1st Shot Success: Riedel's new Trunking Solution embraced at the World Cup

HBS, Hostbroadcaster and official provider of the international television feed of the World Cup in Germany, utilized Riedel’s Artist digital intercom platform for troublefree communication. In each of the 12 World Cup arenas an Artist 64 matrix intercom system was used. In addition, Riedel equipped the IBC in Munich with two Artist 128 systems. All 13 locations were networked via Riedel’s new trunking solution "Trunk Navigator". This communications solution facilitated intelligent intercom connections between the IBC in Munich and the OB vans at the arenas.

The Artist platform, with its decentralized system architecture, is renowned for its networking capabilities via a redundant optical fibre ring. Up to 128 Artist mainframes can be connected to form one large non-blocking matrix of 1024 x 1024 users – an ideal solution to network systems within a TV compound, building complex or a city. For intelligently linking intercom systems over wide areas, like different cities, countries or continents, Riedel developed the trunking software "Trunk Navigator".

Networking of up to 32 Artist installations
Trunk Navigator allocates intelligently and dynamically analogue as well as digital audio connections between up to 32 Artist installations. The connections between the locations can be realized in any form, for example as E1, ISDN, VoIP, digital leased lines or analogue land lines. Installation and operation of the trunking solution is simple and intuitive. After input of the appropriate IP addresses a control PC with the "Trunk Navigator" software connects with the respective Artist installations via WAN connections. The software detects the system configurations automatically. The trunk lines between the systems are defined using the intuitive graphic user surface.
Calls between the different Artist installations are now standard in Riedel’s “Director” configuration software. Set-up of calls is easily edited via drag-and-drop. In the background Trunk Navigator accounts for the dynamic allocation of the calls to the different trunk lines. The software is also capable of intelligent routing of intercom calls via several stopovers. There’s no need for direct connections between all Artist installations.

The software provides redundant design, i.e. it can run on two computers simultaneously and switch seamlessly from one computer to the other in the case of failure. Trunk Navigator allows the trunking of up to 32 Artist intercom installations which expands the maximum intercom installation to more than 30.000 ports.

Further Artist systems in World Cup applications
Riedel's Artist systems were not only used by HBS and in the OB vans of numerous broadcasting stations. Artist also provided troublefree communications for the opening and closing ceremonies, which were equipped by Riedel’s rental division. Apart from several networked Artist systems the installations featured several hundred Motorola radios as well as three FM radio transmitters including 1500 FM radios to control the mass feed for the performers on the playing field. With approximately 40 engineers in the stadiums Riedel guaranteed consistently perfect service on site.