[Satellite TODAY 08-27-10] Telecast Fiber Systems has released its CopperHead 3050 camera-mounted fiber optic transceiver designed to meet the requirements of electronic and satellite news gathering journalists transmitting HD video over thousands of feet of cable, the company announced Aug. 26.
    The CopperHead 3050 camera unit, part of Telecast’s 3000 camera product line, delivers uncompressed HD video and broadcast-quality audio from the camera, while returning off-air video, intercom, and a powered IFB feed to a reporter equipped with a standard IFB belt pack. In addition, the unit features a 10/100 Ethernet connection that gives reporters a high-speed connection to their truck. The connection can then be routed to their newsroom computer system or the Internet.
    The Copperhead system uses Telecast’s lightweight TAC-series fiber optic cable, which is military and battlefield rated, to prevent live shots from being interrupted by cable failures.
    “With this system, robust and reliable fiber optic connectivity is now practical and affordable for news gathering at stations of all sizes and budgets. The CopperHead 3050 demonstrates just how versatile our CopperHead Series 3000 is becoming, and why the CopperHead brand remains the industry leader in camera-mounted video transport solutions,” Telecast Product Management Director Jim Hurwitz said in a statement.