Rock Werchter 2007: mud, 300.000 visitors, prestige, Pearl Jam, Metallica... and MULTICAP!
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As a visitor or a mere outsider, you couldn't possibly imagine the enormous organisation that is behind an event like Rock Werchter. Who would have thought that a rock festival - elected the best in the world, by the way - would yield an impressive number of wireless challenges? Multicap now since three editions has the privilege to tackle and provide an answer to the wireless questions posed by the organisation of this alternative high mass!
Security is one of the principal interests of both the organisation and the Belgian police. Therefore, five cameras have been installed near the festival ground. Between those DVD-quality cameras - delivered by our partner Tersec - a wireless network is created able to transmit the images in an impeccable manner. The camera images are then transferred to both the nearby police office and from there to the police tower in the city of Leuven, which is 11 km away from the festival. To carry bandwidth-demanding images over such a distance, it takes a high-end solution: 3 45 Mbps full-duplex Tsunami radio links. Even images from the air shot by the engaged police helicopter end up on this wireless network! However, we do more than just play Big Brother over the partying youngsters. For four days, the Werchter festival ground is basically comparable to a mid-sized city. Cash dispensers are an important part of this city with its restaurants, beer tents, market areas and merchandising sites. The managing bank constantly keeps an eye on these dispensers to check whether they are still working or not. The smallest problem could be detected thanks to our wireless radio link set up between the control tower and the bank's stands on the festival ground. We are proud to announce that this system did a perfect job! Last but not least, festivals have one area which is probably the most prickling to the visitors: the backstage zone! In Werchter, the backstage is particularly well-provided for. In fact, even worldstars like Snoop Dogg or Foo Fighters bragg about the manner in which they are treated in Belgium! Apart from the artist village, the backstage also houses the press tent, the media village and the VIP area. As a first, Rock Werchter decided to offer them wireless access to the Internet in the entire backstage area. Multicap created a wireless hotspot of Proxim AP-700 access points for an impeccable coverage and fast access.