Clients and Events
Customers – the life blood of our business. Here we list some of our customers, past and present, together with a brief description of our involvement with them.
JLR Global PR
XTC provide Communication and Technical resource to JLR’s ‘Global Drive Team’. The Drive Team, which is a arm of LR Experience, are responsible for providing unique and mind blowing challenges for the Worlds Press to experience the latest JLR products. These events are held from the comfort of Capital Cities to the remoteness of Iceland and the Andes. Launches include Discovery 3, Freelander2, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover, Evoque, Discovery 4, New Range Rover, New Range Rover Sport, Discovery Sport, Evoque Cabriolet, Sport SVR. We have also been involved with the launch of the stunning Jaguar F Type, F Pace, E Pace, XJ, XF and the supersonic iPace!
XTC completed a 10 week event in Iceland at the end of 2014 for the launch of the Discovery Sport. The event pushed the vehicles, equipment, staff and Worlds Press to the limits with conditions at their worst for many winters. Iceland Gallery
Sept ’15 was the launch of the new Ingenium engines in the Range Rover Evoque. Taking place in Barcelona and the surrounding Catalonian Mountains, the Worlds Press experienced some of Europe’s finest views and off road driving.
March ’16 the stunning Evoque Cabriolet was launched high up in the French Alps, Couchevel. Once again XTC provided comms, tracking and Internet amongst the snow and ice for a breath-taking launch for over 600 International Journalists. Cabriolet Gallery
April ’16 Jaguar F-PACE Montenegro. 3 VSAT Systems and 4G modems provided Internet at remote locations for World Media putting the F-PACE though it’s paces! Spectacular dams, water crossings and barren land took the vehicles to their limits.
After the first Discovery was launched 25 years ago, it’s latest successor, the All New Discovery, was launched in the sand and rocks of Utah and Arizona in Feb’17. The breathtaking backdrop of the Utah landscape was the perfect location for this all new design with it’s deep sand, snow and what appeared to be impossible rock climbs. Yet another bold adventure by Land Rover to show that their vehicles really are the best! Utah Pic’s
We now roll on to the launch of the latest model in the Range Rover family, the Velar. Recces are underway in Norway for our next Global Launch later this year. Watch this space…
Time flies, and many events have taken place in Spain, Portugal, Greece, Corsica and the UK, but now it’s 2020 and the Launch of the New Defender in Namibia!
The New Defender Launch in Namibia presented a huge challenge for Logistics, Safety and cultural sensitivity.
Without decent Communications and tracking the event could not go ahead. The distances travelled and remote locations visited demanded the latest and best technology.
By using Icom’s latest IP and Satellite radio equipment we were able to create a network to cover both safety and logistical demands over our complete route. This meant the event could go ahead.
XTC also provided Sat Internet at the remote sites for Media guests and solar power to run Fridges, Freezers, lighting and Comms at the Camps.
It was by far one of our most challenging, fun and rewarding events to date..
Defender Namibia Pics
Weymouth Sailing Academy
XTC provided 4 repeater and 5 simplex channels for the 4 Sail For Gold Regattas leading up to the 2012 Olympics. The repeaters were based on Portland along side the Military aircraft Radome and gave handheld coverage far in excess of Weymouth Bay.
The system proved vital for race teams and waterside safety for the Regattas and was installed as a back up system to compliment the country-wide Tetra system installed by the Olympics Committee for the actual event. The system was used during the Olympic racing in preference to the Tetra system by some race teams and Judges.
The system has been reinstalled this year for Regatta’s now leading up to the 2016 Olympics where the UK teams will be chosen. XTC are now looking at a permanent installation of a IP based radio system in conjunction with ICOM UK, a sponsor of the Academy.
D3 Active
XTC are proud to have worked with D3 Active for many years supporting them with their events. Famous for corporate events with a real difference, and also implementing the off road challenges & design for Land Rover, D3 are the UK’s most invigorating agency.
These are just a few of the events we have been able to help D3 with Radio Communications, Satellite Internet and Outside Lighting. G4 Challenge Selections, Geneva Motor Show, Mud Runner, Red Bull Neptune Steps, Dunsfold Circuit, Red Bull internal events, LR Trek, Red Bull Hardline, Outrow & Unleashed.
For the two Red Bull Cliff Diving events held in Wales XTC provided local and wide area comms for Event Management, Client and Stewards/Marshals via a 4 channel repeater system. Internet to the site was provided by 2 VSAT systems running in dual WAN. This gave internet to the management portacabins, press and wireless to the competitors in their hot tub! The radio system ran from 2 Efoy Fuel Cells alleviating the need for noisy generators at the repeater site which was amongst the viewing crowds.
2016 Events we have helped with include Red Bull Neptune Steps, Fuller Fest, LR Trek’16, Red Bull Hardline, Steeplechase and Cliff Diving. Hyundai Product Launch.
D3 can be contacted at D3 Active. 01531 634066.
Formula 1 – Mobil1 Paddock Club
Formula 1 – Mobil1 Paddock Club. XTC have provided equipment, manpower and expertise for the Mobil1 Paddock Club. Working closely with BHP Sport, the prime contractor, we have designed, built and manned the AV requirement for the suite for over 7 years. This has involved video walls, plasmas, PA systems, lighting. Many of the worlds most famous drivers have stood on our stage and used our PA’s! The role also includes the building of 5 star suites in tented villages with bars, reception desks for up to 300 guests. In 2004 BHP, with XTC’s assistance flew over 4 tons of equipment to the inaugural Chinese GP in Shanghai creating a spectacular suite with impressive video wall and 11 plasma screens.
