Argosy has launched a new flexible design of SMPTE camera cables and associated products for HD and Ultra HD.
The new Hyperflex cable has been constructed to make it robust, contributing to a long, reliable working life.
SMPTE camera cables carry both video signals, power, tally and talkback in one cable. They are also subject to heavy treatment, whether being pulled long distances on outside broadcasts or subject to constant flexing, bending and crushing on studio floors. The result is that, while fibre is seen as the best medium for camera outputs, the cables and connections have a relatively short life in comparison to Triax cables.
Argosy has addressed this challenge with the new Hyperflex cable. The fibres and copper are enclosed in an outer jacket made of a custom-developed polyurethane rubberised compound. This provides an outstanding degree of resilience and resistance to damage. In particular, its flexible nature avoids the common problem with other SMPTE cables where voltage leaks due to slight damage to the copper conductors results in the CCU failing to connect to the camera.
“SMPTE cables, inherently, have a definite lifecycle,” said Josh Simons, technical director of Argosy. “Our customers told us that replacing cables was a significant ongoing operational expense, and asked us to look at extending the working life of a camera cable. Working with our key supplier Draka that is what we have achieved.
“In the harsh environments that camera cables find themselves, Hyperflex is bombproof,” he continued. “Add to that the greatly reduced lifetime costs thanks to the resilience, and Hyperflex delivers a valuable cut in operational costs.”
As well as the cables – available in any length to suit the user – Argosy also supplies a number of valuable accessories. These include compact splice trays, suitable for outside broadcast trucks, and wall boxes, simpler and more reliable.
“Compared to making repairs to fibres on the truck tailboard, which is very complex, with our splice trays a user with no specialist training can swap out a damaged end in 10 minutes,” according to Simons.
