No Mountain Too High

Broadcasting challenges come in many forms and staff at Presteigne Charter were excited to demonstrate their physical, as well as technical, prowess when asked by Japanese television company, Nippon TV, to scale Mt Kilimanjaro (19,341') for a live 24-hour-coverage televised charity event.

The world's first high definition TV live coverage of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro was planned by Nippon TV with its high technical standards of the world's first live broadcasting from the top of Mt Everest (from the Chinese climbing route) in 1988 and the live broadcast of Mt Kilimanjaro on SDTV in 2001. Presteigne Charter contributed its technical expertise to NTV's project, and staff from both companies collaborated closely to make it a success with their hard work.

Love Saves the Earth is an annual telethon which, for its 34th year, adopted the theme of chikara or strength. Presteigne Charter was employed on the strength of their expertise to transmit live footage of 17 year old Sae Tachiki, who is substantially visually impaired, and her partner, Japanese entertainer, Imoto, during their climb of the mountain.

The project required the rigging of Africa's highest point to allow HD video, sound and communications, anywhere on the route, to be relayed wirelessly through the clouds to the fully kitted-out control room in the neighbouring town of Moshi, about 30km away, providing live pictures using two-way RF links. Following a site survey and test ascent, Presteigne Charter employed Link RF kit and Motorola VHF communications equipment, using various staging posts as repeaters and point-to-point links to ensure a robust and redundant system, which was essential, given the changeable and atmospheric conditions of the area.

The ascent took three days and tested the abilities of all concerned. Presteigne Charter crew, more used to climbing stairs than mountains, rose magnificently to the challenge, supported by nearly 200 porters who transported kit. Given the drastic changes in humidity, searing day-time heat and below-freezing temperatures at night, the kit had to be given particular care and attention to avoid any damage or malfunction: every cable had to be suitable for sub zero use.

At the climax of the telethon, after regular live updates during the day, NTV was seeing and co-ordinating live HD pictures from the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, right on cue.

Presteigne Charter is very proud of the way its crew met this challenge but our broadcasting achievements are nothing compared to those of brave Sae Tachiki, and we applaud her courage and resolve.

CONTACT:

SARAH LEGGETT sarahl@presteignecharter.com 01293 651300 ext 1001

Presteigne Charter Ltd, Units 2 & 3 Manor Gate, Manor Royal, Crawley West Sussex RH10 9SX UK

LINK:	http://www.presteignecharter.com/en/press/news/no-mountain-too-high...
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