The new Endura Elite batteries from IDX have helped equipment rental specialists Charter Broadcast to offer an unparalleled service in what has been billed as the busiest ever weekend of HD wireless transmission so far in the UK. Friday 2 February saw Endura Elite batteries used for the first time on a Steadicam operation, as Charter Broadcast supplied a full HD wireless radio camera comprising a Thomson LDK6000 camera and Link Research XP-HD link for the Coca Cola League Championship game at Cardiff’s Ninian Park.
Previously, the power consumption of the wireless HD cameras had meant that the battery needed to be changed during each half of the matches. Now, with the introduction of the V-Mount Elite battery a full and uninterrupted 45 minutes of shooting is possible. At 142Wh/9.6Ah, this is the only Li-ion battery over 100Wh capacity that is flight friendly – meeting IATA UN A45 regulations for easy unrestricted carriage – useful for Charter’s worldwide operations.
On the Sunday the same battery gave Rugby League’s Super League opening game a quality HD look, with Charter Broadcast providing two HD wireless camera systems. Tony Valentino, director of Charter Broadcast’s Radio Camera Systems division was delighted with this improvement. “The HD wireless link is one of Charter’s flagship products, and everyone who uses it once always comes back to us. To be able to offer the added security of a longer power run is a great help,” he said.
On the same weekend, Charter Broadcast provided the UK’s only 3.5GHz HD wireless link for the Scottish Cup game featuring Celtic. This system provided HD wireless links on the pitch-side Steadicam operation, again using IDX’s new power system.
As if this was enough, Sunday’s Premiership Football clash between Spurs and Manchester United saw Charter Broadcast supply the first ever 7GHz air-to-ground HD link, using it for the Blimp feed from high above the ground.
