National Film and Television School Choose Chat-Com For Advanced Radio Communication Solution

Chat-Com is delighted to have supported the National Film and Television School (NFTS) with the implementation of a new two-way radio communications system, helping staff stay connected across the school’s busy and dynamic campus.

The project began when Ian Ruddick, who recently joined the National Film and Television School, contacted Chat-Com to discuss communication requirements for staff working across the site. The partnership was built on an existing relationship, with Chat-Com having previously worked closely with Ian during his time at Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe, where a similar radio solution had been successfully deployed.

Having experienced the benefits of reliable two-way radio communications first-hand, Ian approached Chat-Com to explore the options available for the National Film and Television School. As with every project, the focus was on finding the most effective solution for the school’s specific operational needs rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

To ensure the right system was selected, Chat-Com supplied a range of radio samples from several leading manufacturers. This gave staff the opportunity to evaluate different models in real-world conditions and compare features, usability and performance before making a final decision.

At Chat-Com, we’re always keen to get the right equipment into the hands of our customers. Specifications on paper are important, but nothing compares to actually using a radio in a real working environment. Once users experience the audio clarity, reliability and overall quality of a modern digital radio system, they quickly come to appreciate the difference. In fact, it’s not uncommon for trial users to become so reliant on the equipment that they don’t want to hand it back at the end of the evaluation period.

The trial period also allowed comprehensive coverage testing to be carried out across the campus. Reliable coverage is a critical component of any radio system, particularly on sites where staff may be working in different buildings, production spaces or outdoor areas. By testing each radio throughout the site, Chat-Com was able to confirm that staff would be able to communicate quickly and efficiently wherever they were located.

Following the evaluation process, the National Film and Television School selected a solution based on Caltta radios. The final deployment included a combination of display and non-display models, providing the flexibility to meet the needs of different users and departments.

The display-equipped radios offer a range of advanced digital features that enhance both communication and staff safety. Users can make private individual calls directly to colleagues using the onboard phone book, reducing unnecessary radio traffic and enabling more focused conversations when required. The radios can also receive alarm notifications from other users on the network, ensuring that important alerts are communicated immediately.

These safety features are particularly valuable for staff who may work independently or in quieter areas of the campus. Integrated lone worker and panic alarm functionality allows users to quickly raise an alert if assistance is needed, with alarm messages automatically transmitted to designated colleagues. This provides an additional layer of protection and helps ensure a rapid response when required.

The completed system delivers clear, reliable digital communications across the site while providing the advanced functionality needed to support both day-to-day operations and staff welfare. Chat-Com is proud to have worked with Iain and the team at the National Film and Television School once again and looks forward to supporting them in the years ahead.

Ian Ruddick from the NFTS remarked:

It is a pleasure working with Chat-Com, and I didn’t hesitate to re-engage with them when we needed a new fleet of radios at the NFTS. To ensure the equipment was a perfect fit for our specific needs, they provided radios on a trial basis so we could confidently test their coverage across the entire site. The entire process was seamless, and dealing with the Chat-Com team was incredibly straightforward and easy from start to finish. I highly recommend them for their excellent communication solutions and exceptional customer support.