Al Jazeera Workplace Transformation Project
Al Jazeera Workplace Transformation Project
Application
SMTPE camera hybrid and fiber optics infrastructure
System Integrator
Sony Professional Middle East
The project involved installing and upgrading Al Jazeera facilities to high definition including the installation of new fiber optics network with necessary bandwidth required for archiving and editing functions. Project scope included around 500 terminations of Lemo SMPTE connectors and various studios and interlinking them with existing fiber optics infrastructure in order to provide conductivity between all studios and control center. The single mode fibre used in the SMPTE hybrid cable specification have a very high bandwidth (>100Ghz.km) which is much greater than what is required for today’s HDTV systems. Any future camera developments can easily be accommodated using this type of fibre, which if multiplexed signals are used has practically limitless bandwidth. The industry standard of connector required for hybrid cable termination is Lemo 3K.93C series. It fully complies with SMPTE, ARIB and EBU standards and provides the following benefits: rugged stainless shell, IP67 rating in mated condition (waterproof), 20,000 matching cycles and high performance F2 contact. Termination procedure of Lemo connectors is quite complicated and requires various tools and equipment including polishing machine, OTDR device, fiberscope, oven and etc. Usually Lemo cable assemblies and panel connectors are terminated in dedicated laboratories and supplied as a complete solution to a client. Pre-terminated panel connectors come with fiber tails so the client can easily splice it using fusion splicer. However, the end user of AJWT project requested to terminate all Lemo connectors on site and point to point in order to avoid any splices in between. CableTech company designed a special portable fiber termination lab for this project which successfully terminated all SMPTE points. Another challenge was to interlink fiber network with SMPTE infrastructure. Some studios were "ON AIR" most of the time which meant we had very short windows during the night shifts to test and link fiber leads. The deadline was extremely tight, but with the professionalism of Cabletech’s engineers and great support from Sony, we delivered on time.
