Background
When you think of a filmmaker's arsenal of equipment, it probably conjures up images of video cameras, boom mics, lighting kit, etc. That isn't a wrong assumption by any stretch. However, there is more to it than that given how filmmaking and technology have evolved. Today, in an era of live streaming and high-definition content, reliable connectivity is just as important as traditional considerations such as cinematography. This is where mobile SD-WAN appliances come in. Mobile SD-WAN appliances are now an essential piece of equipment film crews and creators must have on hand, especially when filming in locations with spotty internet connectivity.
Requirements
Lanner collaborated with a system integrator in Northern Europe to develop an SD-WAN OS based on Lanner's vehicle gateway. The solution had the objective of providing reliable, mission-critical connectivity to film crews and creators producing content for the entertainment, fashion, and advertising industries. As such, the solution needed to support Mini PCIe sockets that can be expanded to support 3G/4G/LTE cellular communications. What's more, given potential use outdoors or in challenging environments, the solution had to have wide-temperature operability (-40 to 70°C) and meet the MIL-STD-810G standard for a military-grade shock- and vibration resistance.
Lanner Solution
The final SD-WAN OS developed was based on Lanner's vehicle gateway LVC-2001. To meet filmmaker's and creators' specific needs, the system integrator built a portable solution using a 4G LTE router. It is equipped with one Cat 11 LTE module (600/50 Mbps), dual Ethernet ports, and two Wi-Fi radios (2.4 and 5.0 GHz), and the LVC-2001 was installed in a protective case. Affixed to the front of the case is a specially designed antenna, with two LTE elements and two Wi-Fi elements. The solution was designed to provide reliable internet and Wi-Fi connectivity over a large area, providing strong 4G LTE signals in most places.
The LVC-2001 is a fanless vehicle system featuring a power-efficient CPU, rich I/O functionality, and environmental endurance, making it highly applicable in mobile vehicle settings. LVC-2001 equips the new generation SoC (System-on-Chip) Intel® Bay Trail Atom™ E3825 or E3845 CPU. This processor consumes a low volume of power and delivers the required performance for vehicle computing needs.
LVC-2001 also offers expandable functionality. It boasts an abundance of I/O peripheral connectivity, including two serial COM ports, two video output by HDMI and VGA, USB and Digital I/O ports, two RJ-45 LAN ports, and SATA/mSATA storage options. To achieve wireless network connectivity, LVC-2001 offers three mini-PCIe sockets with four SIM card readers supporting 3G/4G/LTE cellular communications. Also, the compact system comes with an option of CAN bus for concerns of driving behavior analysis.