CVS first collaborated with the U. S. Postal Service Headquarters in 1986 when we designed and constructed their first video facility. Since those early days of one inch and GVG 200 switchers, CVS has returned again and again to assist with the migration to Avid editing, in-house uplinking of programming, in-house CATV system design, and general system maintenance and engineering.

Recently, CVS was contracted by the Postal Service to engineer and integrate a fully automated broadcast quality playout system in support of their 24/7 employee information and news channel.  This is one of four high quality video services that is beamed to all Postal Service buildings nationwide via satellite.

The project began with a needs assessment. Once the required functions were agreed upon, a detailed equipment list was developed and supplied to the Postal Service for submission to their Procurement Office.  During the procurement phase, CVS developed the necessary plans to "adjust" the physical space reserved for the Master Control facility.  We designated a wall for removal, specified the required additional electrical wiring, and attended to other details involved in preparing the area to receive the new equipment.

Upon receipt of the equipment, CVS dismantled the existing CATV system and uplink transmission equipment racks, relocated them to the newly prepared area, and added the necessary racks to support the complete master control equipment inventory.

During the equipment purchase phase, the usual CVS documentation was prepared. This consisted of a complete set of rack elevations, and a detailed cable specific wiring diagram. It was very easy to determine how to connect the new equipment because the Postal Service system documentation has been maintained by CVS since the original system construction. The existing documentation was "up to date".

CVS handled all phases of the build-out including the design and delivery of the custom console.

The system provides one video server channel for playout, one video server channel for program ingest, and one video server channel for whatever record or playback requirements the studio control room may have in support of its programming mission. In addition, a nonlinear editing system is also tied into the servers in such a way that long form down links (for example) can be edited "live" as they occur for instant insertion into the automation play list.

Partial Equipment List

• Leitch VR 300 Platform 1
• Leitch VR 300 Platform 2
• Leitch VR 300 Non Linear Editor
• Deko 500 Character Generator

• Sundance Automation
• Ross Master Control Switcher
• Leitch LogoMotion
• DPS 475 Frame Synchronizers

This is a view of the Master Control Operators Position showing the automation CRT, various monitors, and the DEKO compose station.

This is another view of the Master Control Operators Position showing the ingest VTR and dedicated playout VTR. The Scientific Atlanta Power-Vu uplink system is also shown.

This is a view of the server racks.  The various computers comprise the Sundance Automation system, the three Leitch sub-systems, and satellite antenna control. A utility computer is also included as are three UPS systems for the racks.

This is a general view of the Master Control racks. The foreground equipment is part of the in-house CATV system.  Various programming is provided by dedicated DSS receivers and is modulated onto individual channels (modulators not shown). 30 channels are distributed to over 500 locations within the building.