G/046: Difference between revisions

Some programs had been broadcast from the new studio during the summer term of 1994 (for example [[Week by Week]]). However, due to other pressing matters (exams) not all the fitment was complete. The studio lacked any organised method of patching signals to and from the studio and control room. Cables were sent directly from equipment in the control room to the corresponding equipment in the studio, leading to a mass of spaghetti at the hole in the wall. During the latter half of the summer term a patching system of cables was devised. A number of connection boxes were spread around the studio and control room. The realisation of the system was greatly assisted by [[Dominic Plunkett]], who managed to obtain a large quantity of high quality connectors from Neutrick by some unknown means.  Each connection box contained 6 female XLR, 4 male XLR, 6 isolated BNC and 2 D9. In the studio, these fed back to the hole in the wall between the studio and control room via a custom built plywood and spruce conduit. The was constructed by [[Adrian Jones]] and [[Owain Davies]] using the [[Chris Kwouk]]'s drill. In fact, Chris' drill almost had almost a permanent home in the studio during this time, where it was invaluable in many construction projects. The cables routed back to the main patching panels in the studio next to the hole in the wall and the YSTV rack. Each connector type went onto a different panel (apart from the D9). The cut-outs on the main panels and the connector boxes were made by [[Paul Hollow]] and Owain using the punch set on the top floor of Physics/Electronics. Each panel was hinged allowing it to swing open. Somehow Owain ended up with the job of soldering all the connectors to the cables which he did while listening to Ray Cokes on MTV. At the time, some people commented on the strange numbering system for the boxes (9, 8, 7 etc). This was due to an equal quantity of each cable numbering marker being acquired by Owain. Each cable was given a two digit label, connection box number and then cable number. If the boxes were numbered 1,2,3 etc, the numbers at the lower end would have run out, so the connection boxes were given high numbers.