Burbank, California-based RGEAR recently supplied two Radio Active Design (RAD) UV1-G wireless intercom systems to Food Network’s popular television show Cutthroat Kitchen.
RGEAR is a broadcast rental house that provides audio and video systems for multiple television shows – mostly in the reality genre. Unlike similar businesses, RGEAR also provides skilled technicians with their systems to ensure their clients receive the best gear and the best support.
“We use two of the UV1-G systems with 12 RAD packs on the set,” explains Nick Norton, audio technician for RGEAR. “It is an incredibly flexible system. We use it mostly for the camera operators on the stage and anyone that needs to be remote on stage like the assistant director.”
RGEAR provides a 4 RU rack loaded with the two 1RU base stations. The Enhanced Narrow Band wireless intercom system offers RF channels possessing an occupied bandwidth of a mere 25 kHz with the audio characteristics expected of a traditional FM system. The UV-1G uses VHF for the belt pack portable devices leaving more room for operation of other wireless devices such as in-ear monitors and wireless microphones.
“With the RF spectrum getting smaller, our first step is to free up our UHF frequencies – the UV1-G helps with that considerably,” Norton adds. “It is also very user friendly and intuitive which makes programming systems and belt packs easy.”
RGEAR purchased the UV-1Gs from RAD directly along with their high gain antennas deployed for belt packs transmitting back to the base stations. A custom antenna splitter combiner from Professional Wireless Systems, one of RAD’s distributors, is also utilized with the system.