11/10/2020
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About
RFI worked with partner COMS Ltd to supply and deploy a MiniSystem Combiner solution to provide rapid radio coverage for a high profile expedition race TV series filmed in Fiji.
Challenge
The event organisers required coverage for four concurrent VHF radio channels, in three geographical coverage zones.
Implementation timelines and logistics were quite challenging with the sporting series running across multiple days. All the equipment, including the radio repeaters, multicoupling system and antennas had to be transported long distances into remote areas with no proper road access.
In some areas, the equipment had to be moved to sites by helicopters. The equipment also had to be compact and lightweight enough so it could be easily disassembled and carried by hand if required.
To cover zone 2, the whole equipment had to be fitted into and moved between aircrafts. Our partner also needed the ability to remove, redeploy and reconfigure the equipment, at short notice, to meet the event’s timelines quickly and easily.
Importantly, providing a reliable radio communication system was critical as the health and safety of the competitors and the crew depended on it.
Solution
After thorough consideration, our partner selected RFI’s MiniSystem Combiners and antennas to support the radio coverage for this event. Delivered pre-configured, our partner only needed to plug the radio repeaters and antennas for rapid coverage deployment.
The simplicity of installation and the compact physical size made the MiniSystem Combiner the ideal combining solution for this application. MiniSystems provided the customer with everything they needed for their multicoupling. Signal filtering, combining, amplification and distribution were all included in a compact enclosure. This enabled the customer to easily combine four radio repeaters into a single antenna using a small footprint.
The compact size and light weight of the MiniSystem also helped the customer to move the equipment easily across zones in pre-made portable hard cases, along with the radio repeaters. This would not be possible with a traditional multicoupling system with bulky and heavy filters, combiners and multicouplers.
Results
The MiniSystems were delivered to the customer on time and our partner managed to deploy and transport the equipment within the expected timeframes. Once the equipment was at its designated location, it was setup and commissioned quickly and smoothly.
The whole system was also de-commissioned, moved and redeployed in a different location, 200 kms away in two days.
The compact size of MiniSystems also allowed the whole system to be fitted inside the repeater aircrafts. The aircrafts had antennas on the under belly and were providing radio coverage for one of the geographical zones.
Products Used
