September 28, 2011

Wireless for Medical-Cathorization Lab

APPLICATION: A medical clinic is currently utilizing an HME DX200 base station along with four wireless beltpacks and headsets. Only four of their doctors and nurses are able to carry around the beltpacks at once, but they have eight individuals total that always need communication. They want to expand their user capacity.       
PRODUCT MUST: This facility needs an expandable wireless system with exceptional sound clarity.
SOLUTION: The medical clinic acquired a second DX200 base station and full-duplex WH-200 headset so that everyone on the team can stay in touch even when roaming around the hospital.

Application Diagram (Click to Enlarge)
HME DX200 operates in the license-free 2.4 GHz band offering clear, interference-free communications with Spectrum-Friendly technology.
BP200 2.4 GHz wireless beltpack
WH200 durable, wireless headset
HS16 single-muff, lightweight headset

September 27, 2011

Are You Serious? A Tradeshow Incident You Won't Believe

Photo Credit: Fungopher.com
Over two decades ago when Clear-Com was exhibiting at an Audio Engineering Society (AES) tradeshow, something out of the ordinary happened. We experienced one of those shocking “Are You Serious?” moments.  Examples of “Are You Serious?” incidents are when someone accidently sets their hair on fire or spills coffee all over their clothes before an interview. Fortunately, none of those happened at Clear-Com. This occurrence was in fact no accident on our part.

After Clear-Com sets up the booth, equipment, and resources, tradeshow attendees will usually visit us asking for product information or demonstrations. One attendee came by our booth and asked one of the Clear-Com employees about our speaker stations.

The conversation went something like this:
Attendee: “Are these speakers durable?”
Clear-Com Support Staff: “Yes” (Gives explanation.)
Attendee: “Are these speakers sturdy?”
Clear-Com Support Staff: "Yes" (Goes on to explain the features of the speaker system.)
Attendee: “Can these speaker stations take a lot of abuse?”
Clear-Com Support Staff: “Of course they are reliable.”
Then, the attendee picks up the speaker station and throws it as hard as he can so that it smashes onto the floor. Without a word, he flees our booth.

Are you serious?

September 22, 2011

Video Production of Medical Courses

APPLICATION: Production technicians and videographers need to make videos of medical class courses. They also need to tape large events such as commencements.
PRODUCT MUST: IP based intercom solution as well as wired and wireless systems needed for comprehensive and flexible voice communication capabilities.
SOLUTION: The production studio houses the Concert server and each classroom has a computer with Concert.  The production technicians use Concert to communicate from the studio to the videographers in the classroom to coordinate taping. When taping is done remotely, the Tempest2400 and wireless beltpacks, Encore Partyline and wired beltpacks, and/or Concert over Wi-Fi are used to maintain communication with those at the production studio. 
(Application Diagram: Click to Enlarge)

Tempest2400 wireless intercom system operates in the license-free 2.4 GHz band to provide flexible, interference-free communications with high user capacity and multiple modes of operation.
  
CP-242 Tempest2400 4-channel, dual listen wireless beltstation

CCT-RT 2.4 GHz remote antenna 

Concert is an intercom-over-IP and professional audio conferencing software enabling cost-effective collaboration.  

Encore Partyline is the most comprehensive and reliable 2-wire system offering superior audio quality and intuitive plug and play design.

RS-602 2-channel wired beltpack 

IF4W4 4-channel 3 or 4-wire interface 

September 20, 2011

Wheelchair Races to the Pantry


Photo Credit: punkoryan.com
 In the late 1970s, one of Clear-Com’s employees had a serious knee injury so he had to stay and move around in a wheelchair.  While exhibiting at the Audio Engineering Society (AES) tradeshow in Los Angeles, he met up with one of our Clear-Com dealers who also happened to be in a wheelchair. They spontaneously decided to have a wheelchair race with a representative from their company running and pushing them down the streets.   
Unfortunately for Clear-Com, our employee’s wheel chair tipped over. He rolled out in front of the doorway of the well known and crowded Pantry cafe. There was a very long line at the restaurant and a worker at The Pantry, who didn’t see what had happened, came out and told the already wounded Clear-Com employee to get up and get in line like everyone else.  
Since then, we have learned our lesson: Make sure you do not tip over during a wheelchair race.

September 16, 2011

Test Your Sports IQ on Hangman

Hangman Clue: An international sports event that is second in importance to the Olympics uses Clear-Com. >>Answer


 

September 13, 2011

Trapped Coal Miners: Rescued

Photo Credit: smashingusa.com
On August 5, 2010, a tunnel collapsed causing 33 coal miners to be trapped underground in northern Chile. They only had food supplies that would last for 48 hours and drank the underground water to survive.

Although most rescue efforts are completed in less than two weeks, these miners were confined for 17 days before being discovered.  After eight drilling attempts to find them, the rescuers finally had hope when they heard the mining workers hammering below.

Using Clear-Com’s Encore partyline intercoms, the rescue team coordinated their intense operations to save the trapped individuals. After drilling a hole, they sent a probe 2,257 ft. deep to identify the exact location and condition of the miners. Once the opening in the ground was large enough, the rescue team successfully brought up each miner, reuniting them with loving friends and relatives.

