This off-road DSNG van is one of two Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles that C2S built for Rudaw, each carrying three triax cameras and one RF camera for HD news-gathering and small productions on location. The main challenge was to fit a large amount of technology into a very compact space. Moreover, the system had to be operated by a single person and work reliably in Iraq’s extreme climate.

Rudaw – 4-Camera HD OB/DSNG Van on a Landrover 4×4 with 1.5m Satellite Uplink

THE BRIEF

Rudaw needed two off-road DSNG vehicles, each accommodating three triax cameras and one RF camera, for HD news-gathering and small productions on location. However, the project raised two main challenges: first, fitting a large amount of technology into a very compact space, and second, designing a system that a single operator could run and that would work reliably in Iraq’s extreme climate. For this reason, equipment choice and system design were key factors. In the end, C2S completed the system design, integration, equipment sourcing, custom fabrication and vehicle bodywork for both off-road DSNGs.

SPECIFICATION

KEY EQUIPMENT

• Sony PMW400 camcorders with TX70 Series triax adapters
• Vinten Vision 250 tripod systems
• Ross Crossover 10-input vision mixer
• Ross 32×32 video router
• Ross video and audio distribution and card based processing
• Harris X85 dual-channel multiprocessor units
• Ross Expression Prime GO graphics
• Glensound MPI0005 dual-channel GSM unit forcomms
• Sony PMW100 XDCAM recorder
• AJA KI PRO recorder
• Advent Newswift 1.5m KU uplink
• Xicom 400W HPA
• MK Encoder/Decoder
• Boxx Meridian 5 GHz IP-based wireless camera system

VEHICLE BODYWORK

• Land Rover Defender 110 vehicles
• Fischer Panda 8KVA on-board generator with custom radiator mounting
• Custom internal racking and scripts
• Reinforced platform roof for 1.5m Advent satellite
• LED internal lighting
• Reinforced and up-rated suspension components
• Vehicle fully heat-tested in a spray-booth oven

Built for the field: inside the off-road DSNG van

A Fischer Panda 8 kVA on-board generator with custom radiator mounting powers the vehicle, while a reinforced platform roof carries the 1.5 m Advent Newswift KU uplink with a Xicom 400 W HPA. In addition, a Boxx Meridian 5 GHz wireless camera system, a Sony PMW100 XDCAM recorder and an AJA Ki Pro support recording and live contribution. Finally, C2S upgraded the suspension and heat-tested each vehicle in a spray-booth oven before delivery.

C2S Media designs, coach-builds and integrates new OB vehicles for broadcasters across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Discover more of our new OB vehicles and systems integration services, or contact our team to discuss a project like the Rudaw off-road DSNG van. Vehicle information is available from Land Rover.