Even if you have a preference for another brand, you have to hand it to GoPro for their innovation in the field of POV action cameras. The company’s constant push to produce tiny, versatile cameras with high quality video output has launched them from people’s helmets and chests to the silver screen. Now they’re bringing a small but powerful tool to professional broadcasters with their new HEROCast wireless HD transmitters.
Developed in partnership with Vislink, the HEROCast was recently launched as the world’s smallest, lightest and most cost-efficient wireless HD micro transmitter available. The transmitter allows broadcasters to instantly insert live-feed footage from GoPro cameras, providing immersive perspectives that bring the audience closer than ever to the action…
The HEROCast transmitters integrate with GoPro’s cameras and mounts to offer broadcasters a versatile solution for creating engaging visuals. If you happened to catch either the 2015 ESPN X-Games in Aspen, Colorado or the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend on television, you’ve already seen some of the new angles the system makes possible within a live broadcast. Like GoPro’s cameras, the transmitters are designed to be rugged and durable for use in harsh environments and action sports applications.
The transmitters are compatible with Hero 3+ Black and Hero 4 cameras, and can be purchased in two different setups. The HEROCast package includes a remote transmitter unit that connects to the camera with a lockable HDMI cable. This setup is ideal for body mounting (as seen on sledder Colton Moore’s helmet in the title shot) or any application that suits the separated units. The HEROCast BacPac kit places a wireless transmitter behind your GoPro in an expanded BacPac case. It’s a bulkier unit that sits on a single mount, but the case offers water resistance to IP67 specifications where the HEROCast setup does not.
GoPro’s transmitter is capable of sending high definition video in 1080p/30fps and 720p/60fps using industry standard H.264 encoding with low latency. GoPro claims it’s the most power-efficient wireless transmitter for professional broadcasting. Battery life is estimated at up to 40 minutes but the units can also be powered externally for extended use. On the BacPac model, the case must be open to connect the camera to a power source, so you’ll sacrifice the water resistance for some extra juice.
Aimed squarely at the professional market these devices don’t sound cheap, but comparatively they are less than half the cost of other wireless HD transmitters. Either model of the HEROCast costs $7500. The HEROCast package includes the transmitter unit and HDMI cable. The HEROCast BacPac bundles the wireless transmitter and BacPac housing together. Neither includes the camera, but most buyers will presumably be adding this accessory to their existing arsenal of GoPros.
For the general public these aren’t going to be on many wish lists, but it will be exciting to see the impact of this device as we watch future event broadcasts. This summer, the transmitters will be back in action at the X-Games in Austin, Texas so viewers will see some cool new angles shot right from the athlete’s point of view.
