by VidOvation announced that an NFL team has deployed the ABonAir AB512™ wireless camera system with integrated camera control, paint, and intercom to transmit 
signals with great reliability and flexibility within its stadium during NFL broadcasts.
“Reliable and low-latency wireless is critical when sending live in-house video feeds to the big screen, yet it can be very difficult to achieve in a stadium filled with people. The ABonAir AB512 is the only system that not only succeeds but excels in this challenging application and environment, said Jim Jachetta, executive vice president and chief technology officer at VidOvation. “The AB512 system feeds live, extremely low-latency video to the in-house production workflow — seven milliseconds instead of 30 to 90. The AB512 is a great choice for sports venues because it provides superior wireless performance and the industry’s best video quality at a significantly lower cost than comparable systems.”
In addition to hosting regular NFL games, this stadium has hosted several NFL championships and other high-profile events, drawing capacity crowds. This creates a challenge for wireless camera coverage, as potentially tens of thousands of people are also using the wireless network. The AB512 replaces the venue’s legacy wireless system, the high latency of which made camera control and production very difficult and sometimes caused glitches in the broadcast.
In early May 2019, VidOvation—a California‑based systems integrator specializing in broadcast video, audio, and data transmission—was selected by a National Football League team to dramatically enhance wireless camera operations in their stadium (VidOvation).
At the heart of this upgrade lies the ABonAir AB512™ wireless video transmission system. Chosen for its ultra‑low latency and comprehensive feature set, the AB512™ provides high‑quality, real‑time video feeds from cameras across the stadium, along with integrated capabilities for camera control, “paint” (i.e. broadcast graphics overlay), and intercom functionality—all within a single, compact unit (VidOvation).
Objectives & Strategic Value
The NFL team’s upgrade initiative aimed to modernize their in‑venue video production workflow. Prior systems were reportedly more disjointed, less reliable, and imposed higher latency—hindering seamless real‑time OTT and broadcast operations. By implementing ABonAir’s solution, the team sought:
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Latency performance: AB512™ offers end‑to‑end delays measured in just a few milliseconds—critical for live broadcast, replay booths, and instant review systems.
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Operational consolidation: Combining camera control, intercom, and graphics control reduced gear complexity and setup overhead.
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Enhanced flexibility: Wireless deployment eliminated rigid cabling, enabling dynamic setup across different camera positions and improving visuals capture from the sidelines, end zones, and elsewhere.
Technical Highlights & Deployment
The ABonAir AB512™ system is a self‑contained unit that mounts on professional broadcast cameras. It transmits uncompressed or lightly compressed high‑definition video back to base stations located in the stadium’s production hub. Its multi‑channel design supports simultaneous wireless feeds, allowing multiple camera sources to operate in parallel. Because it integrates paint, camera control (via RCP), and intercom functions, the production team retained full remote control over camera settings and talent cueing—all wirelessly (VidOvation).
VidOvation handled the deployment and integration. From design and installation through system tuning and on‑site training, their team ensured the system met the team’s performance criteria. VidOvation’s experience in broadcast-grade infrastructure, camera systems, and wireless workflows helped streamline the implementation, addressing potential interference zones in the stadium and optimizing coverage throughout the venue (VidOvation).
Business & Production Impact
The deployment marked a significant milestone in modernization. It reduced the setup complexity and logistical constraints of cabling, enabling greater mobility and flexibility in capturing, especially for sideline, mobile, and mobile camera operations. The low-latency characteristic is especially compelling for applications where timing is critical, such as in-game replays, director switching, highlight creation, and live OTT content distribution to remote viewers.
Production staff reportedly experienced faster turnaround times, fewer cable-run delays, and improved coordination due to the integration of intercom and control links. The consolidated functionality translates into fewer points of failure, simplified maintenance, and lower incremental costs when expanding or reconfiguring camera positions.
Broader Context
VidOvation partners with ABonAir to resell and support solutions used by sports broadcasters and live event producers globally. ABonAir is renowned for its integrated wireless video systems, which marry real-time performance with operational simplicity (VidOvation). Stadiums, leagues, and broadcast teams with similar needs have adopted AB512™ to support dynamic production environments.
