PA System live tests

[Filo]

https://x.com/drfc_official/status/1875526197511163921?s=61&t=DCRm1C_BBr5pt7J45jXUsA

[NickDRFC]

“ Supporters therefore may notice differences in the output of the PA system during the matchday.”

What output? 

[In the box]

“ Supporters therefore may notice differences in the output of the PA  during the matchday.”

What output? 

I can’t see any test improving the former British Rail sound system .. a new one maybe 

[roversdude]

Sounds worse than ever lol

[i_ateallthepies]

Sounds worse than ever lol

Is that even possible

[Daniel_Smith]

Speakers and amps have had it. I'm assuming they've tried to balance system thinking that would sort issue, but it was never going to work.

[Ryaldinhio]

It's like West stand isn't working at all

[Filo]

Never heard it all game in the West Stand

[Fal]

Agreed, never heard a thing in the west stand.

[Dagenham Rover]

As above in the West thought they had turned the speakers off

[glosterred]

As above in the West thought they had turned the speakers off

Which improved the PA System no end


COYR

[Branton Red]

A much better match day experience without the (t)annoy.

More of the same please.

[ravenrover]

It was fine on West concourse !

[GazLaz]

Surely a ground can’t pass a safety inspection if the PA system doesn’t work.

[Bentley Bullet]

I always remember feeling jealous of the sound system at Oakwell, and thinking, I wish we had such modern technology in Doncaster!

[donnyguy]

Muffled sound ever time guy on mic spoke. Summed everything up about going to rovers these days

[Bentley Bullet]

It certainly doesn't do the guy any justice, he's excellent in hospitality.

[PDX_Rover]

Patrons are reminded that smoking is forbidden in the main stand.

[Usher wide.]

Surely a ground can’t pass a safety inspection if the PA system doesn’t work.

Actually that’s a fair point.

Supposing there was an immediate need to vacate the stadium that coincided with the half time interval?

I may well have watched too many ‘Die Hards’ over the Christmas period but in all seriousness, how many people would be privy to that ‘vacate immediately’ announcement apart from those in the West Stand toilets (no pun intended) which in that area of the stadium s still the only place anyone can hear the tannoy with any semblance of clarity.

One for the ‘shadow board’?

[colincramb]

Feel like this has been done to death. We know it’s awful and has been since 2007.

I’d rather we spend the money on the squad and get out of this league to be honest. The sums to replace it sound astronomical. So, if people want that then fine, but it’s at the detriment of the playing budget most likely

[Usher wide.]

Feel like this has been done to death. We know it’s awful and has been since 2007.

I’d rather we spend the money on the squad and get out of this league to be honest. The sums to replace it sound astronomical. So, if people want that then fine, but it’s at the detriment of the playing budget most likely

Take it back, first things first you’re absolutely right if we’re talking mega bucks (for us anyway) let’s put up with the drone.

[Donnywolf]

Surely a ground can’t pass a safety inspection if the PA system doesn’t work.

Maybe they can do or indeed DO do the testing when no game is on ?

I would have thought it should be tested under "working conditions" though to validate it is fot for purpose

[Chris the Rover]

Couldn’t hear a word in the West Stand, near the halfway line. Worse than useless!

[roversdude]

Likewise - can usually hear it but not clearly but yesterday it sounded muffled/like it was coming from another stand (might have been just the concourse we could hear)

[In the box]

Likewise - can usually hear it but not clearly but yesterday it sounded muffled/like it was coming from another stand (might have been just the concourse we could hear)

Its a cheap basic tannoy system that is more at home for railway station than a football stadium … It rubbish and needs replacing!!

[rover-n-out]

It's a difficult one this, I used to work in a local music store selling P.A. systems to bands, trios, duos, solo artistes, which can range from 1k to 10/15k depending on the requirements of the buyer. It's pretty straightforward stuff in those scenarios, but when you start wanting sound systems to cover football stadia, it takes on a whole new meaning.
Take the Keepmoat for instance, up to 15,000 people need to hear a high quality pa system for not only announcements but music as well. How many speakers do you need to cover all ares inside as well as out?
Do we fly them from the roof canopy? If so, how do we get them up there? Should they be weather proof speakers? In which case they need to be a different type of speaker inside the enclosure (as normal speakers run the risk of water damage) to protect against the elements whilst still working to a high quality output.
How do we power them, as multiple speakers connected together usually run on a 100v line system. Or, do we use 240v Active Speakers with digital power modules built in to the enclosure. Imagine the amount of wiring needed to connect all these speakers, at a rough estimation, I'd say a minimum of 4 x speakers installed in each of the east and west stands, plus 3 x speakers in each of the north and south stands, that's without installing speakers in all 4 concourses for internal announcements. It's a huge installation even for our modest stadium. All the heavy lifting "cherry picker" type equipment is needed to get the equipment and the installers up there underneath the canopy safely and be able to complete their work in a safe manor.
Our Tannoy system was more than likely installed when all the heavy lifting gear was in place when the stadium was being built. It's not just like changing a light bulb I'm afraid.

[GazLaz]

It's a difficult one this, I used to work in a local music store selling P.A. systems to bands, trios, duos, solo artistes, which can range from 1k to 10/15k depending on the requirements of the buyer. It's pretty straightforward stuff in those scenarios, but when you start wanting sound systems to cover football stadia, it takes on a whole new meaning.
Take the Keepmoat for instance, up to 15,000 people need to hear a high quality pa system for not only announcements but music as well. How many speakers do you need to cover all ares inside as well as out?
Do we fly them from the roof canopy? If so, how do we get them up there? Should they be weather proof speakers? In which case they need to be a different type of speaker inside the enclosure (as normal speakers run the risk of water damage) to protect against the elements whilst still working to a high quality output.
How do we power them, as multiple speakers connected together usually run on a 100v line system. Or, do we use 240v Active Speakers with digital power modules built in to the enclosure. Imagine the amount of wiring needed to connect all these speakers, at a rough estimation, I'd say a minimum of 4 x speakers installed in each of the east and west stands, plus 3 x speakers in each of the north and south stands, that's without installing speakers in all 4 concourses for internal announcements. It's a huge installation even for our modest stadium. All the heavy lifting "cherry picker" type equipment is needed to get the equipment and the installers up there underneath the canopy safely and be able to complete their work in a safe manor.
Our Tannoy system was more than likely installed when all the heavy lifting gear was in place when the stadium was being built. It's not just like changing a light bulb I'm afraid.

Use riggers on a cherry picker. The canopy isn’t high.

[Dagenham Rover]

Likewise - can usually hear it but not clearly but yesterday it sounded muffled/like it was coming from another stand (might have been just the concourse we could hear)

Its a cheap basic tannoy system that is more at home for railway station than a football stadium … It rubbish and needs replacing!!

I think its been discussed before and at that point it was totally cost prohibitive, Its not exactly a couple of tin cans and a bit of string ( although it can sound like it)    to fully replace it was well into the hundreds of thousands of pounds no doubt much more now and as Rover n Out said you can't just stick a set of ladders or a cherry picker up

[i_ateallthepies]

There's no question that the technical specification differs from indoor speakers but it isn't anything unusual, every professional club in the country is faced with the same requirement, it's just the fact that the stadium was built to a budget and the cheapest option was chosen for the sound system which is now not fit for purpose.

The question of accessing the units is fairly straightforward and their replacements could (should?) be installed with gear to raise/lower them for when servicing is required. This in itself would increase cost appreciably but would make economic sense long term.

[Filo]

Wouldn’t the existing cable infrastructure be able to be used with proper stadium speakers and control unit?