Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 2 - Suppliers' Offerings Reflect Increased Reliance on Remote Production

Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 2 - Suppliers' Offerings Reflect Increased Reliance on Remote Production Seamless communications connect diverse platforms and environments By Dan Daley, Audio Editor

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 7:00 am

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By pro-audio standards, intercoms represent a small market sector, but it's a critical one - and, in the age of supercharged remote production, increasingly competitive. Here's a look at the latest intercom offerings from the market leaders.

Click here for Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 1 - Comms Are Complicated by Production's New Realities.

Click here for Tech Focus: Intercoms, Part 3 - Comms Are Key for Chess Competitions, Debuting as an Olympic Sport in Paris.

Clear-Com Clear-Com LQ IP interface

The Eclipse HX digital matrix, LQ Series of IP interfaces, the Agent-IC mobile app, and the new Station-IC virtual-desktop client were used extensively to enable seamless communications for remote-production activities during the pandemic. Agent-IC and its Station-IC desktop counterpart provide easy-to-implement communication between facility-based staff and production teams on location for field reporting, live event production, remote coordination, and other critical tasks. At-home production personnel who have downloaded the app onto their desktop, smartphone, tablet, or wearable device can connect to a host Eclipse HX digital matrix or local and remote LQ IP interfaces over 3G, 4G, LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. App and desktop users have a fully functional intercom panel that can monitor the intercom system and receive IFB feeds. LQ can extend the capabilities and intercom channels of an Eclipse HX system to one or more remote locations by positioning an LQ device at the destination location and interfacing with Clear-Com wired beltpacks, SIP clients, or any Agent-IC mobile-app user or Station-IC desktop user.

A single local or remote LQ device can host 16 Agent-IC and/or Station-IC users, and a link group can host up to 48 total Agent-IC and/or Station-IC users, where LQ acts as the server. With a host Eclipse HX matrix, many more Agent-IC users can access the production intercom remotely; the number of users able to access the main intercom depends on the quantity of IP ports on the E-IPA cards. LQ devices can link different industry-standard 2-wire intercom and 4-wire audio systems together, regardless of brand and platform. They also work with SIP telephony systems, allowing Clear-Com's portfolio of intercom systems to seamlessly connect with VoIP phones. The FreeSpeak II digital wireless solution is available for use in the 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands. http://www.clearcom.com/

Pliant Technologies Pliant Technologies CrewCom CB2 wireless intercom

The CrewCom wireless intercom system features full-duplex wireless radio packs and excellent range, with multiple RF access points connecting via copper (100 m) or fiber (10 km). CrewCom wireless products are available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz models (where the latter band is legal). Any combination of the frequency bands may be used on the same CrewCom system. Pliant also recently introduced its 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz IP-rated radio transceivers, which now allow RF access in the toughest weather conditions without the need for rain covers or external boxes. CrewCom CB2, also available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz, offers the same CrewCom wireless technology along with ease-of-use and high-level performance at an affordable price point for a full-featured intercom system.

Both CrewCom and CB2 offer a High Density mode that greatly increases user densities. For CrewCom, the software-selectable mode supports 32 radio packs (RPs) on a single radio transceiver while dynamically allowing any four of them to communicate in full duplex across four conferences. This allows the system to scale up to hundreds of users, providing adaptability for almost any application.

MicroCom XR digital wireless intercom system provides portable, full-duplex, multi-user intercom. The robust two-channel intercom system is available in 2.4 GHz and 900 MHz and is able to have up to 10 full-duplex users and unlimited listeners, providing flexibility for a range of applications. https://plianttechnologies.com/products/crewcom/

Riedel Communications Riedel Communications Bolero beltpack

The Artist digital-matrix audio and intercom ecosystem is designed to manage diverse audio formats: AES3, AES67 (including SMPTE ST 2110-30/31), Dante, VoIP, and analog. Operating on a fiber-based backbone, the compact system establishes a decentralized infrastructure for live audio and intercoms, achieving highly scalable matrix sizes from 16 16 ports up to 1024 1024 ports within a mere 2RU. Dual optical-fiber rings allow multiple frames to seamlessly interconnect and form a unified, full-summing, non-blocking distributed matrix that appears to the user as one cohesive system. User-friendly Director configuration software ensures ease of operation with the industry's fastest upload times.

The versatile Bolero DECT-based wireless intercom system operates in the license-free 1.9 GHz and 2.4 GHz ranges. Whether integrated into the Artist digital-matrix intercom or used independently, Bolero serves as a wireless beltpack, wireless keypanel, or a two-way radio. Innovative technologies, such as the Advanced DECT Receiver (ADR) and near-field communication (NFC), enhance Bolero's capabilities, offering multipath tolerance improvement, easy beltpack registration, and RF-frequency monitoring. Bolero boasts six channels, Bluetooth connectivity, custom audio filters, and battery life of nearly 18 hours plus charger monitoring.

In addition, Riedel offers PunQtum, an IP-based digital partyline enabling straightforward network-based partyline intercom deployment. Additionally, the TAC ultra-lightwei

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