Angolan Broadcast Network TPA Installs Artist And Acrobat Wireless Intercom

 TPA is the largest broadcast network in Angola and the host broadcaster of the Africa Cup 2010. The TPA studio complex includes four studios, two OB trucks and a master control room. To expand TPA's existing intercom installation, which previously only covered the master control room, it was necessary to integrate all four studios, the master control and the two OB trucks into one single system.

 At the heart of this communications infrastructure is a set of six Riedel Artist 32 mainframes. The frames expand the existing Artist system that was already installed at TPA. All mainframes feature redundant power supplies and CPU cards. In conjunction with Artist's dual fiber ring, the entire installation is protected against system breakdowns in case of a hardware or connection failure between devices. Being a fully modular system, Artist digital matrix intercom can be easily expanded even further to a matrix size of up to 1,024x1,024 non-blocking ports, preparing the installation for possible future upgrades.

 The individual Artist frames are placed in the various TPA studios and two TPA OB trucks. To allow for the flexible use of the OB trucks their Artist systems can be easily integrated via simple fiber links to any Artist installation, no matter if it is a broadcast studio, a stadium or any other truck they encounter in the field.

 TPA uses a total of 23 Riedel Artist 2000 series control panels with LCD displays in the studios and the master control room. The 2000 series is a flexible yet cost effective solution for Artist digital matrix intercom applications. The panels provide individual volume control and a high-contrast 8-digit LCD display. Connected via AES, the panels feature digital broadcast quality audio and offer the ability to remotely control panels or audio routers.

 While in the field the control panels are integrated into the intercom installation via ISDN links. Two Connect DUO interfaces in the master control room provide the ISDN connections. While in the studio the trucks can easily be integrated via fiber cabling. In addition, the Connect DUO interfaces integrate regular ISDN telephone lines into the wired intercom installation.

 "We were looking specifically for a system that gives us the flexibility to upgrade and add components easily. Artist is perfect in these terms. Plus it gives us the reliability we need in daily operations," said Paulo Ferreira at Avantgarde.

 To allow for a more flexible infrastructure an extensive Riedel Acrobat digital wireless intercom installation is used in the various TPA studios. Acrobat is an easy-to-use full-duplex communications solution. Utilizing DECT technology, Acrobat offers a license-free communications system with seamless hand-over between cells. Because of its DECT-technology Acrobat does not interfere with wireless microphones, in ear monitoring or other wireless systems.

 "Acrobat is just amazing. The audio quality is excellent and far beyond any other wireless technology. Plus having the flexibility of wireless communication combined with regular intercom capability really helps us a lot in our daily workflow," said António Silva at Ibertelco.

 A total of 16 wireless Acrobat beltpacks are used at three of the TPA studios. Eight cell-antennas provide the cell network. They are connected via CAT-5 to the Acrobat Base Station that is responsible for the integration of the Acrobat installation into the wired Artist intercom system. Calls between Artist ports and selected Acrobat beltpacks expand the flexibility of the communications infrastructure.

 To make use of the already existing professional mobile radio network two Riedel RiFaces integrate the mobile radios into the wired intercom system.

The system is already installed and in operation.

About Riedel

Riedel Communications – the largest supplier of communications equipment to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver – designs, manufactures and distributes the most sophisticated intercom, fiber, audio and radio technology for customers worldwide in the broadcast, pro-audio, event, sports, theatre and security industries. The products reflect today’s leading-edge technologies that expand conventional concepts into tomorrow’s applications. The Riedel group of companies also includes a European based large rental operation that provides radio and intercom services, event IT solutions as well as fiber-based and wireless audio & video transmission systems. The Company was founded in 1987 and today employs over 250 people located within 9 locations in Europe, Australia, Asia and North America.