Customer Service

Broadcaster Remote Engine Controllers can be used in multiple different industries and applications such as: agricultural, irrigation, water transfer, dewatering, series or parallel pump set-ups and municipal pumping.

Broadcaster uses multiple redundant communication methods: mesh radio, Internet (cellular, WiFi and/or Ethernet) with satellite communication as a backup using the cell/sat module, to ensure the operator stays connected. Which methods you use will depend on your application.

Broadcaster can be used on Tier 3 and Tier 4 J1939 electronic diesel engines, some mechanical diesel engines, natural gas engines and some VFD motors.

Broadcaster does monitor for sudden pressure drops on the outlet side (with outlet pressure sensing). There are settings that determine what constitutes “sudden.” If a sufficiently large and sufficiently sudden drop is detected, BC2 will automatically command the engine to idle.

Yes. In fact, Broadcaster supports a variety of general purpose outputs, including hydraulic valves.

In North America, there is a 900MHz band allocated for applications like this. The Broadcaster radios use this frequency band to relay messages between remotes and engines. The mesh aspect allows for messages to “hop” from one radio to another, to allow for communication over distances not normally reached by two radios alone. Basically, each radio acts as a repeater.

Typically, we see customers operating reasonably well over distances of 2-3km (1.5 miles.) Range is reduced by a wide array of factors, including terrain, metal structures, radio interference, and atmospheric conditions. In general, mounting radios as high as possible gives the best chance of maximizing range. Of course, using additional radios as repeaters will allow for even greater range.

Cell/sat is the term we use to describe the satellite and cellular communication module that provides an alternative or backup to the terrestrial mesh radio. It is capable of intelligently switching between cellular and satellite communication, depending on cell signal availability. Satellite communication is slower than cellular, but is available globally and allows for communication in regions where there is little or no cellular coverage.

Yes, but there are some important limitations. Broadcaster 1+ and 2 engine controllers can communicate either using the Broadcaster 2 protocol, or the Broadcaster 1 protocol, but not both at the same time. This means that if you are using a Broadcaster 1 remote with a Broadcaster 1+ or 2 engine controller, the engine controller cannot be controlled using a Broadcaster 2 remote, nor do we expect it to emit Broadcaster 2 data packets to the data server (for display on the web portal). Constantly switching between these modes is also not recommended. The Broadcaster 1 support in Broadcaster 1+ and 2 is intended as an upgrade/migration path for existing Broadcaster 1 customers; it’s not meant to work alongside the Broadcaster 2 protocol at the same time. These limitations largely have to do with the available bandwidth on the mesh radios.

With the Rugged Tablet, the software can handle dozens of pumps at a time. With Portal Control, we recommend controlling only 1 pump. Control of multiple pumps is possible but requires navigating between individual pump status pages in the portal.