 10/19/2015, 8:30 PM
This solution may seem complex, but its really not. You can use existing installed network, or you can run your own network cable to each room, and setup your own IP addressing and a simple multiport switch. Network cabling can be run to about 300', and extended to more using PoE, or a cheap switch every 300' feet. Optical MultiMode fiber will reach out to better than a mile, using SFP type networking gear. VLAN can be created on existing network between the rooms required, so as not to interfere with existing network, or for security.

Needed:
MS Encoder 4 (free) plus PC to host encoding

MS IIS (Free for desktop and server) could be on encoder box, or another "server" device.

Client PCs in each room displaying to monitor, portables, or projection.



Simple How-To:
Setup the encoder PC with a capture device for Video feed.

Configure Encoding PC and Encoder 4 to live stream the video input, there is a wizard for this.

Have clients connect to encoder IP/port using Windows Media player or player like VLC capable of playing back feed.



More Complex How-to:

Setup the encoder PC with a capture device for Video feed.

Configure Encoder 4 to live stream the video input to feed IIS media hosting site, there is a wizard for this.

Configure IIS media hosting site to Multicast the feed to a multicast IP address. Optionally configure a Feed Page with embedded player to make it easy for clients.

Configure Site routing and switching to support multicast.

Have clients connect to IIS MMS/IP multicast:port using Windows Media player, or player like VLC capable of playing back feed.



With multicast properly functioning on the network, one feed will service all clients on the network capable of playing it back. Multicast also will not overload interconnecting network links, as chosen bandwidth is properly broadcast to only ports(clients) "listening" to the feed. See Wiki on multicast if this is not understood.
Kazmosis wrote on 10/20/2015, 12:37 PM
I had a gig once where I had to monitor the hd output of my camera to 2 video screens hundreds of feet apart. My solution with the Canon XHA1 was to take the component output (rgb) and adapt it to VGA (computer) cable. It worked great although no audio was needed so not quite what you need.