Topic: New streaming tech... turnkey wifi encoders

[taper420]

Just as a quick note... even though you found this in the computer-related help section... I hope to discuss hardware solutions, of which a computer would not be needed.

Soon enough the computer is going to be completely out of the equation...

http://cube.teradek.com/index.html

Here we have a company that is working to integrate a wifi encoder directly into a camera, partnered with livestream.com to stream directly from the camera with no needed equipment (other than a wifi connection) in between. Also includes stereo audio, although I'm not sure on the encoding.

The company also has some external encoders with either HD-SDI (which would work well with my canon xh-g1 and xl-h1) or HDMI connectors. It seems these could be configured with a computer to stream wirelessly with multi-angle switching, and this could be used to stream to any service, not just livestream. This seems like a very nice solution for removing the cabling from multiple cameras during streams of live performances, where cameras are placed far apart and running cables back to a central switching unit become annoying and cumbersome.

I'm well aware that for some time there have been wireless video send devices (which may include timecode and audio as well), but now we're starting to see the devices handle the encoding, rather than sending a full-bandwidth video signal and having the signal encoded further down the chain.

[run_run_run]

How can we get rid of "the computer".... We are going to beam it all analog?

[taper420]

The camera has an encoder and wifi card built in and is programed to stream directly to livestream.com when it is connected to the internet. You would just need a portable wifi device such as any of the hotspots that are being sold through the various carriers.

[rastasean]

you would still need a computer to access the live stream, right?

Those things are quite expensive so I think they will be priced out of the range of many small startup multicam companies.

[taper420]

You would access the live stream on a computer or a smart phone. Or whatever other devices can access the site.

They are a bit pricey, but so are any solutions for combining multi-cam video wirelessly (without encoders). The alternative for multi-cam at an event would be very long cabling, including additional crew to handle cabling.

[rastasean]

This still seems very expensive. Every camera would need one of these, correct? This may be useful for a company who has been established for a long time and has done a fair number of live streams, but short of the person who gets whatever they want, I don't see why the event can't just be recoded with multiple cameras and edited later.
So it looks like to stream live you would need a license which is $250-500 and then the actual hardware for each camera.
If you want good audio, what do you do? Run a cable from your audio rig into the input on the camcorder?

[taper420]

Looking at what the professionals use:

http://www.mushroomnetworks.com/product.aspx?product_id=1001

This is a portable device that will encode the video and audio, and send it out to up to 4 different cellular carriers, using usb cards (or possibly sim cards). The various signals are then either bonded using a service that is provided by mushroom networks on a monthly basis, or using a bonding proxy server which is available for purchase to be setup at a "homebase" location, using a wired connection with at least as much bandwidth as the sum of all cellular connections.

This not only addresses onboard encoding, therefor cutting out the need for a computer or other encoding device, but also addresses connection bandwidth and reliability issues due to the effective level 2 bonding that is taking place across the cellular connections.

Here is some info regarding specs, and pricing from an inquiry I made:

Audio:
MPEG-1 Layer2, MPEG-2 & MPEG-4 AAC
32, 44.1, & 48 KHz
16 Kbps (mono) to 384 Kbps (stereo).

(video encoding specs in link above)

When you have an opportunity, please have a look at the below link, which contains a couple recordings of live video feeds using the Teleporter system (1 from a moving car & 1 of a streaming Nature Video DVD from the drop down menu).  These live feeds were recorded at the destination end, so you are seeing the quality of the video at the receiving/destination end after being bonded & transmitted across the wireless network to the destination end.  We obviously used different frame rate & resolution settings in support of these different streaming environments.
 
http://www.mushroomnetworks.com/video/play.aspx

We have multiple options for purchasing our equipment, and any associated services.  We have 2 main purchase options, upfront in full (using an online quote I can build & email to you & purchase can be made via a credit card), or we have "lease-to-own" leasing options available with monthly payments as well if you are a US company, or an International company with a US presence & address (w/terms ranging from 2 to 5 years).  Please let me know if you want me to send you any quotes (either an online quote, or lease quote).  A lease quote option is only available if you meet the US lease requirements mentioned above.
 
We have just launched a special Teleporter pricing discount promotion this quarter (pricing below).  Please refer to the document "Teleporter Operating Options" to see which option best fits your needs (whether you want your own receiving unit, or want to use our BPA service).
 
1 x Teleporter field unit = $9,375 (that's a 25% discount off our MSRP $12,500 pricing)
1 x Teleporter receiving unit (our BPA bonding server for an end-to-end system...no need for our monthly services w/this unit) = $19,785 (that is a 25% discount off our MSRP $26,380 pricing)
Our accessories for the Teleporter system are 10% off: the battery is a mandatory item, but at 10% off = $535, & charger = $715, & SDI input option = $1,795 (all at a 10% discount)
 
We are also offering a rent option for our Teleporter unit and system.  There is a 2 month minimum for renting the Teleporter system, and it is being offered at $1,500 per month.  The two main versions are listed below for your reference.
 
1. $1500/month for one full system rental including TelePorter, battery, charger, SDI input option, BPA receiving unit (a complete end-to-end system w/no services from us)
2. $1500/month for rental of the TelePorter, battery, charger, SDI option input and our Bonding Cloud Service and cloud conversion service (you are responsible for any CDN fees which are about 50 cents per viewer hour, unless you are using your own CDN).
 
3. We are also offering wireless datacards that can be rented from us, if needed (we recommend 4 be used in the Teleporter & from multiple carriers).  They are $75/month per card, and if the Gigabit limit is reached prior to the end of the month, then we will ship you replacement cards before they run out for another $75/card.  We will monitor the usage, and help to keep up with this card service so there's no interruption in service.

Now that seems very expensive.