Field Streaming Backpack
Camera → HDMI hardware encoder → bonded cellular uplinks. Hot-swap V-mount power, strain-relieved cabling, weather hood, and settings that actually hold under crowd RF.
Mission Profile
1080p60 H.264/H.265
2× LTE/5G (carrier diversity)
SRT or RTMP push
V-mount 14.4 V (98–150 Wh)
12/9/5 V rails
Weather hood + desiccant
Safety: Fuse every DC branch (3–5 A typical). Use certified modems and carrier-legal bands. No jammers. Respect venue RF rules.
Target Specs
| Video | 1080p60 (or 720p60 fallback), H.264/H.265 hardware encoding |
|---|---|
| Uplinks | Two independent LTE/5G paths (USB/Ethernet), optional Starlink handoff at base |
| Bonding | SpeedFusion (router) or Speedify (mini-PC); streaming priority QoS |
| Power | V-mount 14.4 V → D-tap distribution → 12 V / 5 V (and 9 V if needed) via DC bucks |
| Audio | Wireless lav to camera (or encoder line-in); IEM for return monitoring |
| Rugged | Right-angle connectors, drip loops, cable clamps, weather hood, internal frame plate |
Bill of Materials
Compute & Network
- HDMI hardware encoder (12 V input, 10–18 W, SRT/RTMP)
- Bonding brain: SpeedFusion router or mini-PC running Speedify
- 2× LTE/5G modems (carrier-diverse SIMs; USB or Ethernet CPE)
- USB 3 hub (powered from 5 V rail) if using multiple USB modems
Power & Distribution
- V-mount 14.4 V battery (98 Wh flight-safe; 150 Wh for longer runs)
- D-tap (P-tap) distribution block with per-branch 3–5 A fuses
- Bucks: 14.4→12 V (5–8 A), 14.4→5 V (3–5 A), (opt) 14.4→9 V (3–5 A)
- Inline D-tap wattmeter
IO & Cabling
- Right-angle HDMI (short, high-quality), coiled section at shoulder
- Shielded Ethernet (short patch + 1–2 m spare coil)
- Right-angle USB-C/USB 3 cables; Velcro wraps; cable clamps
- Mini patch panel near strap: HDMI, USB, RJ45 feed-throughs
RF & Protection
- 2× LTE/5G MIMO antennas with 10–15 cm separation; short SMA pigtails
- Ferrite clips for noisy runs
- Clear weather hood, desiccant packs, moisture card
- Backpack/chest rig with internal frame plate (HDPE or aluminum)
Wiring Snapshot
[V-mount 14.4 V] │ ├─ D-tap Wattmeter → D-tap Distro (each branch 3–5 A fused) │ │ │ ├─ Buck 14.4→12 V (5–8 A) → Encoder 12 V IN │ ├─ Buck 14.4→12 V (3–5 A) → Router / Mini-PC 12 V │ ├─ Buck 14.4→5 V (3–5 A) → USB hub / Modems │ └─ (Optional) Buck 14.4→9 V → Camera / Accessory │ Camera HDMI → Encoder → (Ethernet) → Router/Mini-PC LAN Modem A + Modem B → Bonded uplinks (WAN1 / WAN2)
Keep all DC negatives common at the distro. Label every branch (12V-ENC, 12V-ROUT, 5V-HUB, 9V-CAM).
Build Steps
- Plate & Mounts: Cut an HDPE/aluminum plate to your pack. Mount encoder mid-plate, router low, hub adjacent. Leave airflow gap around fins.
- Power Harness: V-mount → wattmeter → D-tap distro. Install buck modules on standoffs; set loaded outputs (12.2 V under encoder draw).
- Signal Harness: Right-angle HDMI with drip loop; short shielded Ethernet; short USB 3 for modems.
- RF Layout: Two LTE antennas ≥10–15 cm apart, orient orthogonal; SMA pigtails <30 cm; ferrites if self-noise.
- Weather & Relief: Clear hood with vent gaps; every cable gets a relief loop + tie-down; no straight pulls on ports.
- Thermals: Keep encoder case <60 °C. If ambient >35 °C, add a silent 40–60 mm fan on 5 V rail blowing across fins.
- Label & QR: Label WAN1/WAN2, HDMI, 12/5/9 V rails. Optional QR to this guide.
Runtime & Data Calculators
Power Budget
| Device | Watt | Duty % | Qty | Avg W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Avg Load: 0 W
Runtime
Usable: — Wh
Runtime: — h
Packs for 6h: —
Tip: two 98 Wh packs ≈ 4–5 h at ~30–40 W. Hot-swap at ~20% SOC.
