VidOvation has announced that NBC affiliate station WPSD, based in Paducah, Kentucky, has expanded its field newsgathering capabilities with the AVIWEST DMNG PRO 180 3G/4G bonded cellular video transmission system.

Designed for newsgathering professionals, the AVIWEST DMNG PRO includes eight embedded 3G/4G modems. This gives the system the ability to bond any combination of network interfaces including local cellular and WiFi networks, Ethernet, and satellite for high-quality and reliable video transmission links. In addition to the DMNG PRO’s built-in high-efficiency custom antenna array, WPSD is also attaching two AVIWEST QUAD external antenna units, combining eight patented high-efficiency wideband antennas for faster network acquisition and improved signal resilience when the DMNG PRO is used inside a vehicle.

Back in the station, an AVIWEST DMNG StreamHub receiver, decoder, and distribution platform receives the live video feeds and delivers them to master control for the live broadcast. WPSD is also using the AVIWEST DMNG Manager, which enables the station to manage and control all DMNG PRO and DMNG APP transmissions with a single interface.

WPSD initially tested the DMNG PRO for recent coverage of widespread flooding. The station was experiencing technical difficulties with its microwave receiver used to acquire live shots from the southern Illinois viewing area. With rising river levels causing evacuations, levee breaches, and road closures, it was not possible to deploy a microwave truck to obtain live shots from southern Illinois. However, using the DMNG PRO, multiple reporters were able to go live from the water’s edge during a single newscast. Later, during a snowstorm, news crews were able to report on road conditions from multiple locations by broadcasting live from their vehicles using the DMNG PRO and a GoPro camera.

“As a family-owned, medium-sized TV station, we have to be budget-conscious. Along with our ABC and CBS affiliate competitors, we’re also unique in that we cover four states in the Paducah/Harrisburg/Cape Girardeau market. This means a lot of travel in order to offer complete coverage of breaking news,” said Mike Spissinger, Chief Photographer, WPSD. “With the DMNG PRO, we’re able to reach locations that would be inaccessible for a microwave truck, and we can do live shots for a fraction of the cost and hassle of setting up a truck. Since the DMNG PRO and DMNG APP are so easy to use, even for our non-technical journalists, we can always be news-ready. We can even go live while driving to and from the scene.”