IBC 2012: Clear-Com announces European availability of HelixNet

Clear-Com has announced that its new HelixNet Partyline Intercom System is now shipping throughout Europe.

The industry’s first networked partyline intercom was recently put to use at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and other recent London events, and is now on show at the Amsterdam RAI for IBC 2012.

Under the initial release of HelixNet Partyline, users can purchase the HMS-4X Main Station, HBP-2X HelixNet Beltpacks, an HLI-2W2 two-wire Interface Module and the HLI-4W2 four-wire Interface Module. Also, as the central administration of the entire system can be performed from the Main Station with a single cable, including firmware upgrades and maintenance, HelixNet can work off of users’ existing cable infrastructure.

“HelixNet offers users the simplicity of running cable anywhere without worrying about each cable type or where it will run,” said Chris Barry, product manager, HelixNet, Clear-Com. “Essentially, they only have to run one long cable, along which audio can be distributed on every channel. It doesn’t matter how or where the cable is run, users will have access to each and every feed. At the beltpack end, users can choose what channel they want or need to run. Another perk of HelixNet is that it can be run on inexpensive cabling, such as Cat-5, keeping the cost of deployment low.”

HelixNet’s 1RU main station fits into any standard 19-inch rack, and can provide power and four channels of audio to support up to 20 digital beltpacks. Furthermore, the all-digital HelixNet system is immune to electro-magnetic interference and ground loops, eliminating any hum or buzz.

Meanwhile, the Main Station settings and menus are designed with easy access and flexibility in mind. The system’s firmware maintenance and upgrades can also be achieved via USB ports, whilst it also offers greater connectivity with existing analogue intercom systems and audio devices.

“For more than 40 years, the pro audio community has been using the common, three-pin XLR microphone cable to carry audio for analogue partyline systems,” continued Barry. “In order to preserve our customers’ investments in intercom systems and cabling infrastructure, we specifically designed the HelixNet Partyline to transmit four channels of digital-quality audio, plus program and power for beltpacks, over a single, shielded, twisted-pair cable (ex. microphone cable, CAT5 or CAT6 cable). This capability alone is unprecedented in the history of intercom technology.”

The expansion bay in the Main Station allows optional HLI-2W2 two-wire and HLI-4W2 four-wire interface modules to connect with existing analogue intercom systems and audio devices, while preserving the audio quality without hum and noise.

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