Land Rover G4 Challenge
We were pleased to be the technical communications supplier to the Land Rover G4 Challenge. XTC provided communications, audio visual expertise and equipment to the pre-scout teams, international selection events and the main global event in 2003. We worked with Land Rover special vehicles division on the installation of retro fitted electronic equipment into the vehicles ready for the four continent 2003 event. 4 engineers supported the 4 week event providing 24hr technical support.
XTC are a Land Rover approved supplier and continued to provide communications for the 2006 event. Plans were made and recce’s done for the 2009 event, but sadly it was cancelled. Countries visited by G4 Challenge include N America, S Africa, Australia, Thailand, Laos, Bolivia and Brazil. The 2009 event was due to be held in Mongolia.
Land Rover Experience
Following our work with Land Rover G4 Challenge , XTC provided communication services to Land Rover Experience. In 2004 XTC were tasked with providing wide area VHF coverage in the remote north east of Scotland for the new Discovery 3 Press Launch. Here, back to back repeater technology was implemented with an SSE mast site hosting one repeater while the other end was covertly installed in a 15th century protected building.
This was the start of us providing communications solutions and staff for all Land Rover Press launch’s ever since, initially with LRE, and latterly Global PR. Our input and responsibilities on these events are growing all the time, but our involvement with Land Rover goes way back to 1993 and Camel Trophy. Details on some of the launches can be found under JLR Global PR.
We have also provided LRE with Satphones, temporary repeaters and Vehicle fits in previous years along with support on IT and AV equipment at LRE Centres.
LRE provide a unique experience for anyone wishing to drive the latest LR vehicles to their limits at centres across the UK and Globe. Land Rover Experience
No Man’s Fort
In the eastern Solent between the Isle of Wight and Hampshire lays a privately owned Napoleonic fort uniquely modified and furnished to become a highly exclusive venue for discerning patrons. XTC have provided a wide range of services and consultancy to the previous owners. This involvement has included distributed TV carrying terrestrial and Sky channels to over 30 rooms and maintenance of various electrical installations including power generators. We have provided sound systems for the annual ‘Round the Island’ yacht race where the fort is noted for being the ‘musical’ rounding mark of the course, buoying up the competitors aboard the 1600 participating yachts on their run to the finishing line. We were also fortunate in having the opportunity to ‘babysit’ the Fort for many weekends over 3 years with mostly only 2 of us on board. A weekend of pure solitude in exchange for a few maintenance jobs.. Seemed a fair swap!
No Man’s has recently been fully refurbished after a period of sad neglect to a very high standard and is well worth a visit be it just for lunch or a romantic stopover! AmaZingvenues 0330 333 7222
Stepping Out – RNLI
Stepping Out was a specialist outfitter based on Hayling Island. Each year the proprietors organised a fund raising fashion show with all proceeds going to the local RNLI branch. The event ran for 6 years and became so popular that two performances were planned in order to seat the 500 or so paying guests. XTC are renowned for their contribution which comprises; lighting, sound, video projection of live and pre recorded material and radio links for stage management.
XTC staff and friends manned the sound and lighting desks for this live and un-rehearsed coming together of well choreographed performers in a show environment. Due to venue availability all of the XTC kit has to be installed and tested within hours of curtain up and then disassembled and removed within an hour or so of the finale.
XTC have a close connection with the RNLI on Hayling Island with a team member being an ex Helmsman. We have installed the radio antenna’s on the current Boathouse and help maintain the radio links to the weather station Chimet situated at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. We have provided professional facilities for past Annual Crew Dinners held at Hayling Island Sailing Club including staging, lecterns, cameras with live video projection, taped projection, mood & Disco lighting, sound reinforcement, A/V mixing and a Disco. The guests were entertained by a series of amusing award presentations to the crew members before floating onto the dance floor.
Ribtec
Ribtec rigid inflatables of Southampton were were chosen by Camel Trophy for the design and production of 60x boats for the 2000 Tonga / Samoa event in the South Pacific. XTC worked with Ribtec on the design of the boat and electronic instrumentation. All boats were fitted with marine VHF and a selection of key support boats also had Marine SSB transceivers installed. Bases were established in Tonga and Samoa and these head quarters were equipped with HF and Sat phone communication facilities for the boats as well as hosting a VHF repeater system for local mobile communications for support staff. Three support ships were also fitted with communication equipment, one of these belonging to the Tongan Navy.
As an aside XTC were contracted by Ribtec for the Earls Court London Boat Shows 1999 to 2002 for display lighting and audio visual presentation of Ribtec and Camel Trophy media.
Camel Trophy
Working with their Global Event Management team, XTC were the telecommunication consultants to the famous Camel Trophy land and water based adventure events which sadly finished in 2001 after some 20 years of existence. XTC staff were involved with the event from 1993 until 2001. Characteristics of these events were: that they were always held in extremely remote, global locations in rugged and challenging environments, required safety critical communications among mobile units and to multiple HQs, were nearly always supported by a specially fitted “comms” vehicle manned with members of our comms team, were highly visible to international journalists, reporters, film crews, photographers etc who were also included in the communications network.
In addition to the radio and satellite in infrastructure, XTC were responsible for installation of computer networks at the HQs for use by reporters, mobile data installations with vehicle tracking and messaging, emergency repairs to all electrical / electronic equipment and impromptu Public Address.
To finish each event, large party’s were organised. XTC installed the venue sound, lighting and visual effects including pyrotechnics to create evenings to remember for life!
Countries visited by Camel Trophy during XTC’s involvement included, Sabah-Malaysia, Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Mundo Maya (region), Kalimantan, Mongolia, Tierra del Fuego, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji.