Wigwam Adopts New Optorack Fibre Line System From Optocore

The newly developed system provides a flexible solution to the restrictions which many hire/production companies are finding with CAT5 cable systems.

According to Wigwam Hire Director Chris Hill, using complicated extender units to cover distances over 100 metres is totally impractical and requires their field engineers to become IT network specialists. At the same time he criticised the inadequacies of RJ 45 fixed connectors when exposed to both festival and touring conditions as well as the extendedprep time now required with so many digital manufacturers supporting their own proprietary platforms and connector protocols.

Using Optocore’s new modular R serves technology the new OptoRack guarantees high quality audio and data transmission over distance to all systems ports and will enable simple, reconfigurable plug and play at the FOH and stage end, with a locked-out preset.

The OptoRack is divided into two racks with one X6R-FX and one X6R-TP each. The Stage Rack offers a 24/8 analogue and 16 AES channels (32 audio channels), with four RS 485 and three RJ45 LAN ports providing the data connection. The FOH Rack offers an 8/24
analogue and 16 AES channels (32 audio channels), with four RS 485 and three RJ45 LAN ports providing the data connection.

“This provides us with a simple, yet future-proofed returns system solution,” says Chris Hill. He first approached Optocore well over a year ago, believing that they could develop a system that would become a de facto standard for Wigwam’s roster of large site work — arenas and festivals. The arrival of the new SANE protocol last Autumn speeded up the process by offering the flexibility Wigwam were seeking.

“I was getting sick to death of spending thousands of pounds every year on cable and transmission systems which we were never going to use again,” he stated. “I was also fed up with manufacturers continually bringing out Ethernet-based equipment —100-125m runs is no use to our industry, and we were finding ourselves hanging large format systems with some of the worst connectors in the world.

“What we needed to do was develop a data tunnel which we could support and standardise on … run on fibre and be completely future-proofed, because some new digital protocols are already becoming redundant.”

Said International Sales Manager Mike Case, “It was a case of replacing hybrid digital/analogue snakes with something longer, such as a fibre optic system.

“Essentially, Wigwam wanted a system that was plug and play, very compact and ultrareliable, fully redundant and light weight, requiring minimal prep time. OptoRack is expandable up 32 channels analogue and 32 AES, with six LAN ports for data control. And bundling the rack with both the FX and TP X6R converters, which utilises the SANE add-on, is great for adding multiple channels of analogue across both devices.”

Wigwam’s digital specialist Alex Hadjigeorgiou agreed. “SANE has allowed us to develop a one box product — the ability to link the two products via a short CAT5 jump enables us to do that, and if you want to add extra MADI inputs, for example, you can.”

Chris Hill realised that with the onset of new equipment and diminished prep time the OptoRack was essential. “What we don’t want is another computer on the job — there are already too many. Our technicians are having to become computer network engineers which they are not qualified for; nor do they have time read manuals.

“Every user is different, with a different level of knowledge, and though the OptoRack system is completely configurable we have arranged a locked out preset that would provide sufficient channels of every format.”

A pre-configured panel would also have been impractical, he states. “For example, while we favour the Pro Beam connector some customers will prefer Neutrik. Equally at FOH some will want Lake processing, others XTA and there are the different desk protocols to consider. The
Optocore system, within reason, should accept anything.”

Both Chris Hill and Alex Hadjigeorgiou are big fans of Optocore. “One of the real attractions is that the company is independent, and [founder] Marc Brunke I think is the only person in this industry who fully understands what’s needed. He has given us something [everyone]
can connect to.”

Hadjigeorgiou adds, “We know all about the Optocore reliability as we have had an LX4A and LX4B running on Coldplay’s C stage for the last eight months and monitor tech Nick Davies loves it because it is simple plug and play, and it works every time.”

Following Leona Lewis (where the experienced Kevin Pruce will use the OptoRack at FOH and Ant Carr at the stage end) the system will go out on a Westlife arena tour and the Isle of Wight Festival. Hill states that it will also be incorporated into every theatre system they own, while its support of data and DMX protocols will broaden its hire appeal to the lighting and video communities.

In the short term Wigwam envisage that their commitment will stretch to 24 racks.