Wow. Take a look at this...

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

I can tell you one thing for certain, it isn't the length of the cables. And you'd know that if you understood physics.

Cables are dramatically faster than that at any length possible in even the largest arena...unless they're using the worst cables ever made.

Camron, trust me, I understand physics. I also work in television. The type of cables you're talking about aren't the same type of cables used to wire up the timing devices in an arena, especially an older building like Westchester County Arena.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Camron, trust me, I understand physics. I also work in television. The type of cables you're talking about aren't the same type of cables used to wire up the timing devices in an arena, especially an older building like Westchester County Arena.

I'm talking basic low-grade networking cable, costs pennies, nothing fancy. The cable just isn't going to make the difference when we're talking about a tenth of a second. There may be differences in the system that causes delays, but isn't the cables. And yes, I design high speed electronics for a living and it actually involves dealing with delays on wires.

[SamG]

If you can transmit and receive from a satellite in <.25 (1/4 second), and the distance is 45,000 miles to make that trip (22,500 one way), I highly doubt even 2000 feet of cable is going to "slow down" a picture.

Here's the other thing to think about... as long as the camera shooting the action and the camera shooting the clock are both "delayed" (right, that's what you're saying, that the cable distance affects speed), then they're still in sync.

They could both be delayed 10 seconds, but as long as they're in sync they're accurate.

And another thought... broadcasts (from college to pro) are used all the time to review last second shots. They use the same technology that was shown in the reply (game/shot clock superimposed over game camera). If the system is inaccurate, why use it?

[APG]

Originally Posted by SamG

And another thought... broadcasts (from college to pro) are used all the time to review last second shots. They use the same technology that was shown in the reply (game/shot clock superimposed over game camera). If the system is inaccurate, why use it?

I know, at least in the NBA, they aren't using superimposed clocks. Since the game clock is the first clock of importance when determining the end of the period in the NBA, they're using shots with the game clock in the view of the camera (followed by LED lights which is next on the list when determining end of period/shot clock period).

[SamG]

Originally Posted by APG

I know, at least in the NBA, they aren't using superimposed clocks. Since the game clock is the first clock of importance when determining the end of the period in the NBA, they're using shots with the game clock in the view of the camera (followed by LED lights which is next on the list when determining end of period/shot clock period).

I agree that would be ideal. I have also worked games (in the broadcast truck) where the camera operator goofed and didn't include the clock in the shot. Then they go to the superimposed clock.

My point is simply they use the superimposed clock many times, why would it all of a sudden be considered "inaccurate" now? Just as a reminder, I'm not talking about the computer generated clock that is used through most of the game, but superimposing the "clock" camera over the "game" camera.

[zm1283]

I may have posted about this before, but I was at a game a few years ago when the clock/TV thing came into play. Missouri State was playing at St. Louis University in 2006. MSU was up 50-49 and SLU had the last possession. They took a shot with a couple seconds left, followed by a tip-in at the buzzer. The officials went to the monitor and ended up counting the basket. A day or two later, it came out that the TV broadcast that they used to watch the replays was off by 3/10 of a second, so the clock on the screen showed .3 on the clock when the ball was tipped. If you watch the video of it below, you can actually pause it at a certain frame and hear the horn start to go off and the ball isn't even touching the shooter's hand yet on the tip-in.

SLU vs Missouri State Basketball - YouTube

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by SamG

I agree that would be ideal. I have also worked games (in the broadcast truck) where the camera operator goofed and didn't include the clock in the shot. Then they go to the superimposed clock.

My point is simply they use the superimposed clock many times, why would it all of a sudden be considered "inaccurate" now? Just as a reminder, I'm not talking about the computer generated clock that is used through most of the game, but superimposing the "clock" camera over the "game" camera.

There's a picture floating about from a game last year (or the year prior) where the clock above the basket showed 0.0 and the clock elsewhere in the arena showed 0.x

(I think this is (part of) what led to the slight rule change to require the use of the clock above the basket.)

So, if the superimposed clock is the one above the basket, no problem. If it's from elsewhere in the arena, ...

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

There's a picture floating about from a game last year (or the year prior) where the clock above the basket showed 0.0 and the clock elsewhere in the arena showed 0.x

(I think this is (part of) what led to the slight rule change to require the use of the clock above the basket.)

So, if the superimposed clock is the one above the basket, no problem. If it's from elsewhere in the arena, ...

In fact there was a game this season (Gonzaga/Butler I think) where from one camera angle you see the 2 different times between the backboard clock and the arena clock.

[SamG]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

There's a picture floating about from a game last year (or the year prior) where the clock above the basket showed 0.0 and the clock elsewhere in the arena showed 0.x

(I think this is (part of) what led to the slight rule change to require the use of the clock above the basket.)

So, if the superimposed clock is the one above the basket, no problem. If it's from elsewhere in the arena, ...

Fair enough. I assume the officials go by the one above the basket?

I'll try to keep that in mind when doing future broadcasts.