Volvo Ocean race
The Volvo Ocean race was always a challenge. In Alicante some of my shipped equipment (high powered presenter back packs and PAG battery chargers) arrived in pieces. Being unable to source enough spare parts in time, a shopping trip to the nearest electronics store was required and a decision as to what could be done with what was available. The purchase of some 12v Yeasu batteries, a 12v charger, a pair of mobile phones, a pair of hands free kits, XLR’s, cable, 600 Ohm transformers ( ballance and isolate) and various sundries enabled the presenters Beyer M58 to be used via the hands free kit and XLR adapter and transmitted via the local cell net to the second phone with it’s XLR balanced out. For the purpose of it’s use it turned out to be as good as the purpose built high powered backpack.
Cruise Ship Installs
Setting up and commissioning the Aida Prima and the Aida Pearla was an interesting experience as of course the entire ship and all it’s bulkheads are 25mm thick steel so apart from RF insulating properties the antenna have to be mounted on steel mass reducing the gain of the antennas which also have to be relatively discreet. All the install work was done by Mitsibushi. Over the week that I was in Nagasaki I had to locate and repair many faulty RF connectors and instruct them to take some system remotes out of enclosed water tight unventilated boxes before I could get around to the job of setting levels and testing the system. The Aida Prima was docked in Cadiz and the Aida Perla was still being fitted out in Nagasaki.
Needless to say plenty of sushi and a wonderful Japanese curry house opposite the hotel so a very pleasant trip all round.
Sky News Abu Dhabi
I had a great time doing an install with Roger Pattinson at Sky News Abu Dhabi. we stayed in a great hotel with the biggest breakfast selection I have ever seen. It was laid out by country, Chinese, Arabic, Indian, Japanese, American etc. You get the Idea.
The tedious bit was getting our Leathermans and tools etc past security each day as they wouldn’t allow us to take any tools in, so one of us would have to walk round the back of the compound and throw the tools over the fence.
I had to go back there a few years later to change all the filters as they were using a different frequency set.
Bootleg Beatles Mongolia
The huge statue of Genghis Khan is something to behold as it looms into view over the horizon in the middle of nowhere about an hours drive along a dust road out of Ulaanbaatar. There is a stairway inside the rear leg allowing access to a view point on top of the horses head. The whole statue is plated with Pewter.
The gig in the square was difficult as they only supplied 4 JBL Vertec
and a faulty Yamaha M7 with some broken faders and yes the blue square is the stage roof.
OLYMPICS BRAZIL
The image above shows the aptly named Sleeping Giant which I saw every morning on the way to the IBC. The bus service is a little hazardous at times, we were shot at once, and also had another bus drive into the back of the one I was, on showering me with glass.
On the right is my little corner where I monitor and control comms and racking channels for the helicopters depending what area they are operating in.
It’s very difficult to stay slim while based in the IBC due to the presence of the Commissary which is one massive free buffet of hot and cold food in both Western and local Style dishes and runs 24 hours.
We do get some fabulous views here in Brazil. Unfortunately I seem to have lost the pictures of Christ The Redeemer, so here’s a pic looking down toward Copcabana beach , where the beach volley ball is held in the purpose built stadium.
