Remote Streaming in Sweden

Mobile live streaming production in Sweden

Ahead of a newly commissioned 8-part Scandinavian documentary the WaveFX team have just returned from a 10-day trial filming and live streaming from a self-built raft drifting at 4mph down the Klarälven river. (“The clear river” in Swedish)

Sweden is simply stunning and once we built the raft and waved good bye we didn’t see a soul for days. Our job was to test the internet link form the raft and also fly drones and check for any issues with connectivity and streaming. (I’m pleased to say all the equipment work perfectly)

The crew travelled on a self-built raft moving at around four miles per hour, with no fixed internet, mains power or easy access to technical support.

The client brief

The documentary team needed to know whether dependable filming and live streaming would be possible from the river before the full series entered production.

Our job was to test mobile internet coverage, streaming stability, aerial filming and the practical demands of operating equipment from a moving raft.

The planned series was aimed at viewers across Scandinavia, the UK and wider Europe. Reliable connectivity would allow footage to be reviewed remotely and live material to be shared during production.

“The purpose of the trial was to find any weaknesses before the main shoot. Maintaining a connection of around 50Mbps showed that remote streaming from the river was entirely achievable.” Jamie Huckle, Producer, WaveFX

The remote production setup

The kit included professional filming equipment, a DJI Mavic drone and a Teradek Link Pro mobile connectivity system.

The Teradek unit combined available mobile networks to provide an internet connection throughout the journey. Testing recorded speeds of approximately 50Mbps for both upload and download, even as the raft travelled through isolated sections of the river.

Footage was recorded locally in 4K, while lower-bandwidth files and live test streams were sent to a secure online review platform. The drone captured wide aerial views of the raft, river and surrounding landscape that would be difficult to achieve from the riverbank.

Portable batteries and charging equipment kept the cameras, drone and streaming system working away from mains power.

Mobile live streaming production challenges and how we addressed them

The Klarälven River runs for approximately 290 miles and passes through large areas with very little nearby infrastructure. Mobile coverage could change quickly as the raft moved between network transmitters.

Bonded connectivity allowed the production system to combine available signals rather than depending on a single mobile network. Connection speeds and stream quality were monitored regularly throughout the journey.

The raft was constantly moving, which created additional challenges for camera stability, equipment storage and drone launches. Equipment was secured in weather-resistant cases and kept ready for quick access when filming opportunities appeared.

The crew also worked through close to 20 hours of summer daylight, high temperatures and large numbers of mosquitoes. Filming schedules were adjusted to avoid the hottest periods, with protective clothing and regular equipment checks built into each day.

The measurable outcome

The ten-day trial successfully demonstrated that filming and remote location live streaming were possible from the Klarälven River.

The production maintained internet speeds of around 50Mbps upload and download, completed aerial filming tests and identified the power, storage and crew requirements for the main eight-part documentary.

Most importantly, the documentary team entered production with a tested technical plan rather than relying on unproven connectivity in a remote location.

Planning a production somewhere unusual?

WaveFX can provide remote connectivity, mobile power, professional filming, drone footage and live streaming for productions far beyond conventional venues.

Tell us where you need to film and we’ll help develop a practical production plan. If you need help with your event or video production we’d love to quote, we’re also happy to answer any questions (however daft) and chat through the many options.