Random, unpredictable, 2-3 second blackouts

Questions about ATEM Switchers, Camera Converter and everything live!
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JuliusCaesar

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  • Joined: Thu Jul 23, 2020 6:08 pm
  • Real Name: Nicholas Wade

Random, unpredictable, 2-3 second blackouts

PostThu Jul 23, 2020 6:24 pm

Hey,

I recently installed a video system in a casino's poker room. The system consists of these BMD components:

In Rack
Smart VideoHub 40x40
10 12G Teranex Mini Analog to SDI converters
7 12G Teranex Mini HDMI to SDI converters (7 PCs feeding signal from nearby)
Network Switch (providing some PoE power to Teranex)
Furman (for power)
10 DirecTV receivers outputting through component cables with RCA -> BNC adapters on them

Endpoint
BlackmagicDesign SDI to HDMI microconverters outputting through HDMI to TVs
Using iPad and videohub control app for control over the local network

The Problem

The analog to SDI sources (which are the DirecTV receivers) all randomly blackout at different times on different destinations. They will often occur seconds to minutes from each other.

Example, if TV1 is sourced from DTV1, and so are TVs 2-10, TV1 may suffer a blackout and moments later TV8 will suffer a blackout. Same source, different blackout times.

During the blackouts, the lock light on the microconverter endpoints does go away, indicating a loss of signal from the rack. It is perplexing, however, since the same source signal is being fed to the videohub, just coming out different outputs.

After checking all connections and finding nothing wrong, we decided perhaps heat was the issue and added more fans than we could find room for. The problem persists.

Anyone have any idea on what might be causing this particular "rolling" random blackouts?
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Jamesjaros

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  • Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 2:53 pm
  • Real Name: James Jaros

Re: Random, unpredictable, 2-3 second blackouts

PostFri Sep 17, 2021 3:29 pm

Did you ever find a solution for this?
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Lance Lewis

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  • Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 3:36 am

Re: Random, unpredictable, 2-3 second blackouts

PostSun Sep 19, 2021 3:31 pm

It's possible that you have some static electricity in your system. Here's my story of perhaps a similar problem:

Every year when we worked at a particular high school shooting a cheer competition we noticed that a camera would occasionally black out. We were running HDMI out of camera to an SDI converter and then a 200' run back to switcher. It only happened sometimes. When it did happen it was always right after the camera operator was off of a break. It was when they would touch the tripod after standing up. I systematically switched cameras, hdmi cables, converters, and SDI lines but that didn't solve the issue. And the issue didn't happen every time they touched the tripod. After several years I finally pinpointed the problem. The bleachers had plastic seats and most tennis shoes are not made of rubber but of a plastic. I stood up by the camera and rubbed my feet around and touched the tripod and it was like the line was having a seizure.

I was using the ATEM 1 m/e PS4k but have seen similar behavior on the mini extreme pros. I suspect that the atem is very sensitive to power fluctuations coming in on a line. It might even be a safety measure for it's internal components.

Are you in a dry environment? Is the atem on a plastic table? Are the wires running alongside power? Try putting a ground lift into your atem line and see if that makes it worse or better.
-Lance Lewis
Champion Video
www.ChampionVideoOnline.com
Neenah, WI

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