The PA People deploys ‘world’s largest ceremony comms system’
Published: MEA
AZERBAIJAN: Sydney’s The PA People travelled to Azerbaijan recently to deliver what it described as the ‘world's largest ceremony communications system’. The company won the contract to provide two-way radio, intercom, CCTV and technical services for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Baku European Games, and chose to rely on equipment from Clear-Com.
‘The scale of the project was pretty remarkable,’ explained Chris Dodds, managing director at The PA People. ‘In many ways it was a bigger undertaking than Sochi. The other particularly notable aspect of the project was the use of the Clear-Com FreeSpeak II [DECT-based wireless communications] system to cater to the moving stage. The production crew did not include full duplex on the original specification, but as the artistic component of the event developed – and after we had been appointed as contractor – it was determined that a full duplex solution would constitute a significant advantage for the ceremonies.’
With a requirement for 80 or more bodypacks, and with 50 or so packs generally constituting the maximum for a single-location FreeSpeak II deployment, The PA People designed a configuration, ‘using two systems in two different frequency bands, and with the support of the Azerbaijani authorities we were able to operate one system in one local license band and the other outside of that,’ Mr Dodds continued. ‘With the two systems co-located, we could achieve the desired 80 packs in one physical RF space to the satisfaction of all. It was a great achievement.’
Additional equipment specified for the ‘moving stage’ communications system included a single Eclipse HX Median Digital Matrix Platform, nine HelixNet Master Stations and 70 HelixNet Beltpacks.
Comms for general main stadium included two Clear-Com Eclipse HX-Omega digital matrix systems and over 200 IP-enabled intercom panels. Clear-Com V-Series Intercom Panels were also to be found in the rehearsal tent and remote cauldron areas.
Clear-Com also had direct involvement in the event having provided two support engineers on the ground. ‘It is another in a long line of great collaborations with The PA People,’ enthused Clear-Com president Bob Boster. ‘We really have a great partnership with them. They have highly trained and knowledgeable personnel who know exactly how to get the most out of the systems – as the deployment at Baku demonstrates.’