Thanks for the Webcasts!

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I enjoyed the webcasts too, although I have always wondered why LA (Socal) is never webcast.

Let me count the reasons:

1) limited internet access. We had one hard line (dial-up IIRC) and that was needed for the scoring system.

2) When NASA does a webcast they bring all the equipment AND personel needed. There is a dim possibility that the Regional Committee could find funding to rent the equipment, but we have nobody with the expertise to pull this off. I have a limited background in taping for later broadcast, and I'm the best we got. I would still need trained camera operators and to train somebody on the switcher so I could take a break when needed. Oh and I'll probably be doing other critical stuff, like making sure the field stays "up" or inspecting robots

3) Most of us on the Committee wear two or even three "hats". This is not a healthy position to be in for the extended future. This year we lost one key member to a new job in a new place and it took a lot of effort to fill her roles. We are actively looking for responsible adults to help with future events.


If there is somebody out there that has both the desire to see this happen and experience to pull it off, please contact the Regional Committee for next year. Maybe we could try and do so as an experiment for the Fall Classic, but the people doing this would have to be in addition to the current volunteers.

[Chris Marra]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Let me count the reasons:

1) limited internet access. We had one hard line (dial-up IIRC) and that was needed for the scoring system.

2) When NASA does a webcast they bring all the equipment AND personel needed. There is a dim possibility that the Regional Committee could find funding to rent the equipment, but we have nobody with the expertise to pull this off. I have a limited background in taping for later broadcast, and I'm the best we got. I would still need trained camera operators and to train somebody on the switcher so I could take a break when needed. Oh and I'll probably be doing other critical stuff, like making sure the field stays "up" or inspecting robots

Although your first reason obviously eliminates this possibility right away, I have to disagree on number 2. NASA themselves do not run the webcasts, all they do is provide the bandwidth for some of them. The majority of this years webcasts were run by SOAP, several by Wildstang, and a few by other teams, with both 111 and 230 I know providing their own bandwidth for the regionals they did. However, in terms of the personnel and equipment required, you are mistaken. Every regional (I think?) already has camera operators, video switchers, and a production crew that manage the feed for the main projector screen behind the field for spectators. With the exception of a few of the ones SOAP did, webcasts do nothing more than take a publically available drop of this feed, input it digitally into a laptop using either a camcorder or Firewire/USB converter, and upload a compressed stream to someone else's servers. All it requires is a computer, ~$50 video capture device, and usually can be run unattended. I believe SOAP also ships laptops completely configured along with instructions on how to get things properly set up, so aside from an internet connection, running webcasts is really a simple thing to do that any team who can bring a small amount of equipment could volunteer to do (as 230 and 177 have done [Wildstang has broadcast engineers on their team.])

[Dave Flowerday]

Originally Posted by Chris Marra

(as 230 and 177 have done [Wildstang has broadcast engineers on their team.])

We do have a broadcast engineer on the team however the webcasts are handled by me (and as Raul's mechanical team regularly points out, I'm just a dumb software guy ).

Doing the on-site webcast work isn't difficult but it does help if you're familiar with some simple networking and A/V concepts. I've helped a few people run webcasts of off-season competitions through our server with nothing more than a few PM's exchanged here on CD. All I take with me is a laptop, a $50 CompUSA USB capture device, and a selection of RCA cables and connectors. As I'm usually tied up with my team, I only check in on it now and then to make sure things look OK (which is where feedback from viewers on CD is important).

The biggest problem, as Chris mentioned, is having a server with enough bandwidth to redistribute the stream. During the Midwest regional we were pushing 80Mbits/sec throughput on our server. Definitely not something you're going to be able to do from a cable modem or DSL line!

[hipsterjr]

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find video of the Palmetto regional? It was broadcast but is one of the few that wasn't archived. There is nothing on YouTube either. So could someone with video please point me in the right direction?

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by FreedomForce

thank you 111, 108, NASA, 177, New york Planning committe, and countless othere for providing us with a wonderful webcasting season.

You forgot 230 in there.

[Ellery]

Well This year at FLR we've been able to broadcast the whole competition live on Cable TV locally so next year hopefully we can get a webcast going as well.

[Tetraman]

We should aim and make it a goal for next year to webcast and archive each and every regional.

[Steve W]

Originally Posted by Ellery

Well This year at FLR we've been able to broadcast the whole competition live on Cable TV locally so next year hopefully we can get a webcast going as well.

I was going to webcast FLR except I did not get confirmation in time. If(when) I come next year I can bring all that necessary except the DSL or Lan connection.

[Nawaid Ladak]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

You forgot 230 in there.

sorry my bad, i did watch UTC, so thanks for a wonderful regional broadcast.