Clear-Com's new HelixNet 1.1 Release brings expanded networking

Now including system-linking for improved efficiency

Clear-Com recently unveiled the 1.1 release of the HelixNet networked partyline intercom system in Europe at Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, and as their exclusive UK distributor, the Orbital team was able to put the new system through its paces.

It embodies a number of significant advances, including a system-linking facility, which enables users to quickly and efficiently extend digital partyline communications to multiple sites across a network, and eliminates the need for long cables runs.

Under the expanded feature-set, up to five HMS-4X Main Stations can be linked to up to one hundred HBP-2X Beltpacks, with each user now able to receive up to twenty partyline audio channels and five programme feeds, together with beltpack powering – all via a single shielded twisted-pair cable.

Tom Byrne, Orbital's Sales Director, commented:
"This latest version of Clear-Com's HelixNet networked partyline system brings a significant increase in flexibility, providing production crews with an immensely capable, distributed-intercom architecture. Irrespective of their location around a venue or live-event site, or whether they are using analogue or digital beltpacks, any crew member such as audio and lighting engineers, stage managers, electricians and carpenters, can connect quickly with each other. HelixNet's IP-connected approach enables an efficient workflow, and can now easily create a complete intercom solution, through easy integration with other wireless and two-wire systems.

"Digital wired comms is the way forward for numerous applications, and Clear-Com's HelixNet represents the leading-edge approach in this sector. Its capacity for using existing or low-budget wiring infrastructure is a huge advantage, and we see many analogue installations, which are being pushed to the their limits, migrating to digital. HelixNet's ability to create large-scale communications networks simply and rapidly is a massive benefit, and the enhanced functionality of this latest release means that the most sophisticated production requirements can be met successfully, reliably and affordably."

Announced as part of the HelixNet 1.1 release is the new HL1-FBS Fiber Module, which enables remote stations to be linked over long distances. The module has two fibre ports, using SFP modules for simple exchange of fibre transceivers. It also allows linking to four other Main Stations in a fibre daisy-chain, with the standard connection being single-mode, and with multi-mode offered as an option.

"Digital wired comms is the way forward for numerous applications, and Clear-Com's HelixNet represents the leading-edge approach in this sector."