From HD to 4K Full IP: Kiloview Cradle Series RF02 Enables Jinhua Media Group to Modernize Its OB Van

The shift toward IP-based production is reshaping broadcast workflows worldwide, as live production handles more signals, higher resolutions, and increasingly complex setups in limited space. Jinhua Media Group, a municipal-level broadcaster in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China, delivers television, radio, and digital content across news, public affairs, and live events. Facing these changes, the group is upgrading its OB van for next-generation production.

As program standards moved from HD to 4K, its existing setup became harder to scale due to outdated formats and limited rack space. To address this, the group adopted a dual-IP workflow: broadcast-grade production based on SMPTE2110, combined with NDI for flexible field capture and transport. 

Challenges in Upgrading to a 4K IP Workflow in Modern OB Van

Upgrading an OB van for IP workflows is never straightforward. Even with a clear plan in place, the production quickly encountered a set of interrelated challenges that had to be addressed to ensure smooth 4K live production.

• Maximizing space in a compact environment: Traditional setups rely on separate encoders, decoders, protocol gateways, and switches. They consume significant rack space and complicate cabling and cooling, and yet still not enough to support a complete modern IP workflow.
• Coordinating multiple protocols in real time: The workflow had to integrate SMPTE2110 for broadcast-grade production, NDI for lightweight, flexible contribution from field cameras, and SDI baseband signals to maintain compatibility with legacy equipment. 
• Fragmented operations and slow troubleshooting: With numerous devices operating independently, troubleshooting required checking each endpoint one by one. The slow response left little room for error during high-pressure live events, such as major political sessions and sports broadcasts.

Addressing these issues required a workflow that could consolidate devices, handle multiple protocols, and centralize monitoring. 

A Unified IP Workflow Built Around Kiloview Cradle Series RF02

Jinhua Media Group deployed Kiloview’s Cradle Series RF02 as the central media hub for its OB van. As a 2RU rack-mounted, all-in-one media center, the RF02 integrates encoding, decoding, signal distribution, and centralized management into a single system, replacing conventional stacked architectures.

• Maximizing space with integrated architecture: Front-end SDI camera signals are encoded to NDI via N50/N60 and sent over fiber to the OB van. Cradle Series RF02, hosting up to 18 modular cards and paired with FN-50 conversion card this time, consolidates multiple standalone devices into a single 2RU chassis, freeing rack space and simplifying cabling and cooling.
• Enabling seamless multi-protocol workflows: FN-50 decodes incoming 4K NDI streams into 12G-SDI, which are then converted via the IPG Media Gateway into SMPTE ST 2110 for full-IP production and monitoring, while retaining SDI compatibility for legacy systems.
• Centralizing control and improving operational efficiency: Building on the consolidated hardware and multi-protocol workflow, the built-in KiloLink Server Pro inside RF02 offers a unified management interface for real-time monitoring, streamlined signal routing, and rapid troubleshooting—eliminating the need to access individual devices and ensuring smooth, low-latency live production.

With RF02 at its core, the OB van achieves a flexible, efficient, and broadcast-grade 4K workflow, overcoming space constraints, simplifying multi-protocol operations, and enabling rapid, reliable live production in high-pressure environments.

Transforming Jinhua Media Group’s Production Capabilities

Since its deployment, the upgraded OB van has become Jinhua Media Group’s key production hub. NDI’s low-latency, high-quality streams enabled reliable long-distance acquisition, while ST 2110 integration supported full-IP production. The system delivered uninterrupted 4K coverage for major political sessions, allowed rapid setup for sports and commercial events, and gave the technical team hands-on experience in full-IP workflows, accelerating their transition from SDI-based thinking.

By replacing conventional stacked devices with a flexible, open, and efficient NDI-to-ST 2110 hybrid workflow using RF02, Jinhua Media Group provides a practical reference for other broadcasters navigating HD-to-4K and SDI-to-IP transitions, showing how to achieve scalable, high-quality, and future-ready production in compact, mobile environments.