Read More >> Trapped Chilean Miners Still Alive after 17 Days

September 12, 2011

Medical Conference Coordinates Production with Wired and Wireless

APPLICATION: A hospital is hosting a conference at a nearby hotel for doctors, professors and medical professionals from all over the world. Renowned speakers will be sharing their latest practices and discoveries. The production team needs voice communication systems to manage this entire event.
PRODUCT MUST: The wireless intercom needs connectivity to another wired system that must have two channels of communication.
SOLUTION:  The Encore partyline base station and CellCom base station are installed in the master control room. Lighting, sound and camera operators use wired and wireless beltpacks to coordinate the event in the amphitheater. The master of ceremony speaks with the staff members that are preparing the upcoming speakers in the green room.
Application Diagram (Click to Enlarge.)
Clear-Com Encore Partyline Systems offer unsurpassed 2-wire group communication capabilities. This platform offers an intuitive plug-and-play design and superior audio clarity with the embedded "Clear-Com Sound".
CellCom Base Station/Wireless Beltpacks operate in 1.9 GHz band and use DECT to allow users to move freely without audio fading or losing communication connections.
CEL-TA Active Transceiver Antenna supports up to five beltpacks each.

September 9, 2011

The Mysterious Tradeshow (Sliding Puzzle)

Can you figure out which 2011 exhibition this was? Do you recognize our Clear-Com booth from this show? (Solve the puzzle and click here to find the answer: http://bit.ly/orTg0T)


September 8, 2011

Clinical Work: Speech Pathology Instructors Rely on CellCom Wireless to Teach

APPLICATION: At a university specializing at speech pathology, different instructors throughout the day need to simultaneously teach several classes of students that are in separate rooms. Because each classroom has a camera installed, the teachers can monitor multiple rooms of students from their cubicles. They must supervise and communicate with students that are working with patients.   

PRODUCT MUST: The wireless system must interconnect students in all classrooms with the teachers in their cubicles. The intercom system must also be easily programmable and flexible for class changes.

SOLUTION: Through the CellCom/FreeSpeak toolkit, the configuration has been programmed onto the CellCom base station so that the wireless beltpacks can be used by the instructors to speak with different students in their various rooms throughout the week. CEL-TA active transceiver antennas have been fixed in the hallways to provide a connection in the cubicles and classrooms.

Application Diagram (Click to Enlarge.)

CellCom Base Station/Wireless Beltpacks operate in 1.9 GHz band and use DECT to allow users to move freely without audio fading or losing communication connections.

CEL-TA Active Transceiver Antenna support up to five beltpacks each.

September 7, 2011

Challenger Learning Center Uses Clear-Com for Simulated Space Missions

Photo Credit: Rochesterchallenger.org
Found in 1986, the Challenger Center for Space Science Education was formed as a living memorial to the Challenger Space Shuttle astronauts. The educational program is designed to inspire children to pursue careers in math, science and technology because of the critical role that those subjects play in national security and innovative discoveries.
Each of the sites in their national network of 48 Challenger Learning Centers operate independently, but all of their programs are developed by staff educators and space scientists to ensure accurate content and effective instruction. The program involves simulated space missions where students must figure out math problems such as an average or estimate to save the space craft or successfully accomplish their goals. Math and science become more relevant to students as they begin to understand their real world applications.
Further, to accomplish these space missions, many of the Challenger Learning Centers utilize Clear-Com to enable clear communications and facilitate teamwork between students and instructors. Steve Otten, Executive Director (Challenger Learning Center- Woodstock, IL) duly notes, “We have been carrying out space missions for 10 years and have had over 90,000 students engage in our program. It’s amazing how durable Clear-Com’s headsets are because students are putting them on and off throughout the day and dropping them.” Clear-Com’s CC-95 headsets, which are used at the Woodstock, IL Challenger Learning Center, have truly proved reliable, being able to withstand the tremendous impact of extensive student usage for a decade.
To learn more about Challenger Center for Space Science Education, visit www.challenger.org .
Contact Information:
Challenger Learning Center – Woodstock, IL
222 Church Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
Phone: (815) 338-7722
Fax: (815) 338-7747
www.challengerillinois.org

September 6, 2011

Wrap-Up of August Tradeshows: AUVSI and BIRTV

Photo Credit: auvsipathfinder.com

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America 2011 (August 16th-19th)

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America 2011 forum took place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., bringing over 6,500 attendees from more than 40 countries. Commercial and defense operators, high level decision makers, government managers and scientists gathered to brainstorm, exchange ideas and debate on future policies and programs as well as discuss the latest trends in military, civil and commercial applications. 

At Booth 2121, Clear-Com exhibited the Eclipse-Median digital matrix, V-Series panels, Tempest and HME DX wireless intercom systems.


Clear-Com has been a trusted provider of intercom solutions for unmanned vehicle programs.
 
BIRTV (August 24th- 27th)


Photo Credit: Jiou-Pahn Lee

BIRTV is China’s most prestigious exhibition in the industry of radio, film and television. Held at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, China, BIRTV was well attended by professionals from radio and TV stations in China, neighboring countries, Europe and America. The highlights of the event included the China Visual Effects Forum, technical seminars and the China Tri-Networks Integration Summit.

Clear-Com showcased the Eclipse digital matrix, Encore partyline, and wireless intercom solutions. BIRTV News also featured Clear-Com intercoms as the chosen voice communication systems for media powerhouse China Central Television (CCTV) during its latest facility-wide communications upgrade and expansion.


September 2, 2011

Friday Fun: Puzzle Time!