Clear-Com enjoys starring role at 11th African Games ceremonies
Venue-wide intercom for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the recent 11th African Games was based around solutions manufactured by Clear-Com. Witnessing a return to Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo, the latest edition of the Games also marked the 50th anniversary of the Games, which is a multi-disciplinary event encompassing many different sports.
The ceremonies took place at the newly-constructed, 6,000-seat Kintele Stadium, which is situated close to other key Games venues including the aquatics centre and main sports complex. For the intercom component, rental company Y and Co was charged with providing a solution that could operate on the centralised fiber network that spans the stadium.
The resulting design features Clear-Com technology extensively, namely: one Eclipse HX-Median digital matrix (version 8.5); three MVX-A16 Eclipse 16-port audio and data card sets; one IVC-32 audio interface card; six CCI-22 two-wire partyline interfaces; V12LD and V24LD V-Series panels; and the Agent-IC mobile app.
Y and Co’s Philippe Leblond highlights several features that proved particularly useful during the African Games ceremonies. “The major new feature in the [latest version of the Eclipse-HX Median] is the possibility of connecting a panel using a simple VLAN connected on the IVC32 card, as well as to add two additional 4-wire connections on the panel,” he says. “In addition, with the two existing relays in the panel it is possible to locally trigger a TW mobile or any other transmitter. These two 4-wire connections become two real ports of the matrix.”
These capabilities mean that, via an existing IP network, Leblond can “easily put a flightcase somewhere equipped with a panel, a 2-wire/4-wire interface and a 30V power supply, and then achieve an effective local wire intercom system without the need to deploy kilometres of cable.”
Leblond also highlights the benefits of the Agent-IC mobile app, which enables users of Eclipse-HX intercom system to achieve remote access from an iPhone or iPad over 3G, 4G or WiFi/IP networks. The app is designed to provide a simple but effective intercom panel to connect studio staff and OB teams in remote locations, or crew spread across wide areas for live events, using their portable handheld devices
The overall result was a seamless communications infrastructure that delivered “great success”, concludes Leblond.