KNL System Installation
Maybe you have already heard all about the technical solutions that we in KNL have developed and the theory is clear. The practical side might still seem unclear and daunting. How is the system installed and commissioned? Letting outside people on board a ship or other installation site in this time of pandemic is an especially unpleasant thought.
We have good news for you. The system has been installed numerous times without need for the KNL personnel to step foot on the site, as the installation really is pretty simple. In this post we will go through the process of getting the system installed on a vessel, but the process is similar in other locations as well.
Location of the KNL HF antenna
Once you have ordered a KNL system we will send you a full installation set that includes everything you need for getting the system up and running. The parts are most commonly shipped from our partner in Denmark to the port or address you provide us. Alongside the shipping process we will discuss with the captain of the vessel or other relevant personnel about where to place the different parts of the system so that the efficiency is as good as possible. The KNL system does not interfere with any other systems on board. We ensure this by considering the locations of the crucial HF based systems on board when choosing where the KNL HF antenna will be placed.
When the plan is in place and the parts have arrived to the vessel, the crew can handle the installation. Often they choose to do the installation while on long legs between ports as that’s when they have the most time. The base system includes three antennas, the radio, and cables to go between them. Depending on the intended use there will be some additional parts connected to the radio, such as the COLLECT unit or a PC. Often these can also be installed by the crew, with our support offering help as much as is needed. The antennas come with easy to use brackets and clear installation instructions, and the radio can be installed on a rack or bolted to a table. The same type of cable is used between all three antennas and the radio. A step-by-step installation manual will guide the crew through the installation, and our operators are ready to help with any problems the crew might have. Experience shows, however, that the problems are very rare.
Ensuring proper installation
We check that the installation is outwardly done according to our standards by asking the crew to send us pictures of the installation. When we have ensured that the installation is valid, we give the crew the permission to turn on the radio. Then we can connect to the radio remotely and finish the software side of the commissioning as well as run some tests to make sure the installation is working and secure. We do not even necessarily require a cellular connection for the commissioning as we can do the configurations over HF. We can also operate for example the COLLECT unit remotely through the radio.
As soon as the system and the accessories are installed and we have finished the software side of the commissioning, the system is up and running. The whole process has not required us to visit the vessel or the site. The only part where we need to wait for the vessel to visit port is when we need to get the actual parts carried on board. Any further configuration or troubleshooting can also be done remotely, much of it using the HF connection.