Delivering Redundancy and Resilience: Two Turnkey DSNG Vehicles for RTM Malaysia
Client: Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Malaysia's National Public Broadcaster
Location: Sabah & Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia
Challenge: To design, build, and deliver two identical, state-of-the-art, and fully redundant DSNG vehicles during strict pandemic travel restrictions.
Solution: Two Mercedes Sprinter-based DSNG vehicles, fully equipped with professional broadcast technology and featuring the PALS PDA-180 satellite antenna.
Key Technologies: PALS PDA-180 Antenna System, Terrasat Redundant C-Band BUCs, Blackmagic Design, Sony Video/Audio Switchers, Evertz, Genelec, Ross Video.
The Challenge: A Mission-Critical Project Under Pandemic Constraints
In the midst of global lockdowns and severe international travel restrictions, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) issued a critical tender for two identical, high-performance Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vehicles. These units were to be deployed in the demanding and remote regions of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, significantly expanding RTM's live broadcast capabilities. The project presented a unique trifecta of challenges: a tight one-year deadline, the logistical nightmare of a global supply chain crisis, and the absolute impossibility of our Turkish engineering team traveling to Borneo for installation, commissioning, or acceptance.
The success of this mission hinged not just on technical excellence, but on unparalleled project management and the strength of local partnerships.
The PALS Solution: Engineering Excellence and Strategic Localization
Leveraging our decades of experience as a systems integrator and antenna manufacturer, we crafted a winning proposal that addressed every client concern, both technical and logistical.
- Uncompromising Technical Design: We equipped the vehicles with a best-in-class, interoperable ecosystem of leading global brands, ensuring reliability and flawless performance:
- Redundant Satellite Communication: The heart of each vehicle is the PALS PDA-180 auto-acquire antenna system, renowned for its reliability in the field. It is powered by a fully redundant Terrasat 400W C-Band BUC system (for which PALS is the distributor), ensuring broadcast continuity even in the event of a primary unit failure. A TVU Networks bonding solution provides additional robustness for satellite and IP hybrid transmission.
- Video & Audio Production: The core video system features three Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro cameras for superior image quality, feeding into a Sony video switcher for seamless live production control. Audio is managed by a dedicated Sony audio mixing console, ensuring pristine sound quality, backed by a Evertz LA16x8BRM audio console for routing, Genelec audio monitors, and Leader multi-channel monitors for precise signal verification.
- Infrastructure & Full System Redundancy: Understanding the critical nature of live broadcasts, we built in full system redundancy from the ground up. This included the redundant Terrasat BUCs, Redundant Upconverters, a Fischer Panda 12 kVA generator, a Toshiba cooling system, and professional motorized intercoms with Lemo connectors for broadcast-grade durability.
- Strategic Sourcing and Localization: To guarantee long-term operability and ease of service, we made a strategic decision: the Mercedes Sprinter chassis were sourced locally from within Malaysia. This eliminated right-hand drive compatibility issues, streamlined customs, and, most importantly, provided the client with local vehicle warranty and service support, removing a significant future headache.
- Overcoming the Travel Barrier with Local Partnership: With international travel to Borneo completely halted, our pre-established network of local partners became our greatest asset. Our team conducted a comprehensive one-week online training for a large group of RTM's technical staff, ensuring they were experts in the new systems. Meanwhile, our local partners on the ground became our hands and eyes, assisting with final commissioning and acceptance. This proved once again that for global projects, a strong local partner is not a luxury, but a necessity for success.
The Result: Flawless Execution and a Lasting Legacy
Despite the immense challenges, PALS delivered on its promise. Two perfectly identical, turnkey DSNG vehicles were commissioned and officially handed over to RTM within the one-year project timeframe.
The vehicles, with their fully redundant Terrasat C-Band systems and comprehensive Sony production suite, have been performing flawlessly and without fail in the challenging tropical environment of Borneo since day one, becoming a cornerstone of RTM's outside broadcast fleet. This project stands as a powerful testament to PALS' ability to not only design and integrate world-class broadcast technology but also to navigate complex global logistics and deliver on time, anywhere in the world, under any circumstances.
The trust built through this project has further solidified PALS' reputation in the Asia-Pacific region, proving that where others see obstacles, we see solutions.