Elk test passed.
New SWR3* ENG van equipped with modern technology.
On first sight, this vehicle cannot be distinguished from a common family vehicle. Only the large elks on its sides, the SWR3 logo, and the somewhat peculiar looking roof arrangement suggest that, inside this Volkswagen Sharan, state-of-the-art broadcast technology has been installed. Planning and construction took more than a year, and from this evolved a studio on four wheels designed for rapid assignments, for reporters who can now produce their reports en route, and record events, sending them off via satellite or mobile internet (via Audio-over-IP) directly to the SWR3 studio. Contributing to this success in no small way is a compact console from Lawo: the z4.
The project was jointly developed and realised by Lawo, sub contractors Krämer (bodywork) and Transtel (satellite system), as well as Südwestrundfunk (conceptual design). Lawo’s tasks included planning, the responsibility for bodywork/design of the electrical system (in cooperation with Karosseriewerk Krämer), the roof system with an uplink unit from Transtel, cabling, installation of the main components, and supply of the z4 mini mixer. To date, this ENG van, called ‘Elk Bus 1’, is the smallest radio OB unit built by Lawo as the main contractor. Asked why Lawo had been selected as the main contractor, SWR’s project manager Thomas Völlinger states: ‘Lawo simply submitted the most attractive quote.’ Völlinger continues by expressing his satisfaction with this decision: ‘SWR and Lawo have cooperated for years now in a trustworthy manner, and to our complete satisfaction. Another advantage is their geographic proximity to SWR in Baden-Baden.’
Despite its compact dimensions, the VW Sharan provides three workplaces: a rotating engineer’s seat, a rotating driver’s seat for the reporter, and a rotating front passenger’s seat for a guest or second reporter. ‘A suspended unit in front of the co-driver’s seat creates another workplace, so that two reporters can work there simultaneously, even being able to swap sound bites’, says SWR3 reporter Josh Kochhann. With regard to workflow in the new ENG van, Thomas Völlinger explains: ‘Now SWR3 reporters have access to a very flexible and modern tool; they can send reports to the radio station independently, via SAT or UMTS (live). It is even possible to broadcast contributions via UMTS to the radio station from the vehicle while it’s on the move.’ Notable in this context is that the ENG van, with batteries, can be independent of any mains supply for up to eight hours.
Finally, when asked about the development of this project, Thomas Völlinger replied: ‘The progress of the project was very satisfying, Lawo have been always very responsive to SWR’s ideas, in a competent and cooperative manner.’ Preliminary planning for this project started in November 2007, the order to start construction was issued on 19th August 2008 and delivery of the vehicle was made on 12th November 2008. In the future, the ENG van will be on the road, starting out from the Stuttgart headquarters, between Lake Constance and the rest of south west Germany, just like the previous ‘Elk Bus 1’.
* “SWR” stands for ‘Südwestrundfunk’, a large public broadcaster in South-West Germany.
Picture credits: SWR3 / Elisabeth Menzel