Summary
This project positions VidOvation and ABonAir as trusted providers of next‑generation wireless camera infrastructure in professional sports venues. For the unnamed NFL team, the investment delivered:
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Sub‑10ms latency wireless video transmission
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Integrated camera control, graphics, and intercom functionality
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Streamlined equipment and cabling
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Enhanced flexibility for stadium production workflows
Overall, the deployment demonstrates how advanced wireless systems, such as ABonAir’s AB512™, supported by VidOvation’s full-stack integration services, can transform live sports production—delivering professional-level results with lower complexity and greater operational agility.
One-of-a-Kind, Ultra-Low-Latency Links for Wireless Camera Systems
Benefits:
- Unprecedented 7ms wireless latency
- Maximum bandwidth usage
- Long-distance wireless transmission
- Broadcast-quality video
- Robust Bi-directional RF Link
- Variable bit rate (VBR) encoding
- Dynamic Modulation
- Dynamic Forward Error Correction (FEQ)
- Automatic Re-request (ARQ) of lost packets
- Supports Intercom, Camera Control & Paint.
- Multi-zone Coverage via Fiber Coverage Extrenders
The AB512 system operates on the unlicensed 5-gigahertz RF band. The system continuously scans that spectrum looking for a channel with the best performance and will dynamically change channels without dropping a single bit. The system uses multiple ABonAir Fiber Coverage Extenders to support unwavering wireless RF coverage throughout the nearly 70,000-seat venue — on the field, in the stands, and more — over fiber-optic cable instead of bulky coax. Importantly, the transmission happens at an industry-low seven-millisecond delay instead of the 30- to 90-millisecond latency of other wireless systems. This low delay enables the team’s camera crews to transmit video directly from cameras to its media center or OB trucks wirelessly without interruption.
The wireless coverage can be easily expanded at any time for coverage outside the venue to capture tailgate and fan activity in and around the venue. The AB512 system can support up to 256 Fiber Coverage Extenders, providing a virtually unlimited coverage area.
The AB512 system also meets all the team’s other requirements for reliable, flexible wireless transmission: dynamic modulation, forward error correction, automatic re-requests, and adaptive variable bit rate built on a bidirectional wireless radio. Finally, the AB512 system integrates camera control, paint, and intercom with extremely low latency — something the legacy system could not do.
The one-of-a-kind ABonAir AB512 wireless video link reduces delay to a mere seven milliseconds for live event coverage, multicamera productions, and any other application in which latency of two to six frames or 30 to 90 milliseconds is unacceptable. Such low latency makes it possible to produce multicamera and live shows without worrying about lip sync problems caused by the lag or delays from the simultaneous operation of multiple cameras. The system features an RF spectrum analyzer that automatically selects and hops to the best RF channel without dropping a single bit, while modulation and bit rate adapt themselves based on RF link conditions. Users get long-range, high-performance, broadcast-grade transmission of live video at distances up to two miles.
The team’s new AB512 wireless camera system will be operating in time for the start of the next NFL season.
More information about the full VidOvation product line is available at www.vidovation.com.
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About VidOvation
VidOvation is a leading provider of video, audio, and data transmission and distribution systems for the broadcast television, sports, corporate AV, and government markets. Encompassing bonded cellular, wireless video, video streaming, video networking, encoding, IPTV, and fiber-optic communications systems, VidOvation solutions improve video transmissions by removing the frustrations of signal loss, latency, interference, noise, and security issues. VidOvation excels in helping its clients integrate custom solutions into existing infrastructure, with the ability to satisfy almost any application or budget. The company applies proven expertise to the complete project life cycle — from project consulting and management to engineering and design, to warranty and support. Learn more about how VidOvation is moving video forward at vidovation.com.
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Link to Word Doc: www.wallstcom.com/VidOvation/190507VidOvation.docx
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Image Caption: ABonAir’s AB512™ Wireless Camera System