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 sh**ness of the mammoth network. As reddiffusion's signal quality is "rubbish" and the system was too much to manage, it has been mainly abandoned. Should you actually want too use it in future, be warned:

really small bandwidth,

really covered in asbestos,

really painful to get to,

really not able to handle decent pictures,

really only in mono,

really physically cut up.

Basically, if you want point to point video, work a brand new solution on a "per use" basis. Here are some possible ways of doing it:

• long reels of xlr & coax - above 100 meters, things get fun with quality.
• standard video senders - you'll need line-of-sight.
• long range video senders - L-O-S still needed, but distance in the Km range.
• I.P. network - stream it, but expect delays (it gets everywhere).
• Fibre senders (like we have that money!).
• Baluns - put baseband through transformers, so it becomes differential, can go a bit further.
• Guerilla campus network. find something long to put cables in - anything big enough will do, bring Gaffa tape.
• Guerilla satellite. look up, find appropriate frequency. - very good coverage, technique reportedly widely used in brazil!
• Cantenna (or helical / dish / yagi based) - internet is your friend for designs (L-O-S needed).