Riedel A/V and comms network for Australia's International Fleet Review
Published: ASIA
AUSTRALIA: Riedel Communications has provided Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Government and the City of Sydney with a citywide TETRA system and MediorNet real-time network, as well as Artist intercom systems for the International Fleet Review.
Commemorating the arrival of the original Royal Australian Navy fleet in Sydney Harbour a century ago, the International Fleet Review took place between October 3rd and 11th, drawing approximately 40 warships, 16 tall ships, more than 60 aircraft, 10 military bands, and 8,000 sailors from 17 nations around the world.
According to senior project engineer Jason Owen, Riedel’s contribution comprised a ‘flexible and comprehensive solution for mission-critical signal transport, helping to make it a spectacular event worthy of the occasion’.
Attracting thousands of spectators to Sydney Harbour, the event witnessed HMA Ships Sydney, Darwin, Perth, Parramatta, Bundaberg, Diamontina, and Huon enter the harbour in line, just as the first Australian navy fleet of seven cruisers and destroyers did for the first time on October 4th, 1913. This time around, their arrival was met by a Navy helicopter display at Bradley's Head and a 21-gun salute. Other nations participating included Brunei, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Tonga, the UK, and the US.
Nine Riedel MediorNet frames were employed across five locations to enable the transport of HD-SDI, audio, and Ethernet over 13km of fibre extending through the city and harbour. A Riedel Artist intercom system deployed on this network made hard-wired talkback facilities available at key vantage points. To facilitate complete coverage at harbour sites and in multiple control rooms for production, site management, workplace health and safety, and creative teams, Riedel provided a hybrid system comprising both TETRA and analogue Motorola products. In total, the installation supported 250 radios across 20 channels.
In addition, the Motorola system provided redundancy not only for the TETRA system, but also for the FireOne system used to trigger fireworks during a special show directed by Trevor Smith of Imagination Australia along with Chameleon Touring Systems and Fori Fireworks.
Elsewhere, a hybrid UHF/IP system also provided by Riedel delivered MA-NET lighting control signals to approximately 30 land-based and naval warship lighting locations. The UHF transmission service delivered SMPTE time code, while the wireless IP network converted the time code to IP and transmitted it to adjacent locations. Riedel separated the IP system into six geo-tagged zones so that each lighting location could be accessed only within its designated zone. A second FM transmission service delivered stereo audio program content to multiple live sites across Sydney.