Clear-Com Debuts Tempest2400 Wireless Intercom System

By Dan Daley

Clear-Com Communication Systems introduced its Tempest2400 wireless intercom system at the 2009 NAB Show. Using the 2.4-GHz Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) in conjunction with TDMA technology, the Tempest2400 RF scheme avoids the need for licensing and frequency coordination.

In addition, once registered to a base station, a beltpack needs no further configuration and roams freely within a single zone area, making it perfect for live sports, breaking news, and high-coordination productions, such as awards shows. Each base station supports up to five full-duplex, four-audio-channel digital wireless beltpacks; stacking as many as 10 base stations together enables 50 independent, full-duplex wireless beltpacks to operate as a single system.

Tempest2400 features 2xTX Transmission Voice Data Redundancy, which sends each packet of audio data twice on different frequencies and through different antennas, ensuring uninterrupted audio communications. It can interoperate with other Clear-Com intercom systems through four-wire and two-wire connections, as well as those from other manufacturers.

Other key features include the iSelect Roaming feature, which allows the beltpack user to move from one studio to the next and quickly switch to a different base station in the new studio. The T-Desk software, a PC-based control and configuration application, offers the ability to monitor and manage the entire wireless system from a remote location via Ethernet connection to a LAN. T-Desk can also interface with a Tempest base station over a USB connection.

Tempest also includes an optional remote transceiver that allows remote antenna placement up to 1,500 ft. (450 m) from the base station; data connection and power supplied over standard Cat 5e/6 cable with lightweight, fast-charging Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) battery technology in the beltpack; access to one of six relay closures from the beltpack; and vibrating call alert. In addition, a flexible battery solution allows beltpacks to operate on standard AA batteries for emergency use; beltpack battery telemetry is displayed in real time on the beltpack and base station LCDs indicating how much power is left in each pack.

Also, Sports Video Group has learned exclusively that the first Tempest2400 units were installed at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium. A total of three base stations and 12 beltpacks were used.