How Falkon Is Redefining 5G Video Contribution for Live Production

When broadcasters need to cover breaking news or live sporting events, they require dependable live contribution technology that delivers high-quality video, especially in challenging network conditions. With production teams working across a growing range of locations and workflows, flexibility and reliability are essential.

The Haivision Falkon family of 5G mobile video transmitters, including the compact Falkon X2 which combines broadcast-quality video encoding and transmission with the flexibility and portability needed for today’s mobile production workflows is purpose-built to meet today’s most demanding broadcast challenges.

Keep reading this post to learn how the Falkon X2’s multiple hardware options, versatile mounting options, and advanced network bonding technology allow broadcasters to easily go live from anywhere.

Broadcast-quality video and advanced connectivity

Compact yet powerful, the Haivision Falkon X2 delivers the high-quality video and resilient connectivity broadcasters need to capture breaking news, major events, and live sports wherever they happen. The Falkon X2 easily mounts directly to a camera or into a backpack, giving camera operators complete freedom of movement and an internal rechargeable battery provides hours of continuous live broadcasting in the field, freeing crews from the need for external battery packs.

To produce sharp, vibrant imagery, the Falkon X2 supports live HD video and High Dynamic Range (HDR), connecting seamlessly to standard broadcast cameras through SDI and HDMI inputs. Live video transmission remains robust even in crowded or challenging locations thanks to two built-in 5G cellular modems, Wi-Fi 6, and wired Ethernet.

For productions in remote locations, it can also tap into compatible low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to transmit live footage where standard cellular coverage is limited. On-site setup and monitoring is easy and fast using the built-in color touchscreen on the device or an intuitive web interface accessible from any smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

Key capabilities of the Falkon X2 include:

• Broadcast-quality video encoding: HEVC (H.265) and AVC (H.264) encoding with support for 10-bit 4:2:2 video delivers high-quality images with low latency.
• Advanced network bonding: Haivision Safe Streams Transport (SST) technology combines multiple connections and adapts to changing network conditions to improve transmission reliability.
• Intercom and video return: Low latency communication and return video help keep camera operators, on-air talent, and production teams connected.
• Recording and progressive file transfer: Integrated storage enables local recording and the transfer of high-quality video files while production is still underway.
• Remote camera control: IP connectivity supports remote camera shading and PTZ control, enabling centralized production teams to work with less resources in the field.

When paired with the Haivision StreamHub receiver and Haivision Hub 360 cloud-based master control, the Falkon X2 also enables centralized management, monitoring, and routing of live video feeds, helping broadcasters streamline remote production workflows.

Flexibility for every production

Designed to support diverse field workflows, including mobile journalism and live sporting events, Falkon X2 delivers versatile configurations that adapt to production demands without adding unnecessary weight or complexity:

• Gold-Mount and V-Mount: Mount directly to broadcast cameras or pairs with a dedicated broadcast backpack for enhanced operator mobility.
• Compact Shoulder Bag and Backpack Options: Offers an ultra-portable solution for mobile journalists.
• Moving Vehicle and External Antenna Support: Features external SMA antenna connectors to overcome obstructions such as large buildings and combines dual 5G modems with SST network bonding to maintain reliable, low latency live video on the move.

Falkon X2 delivers dependable performance in the field

For the Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament, production company Badger & Combes deployed a lightweight, remote broadcast workflow to cover 664 live matches across eight pitch locations to a global audience.

For live video contribution, Haivision Falkon X2 mobile video transmitters were deployed as part of an end-to-end Haivision ecosystem at several camera positions across multiple venues. The Falkon X2 provided reliable, low latency live video from the matches, leveraging Haivision’s SST protocol to securely transmit feeds over the public internet while also supporting return video feeds so on-site engineers could monitor action from other locations.

As part of the workflow, the Falkon X2’s live feed traveled over 3,000 miles from Dubai to two Haivision StreamHub receivers at the central production hub in Manchester, England, at latencies as low as one and a half seconds. This rapid and resilient delivery enabled the remote team to execute live switching, graphics, and replays seamlessly, while StreamHub simultaneously recorded the incoming streams for archiving and post-production.

By integrating the Falkon X2 into the workflow, the production team maintained broadcast-quality coverage across hundreds of matches while reducing on-site infrastructure and equipment to just a few portable cases as Colin McKevitt, Managing Director, Badger & Combes explains:

“The Haivision equipment was lightweight, easy to deploy, and highly cost-effective, enabling us to deliver a full-scale production with a minimal on-site footprint and significantly reduced operational costs.”

The solution for multiple live production workflows

Every live production comes with its own set of unique challenges. Some depend on lightweight equipment that can move quickly alongside the action, while others require multi-camera contribution from demanding remote locations. The Haivision Falkon X2 mobile transmitter provides production crews with reliable, high-quality live video, so they can deliver the story no matter where it’s unfolding.