Land Cruiser news setup (warning: 20 pictures)

[newsactive]

Hi,

I'm a television photographer in Finland. I work for the national networks and also foreign news agencies (APTN etc.) and channels (CNN, DW, BBC...)

I used to have a Chevy Tahoe but I finally had to sell it after having driven nearly 200 000 km with it. Since no car dealer in Finland import or sell Chevrolet SUV's anymore (thanks to EU), I had to look for another option.

I decided to buy a Toyota Land Cruiser and build everything I need into it. My SUV is equipped with live transmission capability for news broadcasts and a high speed internet access (2 Mbps while on the move, 12 Mbps when stationary) for sending files etc.

I also installed a Victron Energy 1600W 230V inverter to generate power for all my equipment. Additional batteries and a charging system have been installed as well.

Because of the nature of my work, I also have a lot of communication equipment in the truck. Three GSM phones (for IFB and regular calling) a sat phone (Inmarsat BGAN), HF / VHF / UHF-radio, scanner, and another UHF mobile radio + six portables for production use.

Apparently I can only attach five pics per post so I'll send all the pics in four parts. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

 

[newsactive]

Pictures 5 to 10

Pictures 5 to 10

 

[newsactive]

Pictures 11 to 15

Pictures 11 to 15

 

[newsactive]

Pictures 16 to 20

Pictures 16 to 20

 

[scannerfreak]

Sweet Ride! Great pics too

 

[DonnieDog]

Mega Sweet Setup!!

 

[AK9R]

Wow! (wiping the drool off of my keyboard)

 

[RadioDaze]

Outstanding!!! (Wiping W9RXR's drool off my keyboard)

 

[specialforces]

What was the cost,for this setup of yours,Thank You

 

[newsactive]

Some additional information:

There is also a wifi-router that generates an instant wifi-hotspot while on the scene so that reporters and colleagues can access the internet and news production systems (iNews) on their laptops.

Two more antennas are installed in back side windows for digital terrestial television receiver.

The 7" display in the front is a touch screen display for the Mac Mini that is installed in the center console (below the Uniden scanner, not seen in pictures).

Both the scanner and computer are neatly hidden in the center console box but can still be very easily accessed.

Speakers for all radios are installed behind the center console box. I'll try to remember to take a picture of those too.

 

[AK9R]

OK, what's in the space between the front and rear panels of the rear equipment enclosure? Did you build the rear enclosure yourself? What materials did you use?

 

[newsactive]

What was the cost,for this setup of yours,Thank You

It wasn't cheap but I consider it as a tool that I need daily in my job. I had the antenna platform, electricity and equipment cabinet in the back done in a shop that specializes in government and military trucks. An electrician, electrical engineer and a carpenter worked 6 days building the setup.

The electrical system alone costs around 4000 - 5000 euros.

 

[newsactive]

OK, what's in the space between the front and rear panels of the rear equipment enclosure? Did you build the rear enclosure yourself? What materials did you use?

You mean between the back patch panel (with inverter controls and AC outlets) and front panel (LCD screens, patch panel, audio mixer etc.)?

That's where all the transmission and other TV production equimpent are installed. The system can be controlled via local network so the actual hardware is hidden inside the rack.

There are also a terrestial diversity DVB-T receiver, a wifi router, IFB hybrids and MPEG encoders inside the rack.

I didn't build this myself. I had the cabinet done in a shop and then installed the equipment myself.

 

[radiouser_magazine]

Outstanding setup! Has given me some great ideas. I'm a news cameraman/photographer in Scotland operating a black Vauxhall Vectra. Great car with plenty of space etc - just working out the best options for carrying gear in the boot space.

Setup looks tremendous! Going to spend all night drooling over the pics!

 

[newsactive]

While I got started, here's still a few more pictures.

The first two are from the shop while the cabinet was being built and last three I took during a severe winter storm last December.

 

[radiouser_magazine]

Outstanding....

I have a laptop mounted fitted in my vehicle which makes life so much easier. I used to just have it sitting ontop of a peli case on the passenger seat, but kept twisting things trying to use it. The table mount is so much easier to work with.

 

[newsactive]

I have a RAM mount for the laptop but since I only use the MacBook Pro (pictured above) while on location and doing editing, there is no need for the mount.

I use the Mac Mini connected to the touch screen in the center console while driving. The Mac Mini is only for dispatch center screen (we get Fire & rescue alerts in real time over the internet from the 112 center), weather radar and traffic related information.

Your laptop setup looks very neat though.

 

[radiouser_magazine]

Ah superb! I wondered what the console screen was for - simply superb dude! Got to love boys and their toys eh? lol

Contemplating getting an iPad at some stage and getting that mounted to the dash in a similar way as your screen - but time will tell lol

 

[b7spectra]

Son of a Biscuit Eater! That is an awesome setup! Job well done!

 

[BoxAlarm187]

Wow, outstanding job!