Posted: 3/20/2003 7:23:08 PM EDT
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So, after years of technological improvements to video equipment, satellite feeds, and the introduction of "embeds" of the press with the troops, the new footage of Iraq is still no better than the Lunar Landing in '69. What the fuck? My personal video camera could take better footage. My eyes are tired from squinting at the TV, and still not seeing anything. [pissed] Grrrr... -UHLEK- |
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Well, it has to be compact, and they have to carry the uplink equipment, so that takes up space. And the smaller you go, the less quality you have. Plus everything seems to be going live through satellite, and bandwidth could be an issue. Then their uplink isn't stationary like they parked a big truck outside (like when they do spot news and they have time to point the uplink and have it remain in a stationary position), so that affects signal quality. For pete's sake, man, they're halfway around the world covering a war live as it happens. Do you want HDTV broadcast with dolby 5.1 too? |
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Quoted: Old Vietnam video from 30 years ago was better resolution than what they are using now. That's because it was filmed. This is going live and being uplinked. They have to make compromises. If the cameras are rolling tape as well, you will probably see higher quality video in a few weeks or months. But right now it's all about getting the best image they can with the smallest, most portable, most bandwidth efficient equipment possible. |
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I'm amazed and happy to see it. Hell, this is what I could be seeing if I wasn't 4F. I'm not complaining. Also, and I don't say such things often, but my hat is off to the media. In this respect they are doing a fine job, Fox and CNN, talking about the OPSEC requirements and how they're sorry if there seems to be holes in their stories but there are reasons. It went to the point where the Fox News guy went to point out some tanks on his flanks and went "We've got tanks to our...well, I'm not sure I should say cardinal directions, but on either side of us." Maybe 'cause they've been living with the troops and are also at risk, but these front line reporters seem to be doing a fantastic job or walking that line between reporting and giving away stuff. |
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Old Vietnam video from 30 years ago was better resolution than what they are using now. And...about 36 hours later...we've never had a "real" time battle picture. Pretty freaking amazing if you ask me. Can you imagine what Saddam and his boyz are thinking??? "Oh, hell..[b]Here they come!![/b]" I think we all just want this thing to be over...I would like to hear some more bombs drop though.[:D] |
| Okay, I was just watching fox for a few minutes. We're seeing live footage of troops and machinery on the move in a war zone halfway around the globe. I don't care if it looks like it's coming over real player, it's freaking amazing that we're actually seeing this. |
| some of you guys need to wake the fuck up....they are streaming voice and video data via sattelite halfway around the world IN REAL TIME. comparing it to vietnam video...how fucking stupid is that. it wasnt "video" in vietnam..it was FILM. then that film had to go to thailand and get processed then sent to hawaii via courier and then it would get sent to new york. THEN it would get on TV and 48hrs was recent. you are seeing it uncensored, uncut, in your home with a 15second lag...quit crying about it. or at the very least if you are too stupid to realize a historical innovation when its right in front of you keep your mouth shut so you dont embarrass yourselves. the hardware is man portable, battery powered and rugged enough to live in the field. it is an unprecedented technological innovation. enjoy it |
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I can't figure out what the uplink method is - a digital cell phone has a 9.6K ability and I REALLY doubt that there's cell towers out there. That means that they're linking via satellite - off of a rolling, pitching and moving HUMVEE. They have to hold a one degree angle on the satellite and need about 300 pounds of equipment stuffed in that thing. I don't think that the military is linking this via UHF/VHF comms - too much bandwidth. Fricken amazing and I can't wait for the technical details in the Broadcast Electronics and like magazines following the war. |
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This stuff is unprecedented! Video from an actual combat convoy in real time. I wonder if they will continue to allow being filmed if / when there is hot combat. At the rate we're going, all those JDAMS won't even be used. Most of the stuff on the ground is doing the damage apparently. |