Data Use (Streaming)
Est. GB: —
Per WAN (2 uplinks): —
Bonding & Encoder Settings
Peplink SpeedFusion
Speedify (Software)
Encoder Presets
Peplink SpeedFusion (appliance route)
- WAN1 = Modem A, WAN2 = Modem B (or Starlink at base). Enable SpeedFusion Cloud or your own.
- Mode: Hot Failover + WAN Smoothing. Health checks: ICMP + HTTPS (5 s, 3 fails).
- Set MTU 1400–1420 if fragmentation; QoS prioritize encoder IP:ports (SRT/RTMP).
Speedify (mini-PC route)
- Add WANs: USB modem A, USB modem B (Ethernet if present). Enable Streaming Mode.
- Redundant packets 10–15% in rough RF; cap a misbehaving WAN to avoid bufferbloat.
- Disable NIC power-saving. Prefer Ethernet to encoder; keep USB 3 cables short.
Encoder Presets
| Profile | Codec | Resolution | Bitrate | Keyframe | Latency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default | H.264 High L4.2 | 1080p60 | 6 Mbps | 1–2 s | SRT 150–200 ms |
| Bandwidth-save | H.264 High | 720p60 | 3.5–4 Mbps | 1–2 s | SRT 150–200 ms |
| Quality push | H.265 Main | 1080p60 | 4.5–6 Mbps | 1–2 s | SRT 200–250 ms |
Audio: 48 kHz, 128–192 kbps AAC
RTMP fallback 4–6 Mbps
RF Layout & Antenna Placement
Rules that prevent pain
- MIMO spacing: ≥10–15 cm, orthogonal orientation (one vertical, one ~45–90°).
- Shortest possible SMA pigtails (<30 cm). Use low-loss coax if you must extend.
- Avoid cable bundles running parallel for long distances; cross at 90° when needed.
- Ferrite clips on long USB/Ethernet if you see self-interference.
ASCII Placement Sketch
[Antenna A] 10–15 cm [Antenna B] | | (SMA bulkhead) (SMA bulkhead) | | Modem A Modem B \ / \_______ Router/Mini-PC ___/ \____ Ethernet ___/ | Encoder ← HDMI from Camera
Weatherproofing & Thermal Control
- Clear hood with side/back vent gaps; desiccant + moisture card inside.
- Drip loops before every device; right-angle connectors reduce lever arm on ports.
- Keep encoder case <60 °C; router <50 °C. Add a 40–60 mm fan on 5 V rail for hot days.
Pre-Flight Checklist
Power
- Battery ≥80%, spare ready
- Per-branch fuses seated
- 12/5/9 V rails verified under load
Network
- SIMs seated, APNs set
- Both WANs registered & healthy
- Bonding session connected
Video/Audio
- HDMI locked, no flicker
- Audio meters moving
- Bitrate matches venue capacity
Quick Start — Lid Card
Go Live
- Seat V-mount → check wattmeter.
- Encoder ON → HDMI preview OK.
- WAN1 & WAN2: green.
- Start SRT/RTMP push (preset).
If Trouble
- Drop to 720p60 @ 3.5–4 Mbps.
- Disable flapping WAN; prefer cleaner link.
- Swap battery at 20% SOC.
Operational Tests
- Bench Burn-In (30 min): 1080p60 stream; log watts, temps; verify hot-swap battery without encoder/router power loss.
- Failover Drill: Pull WAN1 (Modem A) → latency bump <5 s; pull WAN2; restore both.
- Motion Test: Walk/jog/stairs; confirm no HDMI micro-disconnects; re-dress cables if needed.
- RF Stress: Crowd test; watch bonding stats; cap a misbehaving WAN.
- Thermal Soak: 60 min in sun with hood; encoder <60 °C; router <50 °C; add fan if not.
Troubleshooting Matrix
| Symptom | Check | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Video drops / freezes | HDMI strain, encoder temp, bitrate > cell capacity | Right-angle HDMI & relief; add fan; drop to 6→4 Mbps or 1080→720p |
| Stutters under load | One WAN flapping or bufferbloat | Disable/cap that WAN; enable smoothing/redundancy |
| Short runtime | Load higher than budget; old battery | Measure watts; remove non-essentials; carry extra pack |
| RF trash / poor signal | Antenna spacing/orientation; long noisy cables | Re-space MIMO; shorten pigtails; add ferrites; relocate modem |
Spares & Packing List
- V-mount spare battery; D-tap splitter; inline fuses
- Short HDMI spare; USB-C spare; 1–2 m Ethernet spare
- SIM tool; APN notes; QR to this guide
- Velcro ties; gaffer; ferrite clips; desiccant
Notes & References
- Use your device manuals for exact voltage/current requirements and SRT/RTMP setup pages.
- Bitrate picks should match venue capacity; start conservative (6 Mbps for 1080p60), raise only when stable.
- Fuse near sources; keep high-current runs short; label every branch for field swaps.