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From Mountaintops to Mounds: The PicoTXR Redefines Ultra-Light Wireless Broadcast
- 17 November, 2025
How Wave Central's PicoTXR unlocks new creative angles -
from Umpire cameras to high-speed micro drones...
USA: In live production, every gram and watt count. Whether capturing the intensity behind home plate
or following an athlete down a mountain, broadcasters need wireless systems that are lighter, smarter,
and more efficient - without sacrificing image quality or reliability.
That's where Wave Central's PicoTXR takes flight. Purpose-built for mobility, PicoTXR delivers broadcast-grade video in a footprint small enough for sub-250g drones and compact enough for body-worn solutions like RF Wireless's UmpVu. When every milligram matters, PicoTXR helps producers capture what no one else can.
The challenge: capturing the impossible shot
Today's directors want faster, closer, more dynamic perspectives. Drones, ref cams, and body-mounted
systems make that possible, but traditional wireless gear adds weight, drains power, and can't always
meet broadcast latency or quality standards.
Teams needed a transmitter that was ultra-light, efficient, and broadcast-ready.
The solution: PicoTXR takes the field
Enter PicoTXR, the next-generation wireless video transmitter engineered by Wave Central and
Domo Broadcast System (DBS). Its ultra-efficient RF architecture and lightweight mechanical design deliver pristine, low-latency HD video over demanding links - without burdening drones or operators.
Built for flexibility, PicoTXR can be integrated into sub-250g aerial platforms or ref cam systems for immersive, on-field viewpoints. The same core design powers both - giving production teams
one system that scales across many applications.
Drone Application: agility without compromise
At the Downhill Mountain biking, production crews needed to film downhill mountain bikers at full speed - weaving through forests, descending rocky trails, and maintaining visual contact throughout.
Using lightweight drones equipped with the PicoTXR, teams captured high-motion, close-proximity footage in real time. Despite the altitude changes and unpredictable RF conditions, PicoTXR delivered crystal-clear video directly to the broadcast truck.
Its minimal weight kept drones under the 250g regulatory threshold, extending flight time and simplifying compliance. The result: cinematic pursuit shots once thought impossible, now broadcast live - reliably,
and in perfect sync with the main feed.
Ref cam (umpVu) Application: bringing fans behind the plate
In Major League Baseball's UmpVu system, created and owned by RF Wireless Systems, the PicoTXR provides a new vantage point - literally from the umpire's perspective. Mounted to a compact rig on the umpire's mask, the system delivers live HD video directly into the broadcast workflow with the same precision and reliability as full-size camera systems.
The lightweight, ultra-efficient design not only minimizes heat and physical strain but also delivers exceptionally long battery life, reducing the need for mid-game equipment changes or battery swaps. This extended endurance helps lower operator fatigue and prevents unnecessary disruption or interference with the athletes - a crucial advantage during high-stress,
fast-paced moments of play.
With PicoTXR, broadcasters can truly immerse audiences in the game itself - without intrusive gear, workflow interruptions, or compromise to performance.
Why it matters: creative freedom, operational efficiency
By combining miniaturized hardware with production-grade performance, PicoTXR redefines mobile broadcast. Crews can now deploy new POV systems with studio-quality results while reducing weight, power, and setup time.
For producers, it means more angles, longer runtimes, and smoother integration across live workflows - solutions that blend effortlessly into production environments.
New Pico updates include record-low power draw: 4.2W for extended battery life. Solid link performance: advanced modulation ensures stable 3G HD video. Seamless workflow integration: native support for on-prem and REMI control systems. Ultra-light system weight: true sub-250g operation, transmitter only 42g. New Kestrel camera line (coming soon): direct sensor integration for even smaller, lower-power designs.
The takeaway
The PicoTXR proves lightweight doesn't mean light performance. Whether chasing athletes down a mountain or capturing the perfect strike-zone view, PicoTXR gives creators freedom without compromise.
In an industry where every angle counts, Wave Central's PicoTXR ensures no shot is out of reach.
A shared vision: global innovation through collaboration
Wave Central and DBS stand as sister companies united by a common mission - to redefine what's possible in wireless video transmission. By leveraging shared technical platforms, engineering expertise, manufacturing resources, and a high standard of client support across regions, the two brands deliver complementary solutions tailored to distinct markets while advancing one global technology roadmap.
This collaboration allows innovations like the PicoTXR platform to scale rapidly across both broadcast and specialist applications, ensuring that every advancement - from power efficiency to workflow integration - benefits customers worldwide.
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