Faced with the unique challenges of the marine communications industry, Sunset Media needed a solution that was both robust and flexible. They found their answer in Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless System, distributed by Jands. This case study examines how this advanced system revolutionised their operations, offering a seamless and reliable communication network perfectly suited to their needs
FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless System
The FreeSpeak II system is a five-channel, full-duplex wireless system designed to connect either 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz beltpacks and transceivers. It offers remote intercom access, fast and easy deployment, and secure, seamless connections, making it an ideal choice for dynamic and demanding environments.
The Challenge
Sunset Media needed a communication system that could handle the hybrid nature of their operations and streaming platform. The system had to be stable, flexible, well-supported, and easily movable and configurable. Environmental durability was also crucial due to their operations on water, where conditions could be harsh and unpredictable. Andrew Snell, Technical & Operations at Sunset Media, highlighted, “When setting out we were specifying a new system that could be a hybrid ops and streaming platform. We needed a system that would be stable, flexible, well supported, and easy to move and configure. With the system predominantly working on water the environmental extremes were always key considerations for us, so build quality was a deciding factor as well.”
The Solution
The Clear-Com FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless System provided the perfect solution to Sunset Media’s needs. With its robust build quality, the system delivered stability and flexibility, crucial for operations in extreme marine environments. Andrew elaborated, “The features packed in 1RU with FreeSpeak II had a significant impact on the way we were able to operate. The crux of it was that we could do more live, simultaneously, and for longer.”
The Process and Installation
The installation of the FreeSpeak II system was directly handed by the Sunset Media team. The system’s ease of configuration allowed them to tailor the communication setup to their specific needs quickly. This adaptability was vital for coordinating multiple activities on water, where seamless communication is critical for safety and efficiency. Andrew noted, “Being able to configure stations and groups easily let us keep talk up no matter the configuration of the job, and the range on the beltpacks meant we could stay connected even when we were spread across different boats.”
a new system that could be a hybrid ops and streaming platform. We needed a system that would be stable, flexible, well supported, and easy to move and configure. With the system predominantly working on water the environmental extremes were always key considerations for us, so build quality was a deciding factor as well.”
The Outcome
The implementation of the FreeSpeak II system was transformative for Sunset Media, enabling them to run a continuous livestream of the final Act of the TP52 Gold Cup in May 2024. Andrew recounted, “With over four hours total, not only did it give us the ability to coordinate driving, direction, hand-held, drone and commentary, it allowed it all to be done at a normal speaking level.” In the high background noise environment—engine, wind, water, and atmospheric—the fatigue factor over a day of coverage otherwise had a marked effect on performance. Andrew also highlighted the safety benefits, stating, “Simply using the FreeSpeak system when travelling at high speed allowed a much safer working environment to be maintained, especially when there were team members moving around the boat underway.”
Impact on Workflow and Project Management
The ability to connect remotely and securely has significantly impacted Sunset Media’s workflow and project management. Andrew explained, “Being able to connect over a secure network and use CCM to manage dynamically is vital to us. Our on-water setup has the base station in the rack inside the console to protect it from the salt water, being able to use the rugged laptop to remotely reconfigure groups, beltpacks and everything else as a day progresses keeps the system and the team where it needs to be. Looking forward, the ability to securely bring in remote commentary and production over Gen-IC is going to be a game changer for events with multiple race tracks and shoreside hosting. The capability within the system for the footprint, overhead, and investment is genuinely game changing.”
Satisfaction and Conclusion
Andrew expressed high satisfaction with the FreeSpeak II system and the support provided by Jands, stating, “FreeSpeak II hasn’t missed a beat. It exceeds everything our requirements laid out and has opened up options we weren’t even considering yet. Jands’ product knowledge and experience with FreeSpeak II has let us push the edges and design solutions with our comms at the centre, letting us bring large-scale thinking to our agile delivery, in line with our goals of bringing quality results and value for clients’ investment. We would absolutely recommend FreeSpeak II to other media production, taking the leap will return multiples in the results you can reliably deliver.” By integrating the Clear-Com FreeSpeak II Digital Wireless System, Sunset Media, with the support of Jands, has dramatically improved its communication and operational efficiency. The system’s reliability and adaptability in harsh marine conditions, coupled with Jands’ expert tech support, have empowered Sunset Media to achieve superior results, establishing a new benchmark in marine communications and content creation.
