For mobile broadcast provider and production company, Lyon Video, connecting staff and serving customers across North America required switching to an IP KVM. The company’s portfolio spans from premier North American soccer confederation matches to distinguished festivals and events. Lyon Video was able to affordably upgrade their existing infrastructure, and connect remote users and mobile unit operators.
The company needed a KVM solution that would allow users to connect to and switch between multiple hardware platforms—locally or in a separate OB van—in the event of a system failure. The company needed engineers in the production studio to remotely access these broadcast systems in order to offer real-time technical support during events.
Furthermore, Lyon Video wanted to use its current one Gigabit Ethernet infrastructure. Many KVM systems on the market required dedicated connection links that were not IP-based, or utilized a central controller or a matrix, requiring users to purchase block licenses and choose a matrix size upfront. However, when Lyon Video came across the Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM, the company was able to leverage its existing IT networking equipment and infrastructure, as well as expand without costly upgrades.
Lyon Video is currently standardizing two installations that include Extio 3 transmitters and one receiver using installed IP switches. Various computers on the network are extended to different locations within a mobile unit, another mobile unit, or to a remote user over WAN and Internet. With an Extio 3 IP KVM setup able to support one-to-many and many-to-many configurations, operators can rapidly access and switch among systems from one desk while maintaining broadcast continuity. Engineers can remotely access the broadcast systems in OB vans from their workstations at the production studio, and mobile unit operators can receive tech support. With the included Aggregator Mode multisystem control, operators can simultaneously view and operate multiple source systems from their remote displays and control them with a single keyboard and mouse set.
“This upgrade has been quintessential in allowing us to save on travel costs, maximize our resources while maintaining superior production quality, and keep our staff safe and distant from one another during COVID,” said Kevin Norris, engineering operations at Lyon Video. According to Norris, the company anticipates integrating all PCs at Lyon Video headquarters to the KVM setup in order to allow engineering staff to easily access remote workspaces in the mobile units.
