Broadcast Network

Campus Broadcast Network

YSTV broadcasts across campus by using compserv's network, with streams terminating at individual 'drain' computers, which display the stream full screen.

Drains

Basically, they're PC's running either a custom flash player, or full screen google chrome with a few settings tweaked. Stick internet in one side, and composite or VGA out the other.

Rediffusion

Rediffuison is the antiquated closed circuit broadcast network that was installed in the university in the 60s. YSTV and URY used this network from the early 90s until around 2008 when it was "replaced" by an IP-Based system.

There aren't many ways of sending video via cable accessible to YSTV anymore. Although we still technically own the broadcast network. The university estates dept have done a pretty good job of hiding what is left of the Reddiff / ystv system, although there are still a few points where you can still witness the mammoth network. Likewise, there are a handful of known continuous cable runs around campus:

known cable end locations

• G/046 techie room ceiling: if by any random chance YSTV is not located in G046 anymore, G046 is here: ##location description##. In the back right corner of the tech room (the awkward tall L shaped cupboard space) Two lines of Reddiff Core (really thick twisted pair multicore) appear.
  • One line to derwent
  • One line to unkown location.

• Derwent JCR/common-room: far corner from the entrance, look for the Really big S-type coax ports.
• Derwent library: just upstairs of the JCR. Port known to exist, but location unknown. (used to broadcast elections from here - pre student union run "courtyard" opened).
• Cookies snack bar: in biology, outside BB/002

Known good runs of cable

• G/046 windows: This, until 2007/8 was the main exit for the network. It consists of:
  • 2 satellite COAX's to some (probably rusty) dishes ontop of G/169 (computer room upstairs). These used to carry the sky (analogue!), Astra etc feeds for simulcasting onto the campus network (we used to have 1 TV licence to cover all campus communal areas!).
  • 1 Analogue feed for UHF reception for simulcasting - the nearest broadcast tower is at Elmly Moor, somewhere off in the Yorkshire Dales. We even used to have the phone number of the duty technician!
  • 2x campus COAX, known herein as "Physics Video send & return".
  • 2x campus XLR, for Physics send and return audio.
    • The physics send & returns go out the window, over the roofs, drape onto the covered walkways, turn left at YUSU (student centre / Daww Suu), along towards physics, and enter via various methods into the PX/002 loft space - YSTV used to be based in the chair store, so when forced out, new cables were just chained to physics.
    • One coax enters through that awkward hole halfway up the wall, and the other thee cables go past the wall, get sealed in with the doors, do a U-turn, then the disappear into the loft space.
  • Coax and XLR to the photobooth outside James JCR. There used to be a TV there, before passports became popular.

• Vanburgh TV distro to JCR & Bar TV's.
  • At Vanburgh vending machines up high on the back wall, is a coil of cables: via a series of mini-distro's and junction boxes, the cables can be used to send video IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY - there is thought to be something active hidden behind those ceiling tiles. Sound is just unbalanced phono to a pattress box near the JCR entrance, being just cable, there are no direction oddities.