Train Scholarship (Genaro Rivera)

   Video Wall Box Set Up For my broadcast engineering internship at Statefarm stadium, another intern and I had to assemble the box that would hold all the devices used for the video wall outside. We put everything we need in a box for accessibility and mobility: especially since the video wall itself can be set up anywhere. The box contains multiple devices that would be utilized to make the video wall work. I will walkthrough each component that we put in the box. In the bottom, there was to be a mount that would be screwed on later which would contain the different plugs that we can use. In this instance, the bottom of the gray box on the bottom left of the picture was to be connected to the rf house plug that would be screwed on by someone else later as stated. We connect to the RF house, because the cables coming out of the gray box are RF cables. Afterwards, coming out from the top of the gray box is another RF cable. This RF cable connects directly to the tuner. The tun...

  RCP-1500 I familiarized myself with the RCP-1500. The RCP-1500 (Remote Control Panel) was a newly installed piece of equipment alongside the new routing system installed for Superbowl. The RCP, as the name implies, wirelessly controls the cameras. This includes lighting, grading, color scheme, and so on. It displays values such as color temperature, RGB values, resolution, alarms, and so on. The main use of the RCP-1500 is to change the resolution being accepted via the Multi Format menu. This device can also display bars in case of misfortune during live events. The call button is used to, not only ensure the RCP is wirelessly connected to the camera, but to also show that the person holding the camera during a live event that their feed will be displayed on live TV. The reception level should always be green to ensure a good connection. Lastly, you can always view network information, the IP address, and Security. Ideally, you would have it on engineering mode for trouble shoot...

XR-3 Modular Test Instrument   The XR-3 Modular Test Instrument is signal tester. Unlike the Phabrix, this device can test for RF signal; that has been the only functionality I've used it for. When setting up TVs, I tested the RF outputs from the outlets. The XR-3 Modular Test Instrument has several kits that you put in on the top, so I made sure I had the RF screwed on the top. I tested signals and got passes. The interface is simple. In the main menu (from top left to top right), you see the currently selected channel plan, selected channel number, related channel frequency, and the signal type currently begin detected. The type of channel signals that can be detected by this device are DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite), VSAT Satellite, VHF/ UHF off-air (Very High Frequency/ Ultra High Frequency), and CATV. For our purposes, we set it to CATV AKA Cable TV since we mainly work with Direct TV. For channel plan we use EIASTO since it's the most common TV plan in North America. Th...

  Patch Panels I learned the basics for how patch panels work. Behind patch panels is a device. That device then connects to another device. For example, in the server room, we have the SNPs (controls where signals go to) connected to switches via copper wires. The SNPs are what have patch panels in front of them and the switches don't. Now, ignoring the switches for now we can focus on how patch panels work. Each set of patch panels contain 2 rows. The top row is conventionally the output and the bottom row is conventionally the input. When I say rows, I am referring to open holes that are not connected to anything, so you can easily plug another cable in. Without anything plugged into the holes for the patch panels, the system still works since, as mentioned before, the SNPs are connected to switches via copper wires. The holes are basically an open circuit. As soon as I plug in a cable, the open circuit runs to that cable. This cuts off the signal from the SNP and the switch, so...

  Outside Camera Set Up Front View Back View In preparation for the 2023 NFL draft (Link to news video:  Cardinals fans celebrate Draft Day at State Farm Stadium - YouTube ) I was in charge with assembling the cage for the cameras. The plan was to have 3 broadcast cameras outside the stadium. We planned to connect the camera's triax cables to the hdfx (boxes at the very top) which would have SMPTE cables coming out to the MultiDyne huts (boxes in the bottom). Since the company is aiming to focus more on Fiber, we run fiber from the MultiDyne huts to the screens. Fiber is a type of cable that has light traveling through is making it faster and more expensive than regular copper cables. We ran several tests in the control room by mimicking what the set up was going to look like outside which we worked. I began assembling the cage for the set up. I had to screw on the racks. I also made sure to screw on a lacing bar right underneath and behind the shelves since the HDFX and MultD...

 Phabrix I've used and learned the functionalities of a phabrix. A phabrix is one of the most important devices in broadcast for several reasons. The Phabrix is a signal generator, analyzer, and monitor. This means that you can generate signal. In cases where we are unsure as to what type of resolution a device needs, we use the phabrix. The phabrix can generate many resolutions like 1080 p, 720p, 1080 i etc..... Additionally, the phabrix can also analyze signals. This is crucial for trouble shooting. When we have multiple barrels, converters, or just breaking points and no signal is being received, we use the phabrix. That way we can track down where the signal cuts off. If a device is not working, but the phabrix shows a signal coming out of the cable, then we know it's just the device not receiving the signal, so we know what to focus and trouble shoot. When troubleshooting, the phabrix is useful in eliminating variables that would indicate why a device is not working. Somet...

  Month Leading up to Superbowl My internship experience the past few months was a huge hands on learning experience. This week, I decided to talk about the month prior to Superbowl. If unclear, my internship is Broadcast Engineering at Statefarm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona near Glendale Community College; the group's known as Insignia. Leading up to the Superbowl, everyone worked separately towards a common goal which was a huge hands-on learning experience. The goal involved utilizing the new routing system for the Superbowl. Insignia installed the new routing system last year. However, Superbowl involved a different set up that we needed to prepare for; other companies arrived to install their set up. Everyone worked separately and I was no exception. My role, and another intern's named Tyler, was to connect the switches to the SNP's. The SNP's are devices that receive and send out signal from other devices Insignia is responsible for, such as cameras and TVs.  A pa...

 Weather Balloon Spring Flight This semester my team flew an RF receiver, CO2/ humidity sensor, Geiger Counter, seeds, a peep, and the old sensors from last semester (temperature, accelerometer, and pressure sensor). The RF receiver was to measure the strength of the Radio Frequency. The CO2 and humidity sensor are self-explanatory. The Geiger Counter (radiation sensor), temperature, and pressure coincides with the seeds; the Garden Cress seeds grow within 2 weeks, so we wanted to see which of the three variables that could affect it (radiation, temperature, and pressure) would and how. The old sensors were pre calibrated and ready to go from last semester. I do not know much about the RF receiver's calibration since another team member worked on it. The Geiger counter required calibrating with the Geology department to borrow a radioactive sample rock. The CO2 and Humidity sensor required calibrating through a separate CO2 and Humidity sensor (the separate sensors were pre-calibra...