RF

SFP has decades of broad experience in RF broadcast, as the first transmissions date back to the 1960s.

Thus, the RF department has developed a number of broadcasting techniques for short distances (“wireless cameras”), ground coverage, with reception points on the ground, and especially “long distance broadcasts”, with the use of various aerial facilities. SFP offers a large range of systems running from a simple camera with a multi-reception digital connection to a high power connection and a High Definition wireless camera.

Terrestrial coverage is a rising sector in which the RF department is working busily. SFP exports its know-how all over the world.

Long distance remote broadcasting requires the use of a number of aerial resources. SFP has made a speciality of this type of operation and is able to use five helicopters and two aircraft simultaneously to provide the most complex coverage. This type of aerial ballet requires perfect coordination and flawless management of resources. A BN2-type aircraft is mainly used as a relay point while a pressurized Cessna carries out relay tasks at high altitude in mountainous regions or when atmospheric conditions do not allow for the use of helicopters and planes below a given threshold.

This use of aircraft allows for almost seven hours of continuous remote broadcasting to be achieved with 5 to 8 images captured simultaneously. The applications are many and are not limited to cycling, marathons and walking, but triathlons, horse racing, sailing, rowing and rally raids are also possible applications for these remote broadcasting techniques.

The use of aerial resources is not the only solution for transmitting images over long distances. SFP has developed ground/ground systems with multiple and comparative receiving sites which, depending on the terrain and type of demand, allow for aerial resources to be deployed, thereby significantly reducing costs.

Similarly, the use of heavy goods receiving vehicles (nine or thirteen tonnes) is no longer essential and SFP is now offering “flight case” systems transportable throughout the world by plane which, combined with production control rooms, allow us to offer complete units able to provide complete signal creation.

SFP regularly exports its RF coverage techniques to other countries. In Europe, but also in the countries of the Gulf, Malaysia, the USA and Asia, the company has in particular been responsible for broadcasting all the long distance races at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and, in 2007, the Qatar, Portugal and German Tours and the Road World Cycling Championships in Stuttgart.

Founded in 1975, SFP includes the former ORTF's heavy and HF production resources. It has established a research and development department which contributes to improving live RF remote broadcasting techniques for events.

In 2001, the EUROMEDIA group bought the company and decided to make it a world leader in this type of service via major investments in digital transmission in particular.
In 2005, the acquisition of the LIVETOOLS company enabled SFP to make a significant technological advance with the development of its own (proprietary) modulation system and the first long distance RF high definition live broadcasts.

After several series of tests during 2006, SFP provided the first live coverage in the world of a cycle race in HF high definition during the Paris Tours 2006 (organizer: ASO) for FRANCE TELEVISIONS. Since then, the Paris Roubaix and the 2007 Tour de France have been covered throughout in high definition (5 camera bikes, 1 embedded camera and 3 HD Cineflex).
In 2008, we will be responsible for RF coverage of all the long distance races at the Beijing Olympic Games.