When it’s game time at Lambeau Field, home of the NFL Green Bay Packers, there is an overwhelmingly high level of wireless technology keeping the lines of communication open. For the start of the 2009 football season, a new wireless microphone system was deployed at the stadium.
To ensure first-rate audio quality, excellent range, and the freedom to adapt to evolving RF conditions, the manufacturer of choice was Lectrosonics.
Kimberly, WI-based Arrow Audio, Inc. was contracted to handle the installation of the new wireless system. Arrow Audio is a design/build firm handling audio and video systems consultation, design, and installation for a wide range of projects. Gary Trenda, Arrow Audio’s Lead Systems Designer, discussed the challenges of the project.
“On game day, an NFL stadium can have as many as 400+ wireless channels in use,” explained Trenda. “In a congested RF environment like this, finding a system that would work reliably was a major concern, as was audio quality and range.
“The NFL has a Game Day Frequency Coordinator (GDC) who assigns frequencies to the various wireless users so that they don’t interfere with one another. For this installation, the GDC also recommended a preferred frequency range.”
“To accommodate the GDC’s recommendations,” Trenda continued, “the ability to swap different receiver modules for alternate frequency blocks and the ability to easily dial in frequencies became crucial. Further, this capability enables us to adapt to changing conditions should it become necessary. These requirements strongly influenced our purchase considerations.”
Armed with these requirements, Trenda and audio technicians from Green Bay, WI-based Made Ya Look, Inc., the game day audio and video services provider, conducted an exhaustive comparison of wireless equipment. When the evaluation concluded, Lectrosonics was the unanimous favorite.
Subsequently, a 4-channel wireless system consisting of four Lectrosonics UT Digital Hybrid Wireless®; handheld transmitters with VMS super cardioid capsules and a Venue VRMWB receiver system stocked with 4 VRT tracking receiver modules was purchased.
“The Lectrosonics gear outperformed the other systems,” said Trenda, “primarily because of the robust RF performance and the audio quality of their Digital Hybrid Wireless technology.
“The technicians from Made Ya Look preferred the sound of the super cardioid capsule on the UT transmitters and were particularly impressed with the UT’s 100 mW transmit power, which provided exceptional range. It’s not uncommon for the talent to be on the opposite side of the stadium from the receivers. The range and solid reception of the system was very impressive.”
The new Lectrosonics system is typically used for “in-house” activities on the field and throughout the main stadium seating. These activities include the national anthem vocal performance, promotional activities during the game, and various half-time events.
Audio from the Lectrosonics receivers typically gets routed through the main stadium sound reinforcement system, but also splits out for TV broadcast and other feeds as required.
With the new Lectrosonics system in place and operational, Trenda reports that everything is working exactly as they had hoped for, and he credits Lectrosonics’ customer/technical support services for much of the project’s success.
“The team at Lectrosonics was very helpful,” reports Trenda. “Lectrosonics Field Sales Representative Matt Robertson provided a demo system and helped us specify the proper equipment. After our purchase, Karl Winkler (Director of Business Development) helped guide us through the frequency selection process.
“Since the installation, the system has worked flawlessly. The audio crew from Made Ya Look has been very pleased with the new equipment, especially with the improved audio quality and RF reception. It all just works seamlessly.”
