Stations that carry play-by-play now have another way to get sideline reporter audio moving. Comrex has launched FieldLink Cloud, a subscription service that widens how its FieldLink codec can connect, adding 4G/5G and public Wi-Fi as options. The company is showing it at NAB Show New York this week.
FieldLink is Comrex's sideline reporter codec, built as a lower-cost alternative to wireless mic and IFB setups. Reporters on the field use their smartphones and the free Comrex FieldTap app to send and receive low-delay audio through a directional, private wireless access point that links them to the press box.
The new cloud piece is a server that Comrex manages itself. The company said the server "gets around complex router and firewall issues to make connections fast and simple." Users control it from the default web browser on an iOS or Android device, which Comrex said provides connection, control and statistics while linked to the codec. Anyone who has fought a stadium network firewall before kickoff will see the appeal.
Comrex also released FieldLink Studio, an upgrade that lets the codec double as the return link to the studio. According to Comrex, it works with all of the company's IP codecs and can pass audio to and from the public internet while still handling the sideline feeds. "FieldLink will allow up to four sideline reporters simultaneously along with the FieldLink Studio connection (if licensed)," the company said.
Buyers of a FieldLink codec get the first year of FieldLink Cloud free. Signup is handled from the codec's own screen.