Lewis CaliburnSet against Australia’s Queensland coastline, Dicky Beach Surf Club recently invested in a Kramer AVoIP solution that provides seamless video distribution, zone-based control, and powerful audio performance – all optimised for the club’s dynamic daily operations.
The club serves as both a community hub and a social destination for members, locals and visitors alike. From early-morning patrol briefings to lively weekend functions, the club’s spaces host a constant flow of activity. To enhance these experiences, the venue required a versatile, easy-to-use AV system capable of supporting everything from live sports and community presentations to private events and celebrations.
Recognising the need for a reliable, scalable and high-quality networked AV solution, the club turned to Box Security Sound & Vision, with control system programming by Smart Home Programming. Together, they designed and delivered a Kramer AVoIP solution.
The surf club wanted to transform its AV infrastructure to meet diverse operational needs, including multiple entertainment and presentation zones across bars, dining and training areas. Distributing content from eight video sources to 18 displays and a large LED wall, the solution required simple, centralized control that staff could manage intuitively, even during busy events.
“The surf club environment is unlike any other,” explains Chev Durrant, Telecommunications Technician at Box Security Sound & Vision. “You’re dealing with open spaces, ambient noise, and a wide range of content – from background music and live TV to training sessions and announcements. We needed a system that could switch seamlessly between them while remaining rock solid and easy to use.”
To deliver that flexibility, the integrator deployed a Kramer AVoIP backbone based on KDS-EN7 encoders and KDS-DEC7 decoders, delivering lossless, low-latency 4K video across the entire site. A Netgear GSM4248P Managed PoE+ switch forms the core of the network, ensuring smooth communication between devices and guaranteeing reliability even under demanding use.
Each of the eight HDMI sources – including broadcast feeds, media players and event inputs – is encoded and distributed to 18 displays around the venue. Four additional decoders feed into a Novastar H2 processor, driving a Unilumin 1.5mm LED wall (3m x 1.68m) in the club’s main function area.
Control across all six zones is managed by the Kramer KC-VirtualBrain-1 platform, programmed by Smart Home Programming. This provides intuitive, centralised command of displays, audio levels, source selection and lighting presets.
The completed system gives the Surf Club an AV environment that’s dynamic, reliable and simple to operate, supporting everything from relaxed dining to full-scale community events.
Chev adds, “The Surf Club wanted a system that works – and now anyone that works here can pick it up and get the whole system up and running in seconds. With us choosing the Kramer system, any staff member can pick up their work iPad, choose where they want a source to be displayed and select what audio they want. It’s all very user friendly.”
Smart Home Programming credits Kramer’s technology as the foundation of the project’s success. “I’ve been working with Kramer Control for the last 10 years,” adds David Bowdler, owner of Smart Home Programming. “I find it a great platform that’s very easy to use. Their support is top notch and Kramer Control allows for remote support and remote programming which we can access from anywhere if required.”
Chris Harding, solutions architect at AVA Distribution, who supplied Kramer technology to the venue, furthers, “This project shows the benefits of a trusted networked system. With Kramer’s KDS range of encoders and decoders we can grab a selected HDMI source, put it on the network and pull it out anywhere in the venue. The beauty of Kramer AVoIP is that it’s flexible and you can grow it over time. It’s a really easy system to install because it’s a single cable run solution and PoE powered.”
“The transformation has been incredible,” concluds Natalie Bell, General Manager at Dicky Beach Surf Club. “We can show live sport across multiple areas, host corporate presentations, or run member events – all with a few simple touches. The quality and control are outstanding, and it’s made our day-to-day operations for our 65 staff far more efficient.”
Full Kitlist:
- Kramer KDS-EN7 HDMI AVoIP Encoders.
- Kramer KDS-DEC7 HDMI AVoIP Decoders.
- Kramer KC-VirtualBrain-1 Hardware Platform Controller.
- Kramer RK-T2B-B Rack Mount Adapter.
- Netgear GSM4248P Managed Switch.
- Yamaha MTX3 Audio Matrix Mixer Processor.
- Yamaha XMV8280 Power Amplifier.
- Yamaha VXS5W / VXS8W On-Wall Speakers.
- Unilumin ULWIII1.5 LED Wall – 3m x 1.68m.