Helicopter coverage of coffin journey

[Tweed]

The coffin journey from Balmoral to Edinburgh was covered by helicopter for
much of the journey. I had assumed the pictures would be backhauled via
satellite, but maybe not. (Thinking about it, an upwards view through the
rotors might not be possible?) There were lots of periods of degrading to
fuzzy vision, especially around Edinburgh. Were they relying on cellular
links?

Things also went badly wrong when the cortège exited Balmoral, with the
live feed from the static camera degrading to lots of grey squares. Picked
up again on the subsequent camera.

Just curious about how it’s done.

[Brian Gaff]

I think they use ground based stations to do it, since there is very little
delay, I'm told.
Brian

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[Mark Carver]

Normally there are rx points for it, and it uses diversity reception
techniques (at stream level I think ?)

There are Rx points in SE England, further north fewer. I know the
Sunley (or whatever it's called now) building in Manchester is an Rx point.

BBC and Sky's OB news vans can also receive it, and relay back to London
by that method. I suspect that's how they did the Balmoral to EDH run ?

[joe bloggs]

I've had contact with directors involved in the coverage, although they did not know for certain they believe it was a digital transmitter slung underneath the helicopter being picked up by various phone masts along the route. Tends to suggest LiveU I think? And the mast coverage being what it is likely to be in NE Scotland would likely explain the somewhat indifferent reception and pictures at times? Maybe also telephone masts tending to be looking for horizontal coverage rather than upwards not helping matters? Certainly not links vans on this occasion - there are simply not enough to go round, and there aren't enough OB vans around either given that football is still on over the weekend.

But I did not get a definitive answer to the heli stuff so maybe my info is duff.

[Tweed]

Thought the football had been cancelled? The coverage quality got worse
towards Edinburgh, but I guess the phone cells were getting overloaded by
the crowds. Up in the open country it held up well.

[Mark Carver]

On 13/09/2022 15:08, Tweed wrote:
>
> Thought the football had been cancelled? The coverage quality got worse
> towards Edinburgh, but I guess the phone cells were getting overloaded by
> the crowds. Up in the open country it held up well.
>

They discovered that at London 2012, and the cycling race through
Surrey. The IOC etc had arranged for stage results to be transmitted
back to London via 3/4G.
Worked fine in tests, however on the day itself it fell apart due to the
crowds using loads of data to upload photos etc

[Tweed]

I see a job opening for my self as an rf consultant of the bleedin’
obvious…..

[joe bloggs]

On Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 3:08:28 PM UTC+1, Tweed wrote:
> joe bloggs

Still a lot of footy being played this weekend although some matches have been postponed.

[Tweed]

But the football wasn’t on last weekend, when the poorly linked helicopter
shots were made.

[joe bloggs]

I think maybe we are talking about two different things? My remarks were concerning the coming weekend and the lack of additional OB and link facilities on Monday because of football this Sat/Sun. As to last weekend's poor helicopter coverage I have given my own thoughts on the subject - OB/Links trucks en route were never part of the plan. I have suggested it was provided via LiveU but presently I cannot confirm that. I expect a lot of technical info will be published after the event and hopefully useful snippets like that will turn up here. It would be nice to get clarification for those of us who are interested.

[Tweed]

Yes, sorry. It would be interesting if someone can post more info once it
becomes available.