Communications within a Stadium or Arenas

The new system will provide significantly enhanced security and health & safety, and represents a step-up from the existing system which was mainly analogue.Information fluidity is vital; Bridge Systems have developed various communication solutions to address the requirement for wide area communications.Andrew Yuan, Director of Sales for Hytera, said: “Our experience in handling major stadium communications systems means that, through our local dealers, we have huge confidence we’ll improve security and clarity of transmission. Celtic Commercial Director Adrian Filby added: “We are delighted to sign this new partnership with Hytera, one of the leading organisations in this area.CAMBRIDGE UNITED required a solution at the Abbey Stadium that would enhance the efficiencies of stewards’ duties; these range from managing the fans’ section to dealing with queries from the public and most importantly, ensuring that the health and safety procedures are adhered to correctly in case of emergencies.

The increasing radio traffic at Abbey Stadium and the unreliability of the club’s analogue radio system drove the need for Cambridge United to upgrade and replace its communications equipment.

Ian Darler, Cambridge United F.C. Stadium Manager commented: “Our existing communications equipment had become obsolete and unreliable; it was permanently breaking down. In January 2015 the FA Cup* match draw with Manchester United, the globally famous football club, was the catalyst for the adoption of Sepura’s Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) technology”.

Darler continued: “Some of the worst football tragedies in history have taught us the vital importance of effective and dependable communications for the safety and smooth running of any large scale event taking place in any stadium. Generations of Cambridge United’s supporters have been following the club for decades; we are keen to grow our family-oriented fan base and give our spectators the reassurance that at our grounds they are in safe hands”.

A site survey was implemented at Abbey Stadium and a solution that met the communication needs of the club was designed; On a normal match day, 42 members of club staff, including stewards and club medics, use Sepura SBP8000 hand-portable DMR radios to secure the stadium and provide swift rescue and assistance whenever necessary; the match day safety officer is the main point of contact for any emergency. During games, often emotions run high and carry associated health risks such as angina, asthma and heart attacks among the spectator crowds.

During one single game the club’s stewards were able to successfully deal with three health emergencies thanks to Sepura’s DMR technology. Swift and clear communication between stewards and medical staff ensured that the appropriate levels of assistance and treatment were successfully provided; casualties were prevented and reassurance was restored among those spectators witnessing the incidents.

Sepura DMR hand-portable radios are personally allocated to each member of the security team, ensuring that the equipment is looked after more responsibly and enabling easy and quick user recognition thanks to the caller identification functionality.

Bridge Systems Limited are a leading provider of solutions within the UK communications industry with bases in the UK and Ireland. We can apply our considerable technological knowledge to audit and improve your existing communications and security. We offer guidance on the potential for improvement and expansion within your new or existing communication networks.

Bridge Systems’ solutions provide quick, clear lines of communication to large numbers of people – stewards, security, catering and many more; two way radio systems assists and increases the levels of health and safety at all events.

In some cases customers believe cell phones might be an alternative to two way radios, here are some points to consider:

TWO WAY RADIO –V- CELLULAR TELEPHONE

• Two way radios are easier and faster to use; Push a button and start talking.
• It has become apparent (due to various worldwide disasters) that two way radios continue to work in an emergency when cell phones and even land lines become unusable. A properly designed private network (or rented system) will have back-up power and continue to provide communications during periods of bad weather/power loss. A radio system is not shared public resource and so won’t be prone to overload during public events or security alerts.
• The correct two way radios will provide better reception in hard to reach areas (inside and outside) Cellular network coverage may not extend into buildings or rural locations away from the road network)  With two way radios you can immediately reach everyone with one call. Generally cell phones require a separate number to call each person individually; having to call everyone individually is not ideal in an emergency situation.
• Two way radios that are programmed with selective calling lets you speak privately with one person at a time or with everyone at once. Two way radios equipped with selective calling also have a caller id display so you know who you are talking to.
• The man down / lone worker option is available on many two way radios. This feature will send a distress message when a worker / radio remain horizontal or motionless for a designated period of time or if the user fails to respond to a pre-set interval alarm.
• Two way radios (properly equipped) are available for use in high noise areas, dusty, dirty or wet environments, when hands free operation is necessary, when security is paramount or covert communications are required.

GROUPING

Users can be formed into groups which is a benefit when information is restricted or conversations are only relevant to certain parties. This also has the benefit of the users outside the group being able to continue with the use of the handheld without interruption.

DMR works just in the same way a conventional analogue systems but carries an number of benefits such as the ability to speak to other users on a one to one basis, one to many (group calls) as well as the traditional one to all call. The radio network can also be tied in with a VOIP telephone system allowing telephone users (either fixed or mobile) to call a radio directly.

PERSONNEL AND STAFF SAFETY

If your employees work alone, or in a potentially dangerous environment, then you need emergency features on your two way radios. These are frequently called lone-worker or man-down systems, but you can also have radios fitted with GPS.

These features are essential for health and safety, and you will often find them used on in warehouses, by security guards, engineers or health workers.

The simplicity lies in the way it works. An alarm is sent across the whole radio system by the device that has triggered the emergency, and that alarm can come through as a voice, text or tone alarm. The alarm can be filtered any way you want through the system, either directly to mobile phones or e-mails, or through a central unit.

The complexity lies in the specific programming for your organisation. Radios can trigger an alarm, for instance, when:

• there is no response
• the radio is not moving at all (Man Down)
• the panic button has been pressed  the radio has been inactive for too long
• the radio has gone out of a specific boundary

WIFI CONNECTIVITY

In addition to radio and radio networks Bridge Systems are well versed in the supply and installation of High capacity wireless solutions for customer/corporate Wi-Fi, CCTV, and high capacity data links (up to 2Gbps) We offer a complete service from RF Survey to establish the components for coverage and capacity through to systems implementation. With additional maintenance and service packages Bridge Systems are on hand.

• Survey
• System Design
• System Installation
• Reliability check
• Maintenance and after sales care

Our innovative use of highly reliable technologies allows us to assist customers in many communication related areas. Our passionate and experienced technical and administrative teams work together to provide our customers with timely project delivery and reliable after-sales care

THE TEAM

Bridge Systems Ltd prides itself on its members of staff; Bridge Systems is made up of a strong team of engineers headed up by our Technical Director. With our support staff in both the UK and Ireland our administration and logistics staff provide customers with a professional and timely service.

“There are multiple ways to communicate, but only one steadfast choice of solution provider”