Frontline Communications Introduces New Ford Transit-DSNG/ENG Broadcast Vehicle Concept
Frontline Communications unveiled the Frontline Transit- DSNG/ENG Concept, an all-new broadcast communications vehicle at the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas, NV.
The Transit is Ford’s replacement chassis for the E- 350 series van which has been a standard in the broadcast vehicle industry for ENG vehicles since the 1980’s. The Transit will be offered in a high, medium and low roof design and will be available in gas and diesel engines. Frontline will offer the Transit with a generator based power system and also offer the highly acclaimed VIP Power System-an inverter based uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system which operates at the vehicle’s standard idle and allows up to four hours of ENG operations without the vehicle engine running.
“Our Engineering team has spent the last year teaming with Ford to design and model the Transit for DSNG/ENG platforms and we’re very excited to be able to introduce the industry’s first Transit-DSNG/ENG Concept to our customers at NAB.” said Jonathan Sherr, Frontline Communications’ Senior Vice President.
Frontline will offer three configurations of the Transit including:
– Transit T-250 Low Roof with a gas engine, 9,000 lb. GVWR and 130” wheelbase
– Transit T-350 Mid Roof with a gas engine, 9,500 GVWR and 148” wheelbase
– Transit T-350 High Roof Extended Chassis with a diesel engine, 9,500 GVWR and 148”
wheelbase
Frontline provided details on the production models at the show including designs for ENG, DSNG and IPNG applications. Many of Frontline’s innovative vehicle options will be offered on this truck, including the Frontline exclusive Fast-Mast air system that raises a typical 42-foot mast in less than two minutes without any system power sags during deployment or operation and the exclusive Modular Equipment Storage System installed in the rear area which slides completely out of the vehicle to quickly access (in less than one minute) the rear rack and other vehicle maintenance items. Removal of the stored equipment is not required, and the slide-out shelves are fully customizable and feature a Quick Adjust Shelf system and Tilt-Down storage for greater capacity in a more compact footprint.
An array of ENG, DSNG and IPNG news-gathering broadcasting equipment will also be available on the Transit from basic systems for embedded audio including an 8×1 switcher, audio and video confidence monitoring, IFB, Signal/Test Generator, Off-Air and I/O Panel, to a Ka-Band Satellite Terminal with ViaSat’s professional Surfbeam Modem and Transmit/Receive Interactive Assembly (TRIA). AVL’s small antenna systems (75cm – 1.2m) and highly efficient IP/Internet based video solutions are also available, which can bond the Ka-Band transmission channel with cellular channels for back-up purposes and added resilience. ViaSat Exede Enterprise Newsgathering provides instant communication and Internet access, where you need it, when you need it. Using an all-new satellite system – with easy vehicle-mounted auto- pointing antenna – the service delivers HD-quality video and increases productivity and interaction between field teams and production studios. Two-way IP communication enables reporters to edit and upload their packages from the field.
“The all-new Transit represents a rare changing of the guard for Ford and we’re very proud to display the industry’s first Transit-DSNG/ENG broadcast vehicle.” added Sherr. “We’re excited about this new platform and look forward to taking orders at NAB and delivering the first vehicles in August of this year.”