Common FAQ's
This section is designed to help Interceptor Systems customers with frequently asked questions regarding remote communications. Understanding the challenges of remote communication along with rapidly changing technology isn’t easy. This section will provide clarity on some of those issues so Interceptor customers can make the right equipment selection for their next project.
Having the right information and communications equipment will maximize the ability to reach emergency services (Air Ambulance, STARS, Medical Services Etc.). This is crucial in keeping remote site personnel safe, as the remote communications systems are the first line of defense.
What is failover and do I need it?
Failover in the comms world is used to describe an alternate system or connection that will automatically restore communications if the primary system were to fail (For example if Starlink failed, Interceptor Internet would automatically flop to cellular internet keeping you connected).
This comes standard on every Interceptor tower, Interceptor has multi-tier failover systems for both cel phone network calling, as well as Internet Failover.
It is quite common for different problems to arise when relying on remote communication, weather and thunderstorms effecting Starlink, a downed fibre line to a cel tower, radio interference, carrier network or equipment failures can all arise at anytime. Having a failover system will protect you from these outages and still allow safety calling off site during these times.
Can I use Starlink WiFi calling and abandon traditional cell boosting equipment?
Starlink poses some big internet advantages on remote sites, it also poses some big disadvantages versus the cel network when it’s used independently for WiFi calling without cel service in the area.
If you choose to use a Starlink vs a traditional cell boosting tower for primary calling when there is NO cel service available in the area, you will most certainly be downgrading your safety calling (things like closed networks, limited SMS, failed messages, no full lease coverage for calling, no service for all personnel on site, weather effecting satellite communication will provide a worse off scenario).
However, the combination of Starlink and good cel repeating will most certainly keep your site safe and provide advantages for each communication systems disadvantages.
Interceptor Systems Comm Towers come standard with both systems, this way you never have to downgrade your safety calling, you can go to work knowing everyone on site can stay connected and failover systems are in place to make sure that emergency call can always be made.
When should I request for an Interceptor UPS, or battery back-up system for my tower?
When there is only a single means of power generation on a high activity or high-risk site. Just like communication failovers and outages, power outages and generator failures are common in the industry, so we need to put a barrier in place to protect from this.
If there is multiple generators on site and one fails, the communications systems can be moved to a working generator, however if there is only one generator and it fails, there will be no communications to call for servicing or emergencies.
Interceptor can put UPS and battery back-up systems in place if pre-requested for these jobs, we can receive alarms, remote start, remote monitor fuel, so if this issue occurs, we still have time and active site communication to handle it, for more crucial projects we can fully add in a solar grid with large battery banks.
Interceptor has different Mobile Communication Tower heights ranging from 80’ – 120’ tall, which one do I choose?
Contact us, we will do a path study on your upcoming job a select the best choice for your area and your project. Depending on your location and obstructions between your site and the towers we are repeating from we may want a taller tower. If we feel height is not an issue, we may recommend one of our shorter towers that offer more features in place of the extra tower weight (more stadium lighting, larger generators, fuel storage, etc.) so you can have the optimal all-in-one solution for your site.
How much light do the Interceptor Invictus Lighting Systems emit, are they a big draw for power?
Our Stadium LED lighting systems emit approximately 5 acres of lighting, they were designed to provide an all-in-one solution where we could use the advantageous height of our tower to provide optimal site lighting.
The Interceptor lighting is motorized and adjustable from the ground panel. The lighting systems will automatically turn off during the day to conserve fuel on remote sites.
Our typical tower lighting systems will require approximately 3200 watts of additional power if our generators aren’t in place.
Why are Interceptor Personnel so great?
Because we care and we take our job seriously, we know our products are the first line of defense for safety calling, our team has your back, you can go to work knowing the right technical decisions have been made for your project.