Helicopters Used for News Coverage

In London aren't there COFDM receivers in strategic places for radio camera use?

You wouldn't necessarily need your SNG too close to the chopper, just somewhere away from tall buildings with a good view of the sky, and ideally where the chopper wouldn't obstruct the view of the satellite

Possible, but I really can't imagine such things happening that quickly, ( within a hour of the news breaking)

There was a BBC News truck in Berkshire for a Cameron event that morning, so would have been nearby or possible to downlink the helicopter signal that way.

I was talking to someone today about both the Sky and BBC choppers. Sky have an rx point in London outside of London/SE region they tend to use an SNG van as a mid point. The Beeb can do the same, but they have more terrestrial rx points around the UK. Most likely for Didcot the BBC chopper was working into London rx

I think Cameron was at 02 HQ in Slough, so virtually in London anyway

Just thought I'd throw this out there. On February 17 Sky was trying transmission using a LiveU from their helicopter. It looked like they averaged 8.7 Mbps.

Fun day at the office today - testing cellular bonding in the @SkyNews chopper. Interesting results https://t.co/YwVkBHGoYh

— Sky News Tech Team (@NewsTech) February 17, 2016

@lgladdy Fixed RF link or down linked to a truck if away from London.

— Sky News Tech Team (@NewsTech) February 17, 2016

I wasn't sure you were allowed to use cellular technology from aircraft (not for the 'please don't use your mobile phone in flight' reasons of interfering with avionics) but because if you were at height you appeared in multiple cells in a way that you can't on the ground? Maybe the rules have changed with modern standards.

From SOME briefs I've read on the FAA, from the airlines, airplane manufacturers and experts all find it funny that laptops would effect an airplanes hardened communications system. Here in the US sometimes in the mornings traffic helicopters will be shared between TV and radio. The TV station likely wouldn't get an on air reporter but rather the traffic images and breaking news while the camera operator will be using his phone to dial in to the radio station.

I think the issue has always really been the risk of 'jamming' the cellular network, by having your phone 'illuminate' multiple base stations. I've noticed even attempting to make calls on the top of hills/mountains
with 'infinity' views is very hit and miss, probably for the same reason, or possibly (in the case of GSM rather than 3 or 4G) I've latched on to a base station outside of the timeslot delay (28 miles ?)

This is actual quite a useful tool that is being launched where else but Oklahoma City. Use for wildfire, tornado, traffic and high speed chases.

http://kwtv.images.worldnow.com/images/11017809_G.png
http://www.news9.com/category/315950/streetscope

http://www.newscaststudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/kwtv-streetscope-news-helicopter.png
newscaststudio

OKLAHOMA CITY -

News 9 is unveiling new technology that will put you on the scene of breaking news and weather. We are the first television station in the country to bring you exact location tracking over live video. It's called StreetScope and here's just a sample of what this mapping technology can do.

Oklahoma's high winds fuel wildfires. Jim Gardner, in Bob Mills SkyNews 9, is there, hovering overhead to give you a bird's eye view of the scene. Now, we can bring you the breaking news and weather with even greater accuracy with our StreetScope technology.

"It shows the street and the cross streets where that fire is located," said Gardner.

With this new advanced mapping technology, we can pinpoint the exact location of the fire over real time video and more.

"We can pin around that fire and tell the firemen how many acres are burning right now," Gardner said.

In this recent fire that burned northwest of the metro, StreetScope estimated more than 50 acres burned. We can also track how fast it's moving to give those who live nearby plenty of warning.

I agree. There have been times during breaking news events that occur outside the helicopters typical route / coverage area where the roads aren't well known. With some thing such as car chases the helicopter has to fly one way (usually to avoid police helicopter and other media) while the lens is pointed a different way. The GPS in the helicopter is showing your exact location but if you have a lens that can zoom out quite a ways this map overlay would be quite useful.

I believe they are using the GEO+ option for the CineFlex cameras.

That is way cool. Love it.

Also: It's surprising how far the link from a helicopter can go. Sometimes LA-based choppers will make it all the way to San Diego following a car chase and will be feeding back to LA rx site.

They sometimes even say on air that they have to fly higher to get the link sorted so apologies for the high angle of shot etc.

Really cool innovation- something which actually improves coverage, unlike the weather trucks.
I can see this being used in LA car chases