NIKOS – Festumzug

Mobile public address system for Cologne Carnival

autonomous reliable cost-effective

NIKOS is not a conventional PA system, but a radio-based public address, alarm and control system for large events, construction sites and crisis situations, which you can rent by the day through certified partners and either integrate into your PA or use on its own.

Challenge

Announcements follow the parade without fixed cabling

During Cologne Carnival, floats, walking groups and spectators move through densely crowded streets over long distances. Warnings, closure notices and crowd-management announcements must therefore reach not only stationary areas but also remain intelligible along the parade route. In addition, the mobile sound systems on the floats operate independently of one another, making uniform announcements across many floats organizationally and technically difficult without networking.

Solution

One unified solution for everyday use and emergencies

NIKOS brings together announcements, alerting, visitor guidance and device control in a single network-independent platform. NIKOS [audio]² receives the voice transmission on site via radio and outputs it as an analog audio signal through the floats’ mobile sound systems; NIKOS [horn]² supplements locations without an existing sound system. NIKOS [dispatcher]² can be used to control individual announcement locations, the entire event area or defined target areas, allowing warnings, crowd-management announcements and information messages to be triggered from a single operator position. This reduces the need for materials and cabling, as well as staff travel and operator stations, because recurring tasks are controlled centrally and monitored or carried out by NIKOS.

FAQ

Information for planners and organisers

Is NIKOS designed to meet the relevant standards for announcements?+
Yes, indeed: NIKOS meets the requirements of DIN EN 50849 for electroacoustic emergency warning systems. The system was developed specifically for safety-relevant announcements and alerting and is technically designed for both everyday operation and emergency situations. DIN EN 50849 represents the relevant reference framework for ELA systems. Unlike mobile network-based systems, NIKOS does not depend on any external network and is therefore immediately ready for use at all times — fully meeting the standard as a result. Other standards known from safety technology, such as DIN EN 54, DIN VDE 0833-4 and DIN 14675 (voice alarm systems), do not apply to NIKOS, as they are not applicable to radio-based public address systems like NIKOS. NIKOS is a public address system for temporary and mobile applications and has been used successfully many times for mission-critical communication tasks since 2017. RADACOM and your regional NIKOS partner will be happy to advise you on the wide range of NIKOS functions and support you in implementing the requirements cost-effectively.
Where do cost advantages arise when using NIKOS?+
Cost advantages arise primarily because temporarily required security communications can be rented and dismantled after the event instead of being purchased permanently. The rental and installation costs of NIKOS can quickly be offset by these savings. You can find some specific examples of savings here.
Does the mobile public address system remain usable during Cologne Carnival even when the mobile network is overloaded?+
Yes. NIKOS operates via its own autonomous radio network and is completely independent of public communications networks and their availability. NIKOS [audio]² has an internal battery with a runtime of up to 16 hours, which also powers connected accessory modules. This means the mobile public address system for Cologne Carnival remains reliably operational even in the event of a power outage or disruptions to public communications networks.
How can announcements be heard when the floats are playing loud music?+
When loud music is playing, NIKOS [flash]² uses a flashing light to signal to the conductor, bandleader or DJ that the music must be stopped immediately. In response to the light signal, the performance or music playback is interrupted so that announcements can be understood reliably. This ensures that important announcements reach the audience even on crowded streets and during parades.
Mobile public address system for Cologne Carnival: Where can NIKOS be rented?+
NIKOS is rented by the day through certified partners, including advice, instruction and technical support. Your regional partner coordinates the deployment with you. Find a partner and request a rental

Rent NIKOS for your operation

Talk to us about your requirements – we will advise you with no obligation.

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