SVG Sit-Down: Dale Pro Audio's Joel Guilbert on the Company's New RF Solutions Group The effort aims to help wireless clients adjust to ongoing spectrum turmoil By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Thursday, November 7, 2019 - 9:34 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
The RF universe was upended three years ago with the auction of the 600 MHz spectrum, as the FCC dug deeper into the ether to accommodate the rapidly expanding wireless-device landscape and after an earlier, government-mandated frequency reallocation had vacated much of the 700 MHz range in 2008. The pro-audio business saw the wireless-systems-manufacturing community respond quickly, adjusting existing and creating new wireless products in spectrum on either side of the now-vacated 600 MHz range, an effort supported by nearly constant give-and-take with the FCC and other regulatory agencies, as well as with end users, including sports broadcasters.
But that might have been the easy part.
The next challenge was managing the remaining constrained spectrum, and the complexity of that, compounded by a lack of government-mandated tools promised but never delivered, has made for few takers. Dale Pro Audio, which has been guiding RF customers throughout this spectral anxiety, has now taken that mission one long step further with the establishment, in September, of its RF Solutions Group, a nationwide team of RF specialists to address wireless challenges, including wireless microphones, intercom systems, video, telemetry, IFB, and large-scale RF distribution projects. Dale Pro Audio Technology Development Manager Joel Guilbert sat down with SVG to discuss what it all entails.
Dale Pro Audio's Joel Guilbert: Proper RF coordination is becoming a must; there is no more just turning on your transmitters and receivers.
Two major trends have affected wireless-audio operations: the loss of the 600 MHz range and the rise of live events since the 2008-09 recession. How have these dynamics impacted the RF environment, particularly for broadcasters?
It has made a large impact: the [increasing number] of wireless [devices] - not just mics but IFB and intercom, cameras - are all being squeezed into a shrinking area. Luckily, technology changes, like digital transmission, are allowing more spectrally efficient transmitters; people are taking advantage of more unused spectrum like the VHF realm.
Sports on television increasingly use RF microphones on athletes. How much more complex is RF in the era of miked up?
Proper RF coordination is becoming a must. Now you need to do a spectrum analysis when you roll up to a venue; there is no more just turning on your transmitters and receivers and expecting them to function.
Dale Pro boasts a nationwide team of RF specialists. Who are they, how are you coordinating them, and what are the challenges of trying to do what is often a hyperlocal activity on a national scale?
Dale Pro has a big advantage, having been in the pro-audio business for over 60 years: we know a lot of incredibly talented people. We partner with a number of RF-systems companies with offices in the busiest cities, as well as a pool of freelancers. We coordinate from our offices in Jamaica [Queens, NY] and keep in constant communication with the engineers and project stakeholders. It can be daunting, but, when we are involving geniuses like Tristian Bickerton, who has multiple Olympics and royal weddings under [his] belt, they make it look easy!
How is the service being offered? Is it on a project-by-project basis, or will you have clients under retainer?
We have a rate sheet for typical services, but a lot of the work is larger projects, where we will act as the master RF coordinator and planner. No two jobs are alike. We're involved in things from RF scans and coordination for local affiliates, to replace their older, dying 600 MHz gear, all the way up to some huge projects you will be hearing about in the next few years.
The tools to manage spectrum provided by regulatory agencies are proving to be inadequate. For instance, Sennheiser, in comments to the FCC in July, stated, There was no way to register for interference protection from [White Space devices] or for wireless microphone operators to check for local channel availability. Nor can the FCC TV Query Database fill that role. Prior to the commencement of the 600 MHz transition, this database was updated daily by the commission. Today, however, it is woefully out of date because none of the repacked TV stations are reflected. How much of a problem is this, and what are some solutions?
This is, of course, an issue, as we have 1,200 TV stations moving into our already congested environment. Having worked with wireless since the beginning, we are advocating non-UHF solutions where applicable. A quick example was a local NY station starting to realize that their 600 MHz gear was, as we've been preaching about for years, [experiencing considerable interference]. We were able to migrate the intercoms and IFB into the 900 MHz area. Our guys did a scan, and even VHF was congested, but 900 MHz was nice and open.
Are you working with any particular microphone or broadcast partners for this service? And how does it fit into Dale Pro's retail-sales strategy? Is it meant to be a profitable business on its own, or is it a value-added service offered to retail RF customers?
We are brand-agnostic; it's really about bringing the right tool to the table (this, of course, also includes the budget). It's a real advantage to be able to leverage decades of great relationships with major manufacturers. Because we deal closely with these major companies, we know the lay of the land as far as rebate programs and the like to help maximize budgets. We are viewing this as a great value-add to existing customers, as well as a great service for new customer
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
14/06/2026
Library captures 1960s R&B/pop drum sound
Following on from their recent wave of plug-in effects, Iconic Instruments have just launched an all-new virtual d...
14/06/2026
HBO Comedy Rooster Shot with URSA Cine 17K 65
Brie Clayton June 14, 2026
0 Comments
Large format brings viewers intimately close to characters.
Black...
13/06/2026
Latest expansion pack includes 252 presets
Devious Machines have recently introduced another expansion for their powerful multi-effects plug-in, Infiltrator...
13/06/2026
Create custom DAW/plug-in controllers using prompts
MetaGrid have recently introduced an all-new AI Builder function to their touchscreen-based control surf...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
13/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
YES Network and The Gotham Sports App will air seven Athletes Unlimited Softball...
12/06/2026
The United Football League will host its FAST Innovation Suite at the 2026 United Bowl presented by Credit One Bank on Saturday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Audi...
12/06/2026
PTZOptics and LayerJot will present live demonstrations at InfoComm 2026 showing how natural-language AI prompting, robotic camera control, and on-device comput...
12/06/2026
MultiDyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems will exhibit at InfoComm 2026, featuring...
12/06/2026
Ateme has announced that Eurovision Services is using Ateme's software-based frame-rate conversion technology for international live event workflows. The de...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin and Simplestream have announced a partnership with Xperi to simplify the launch of OTT streaming services on TiVo OS smart TVs and devices. The collabo...
12/06/2026
Net Insight has announced that a multinational technology company is deploying a...
12/06/2026
MLB Players Inc., the business arm of the MLB Players Association, has announced a partnership with Athletes First to develop and sell brand partnerships across...
12/06/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D) and VuWall have announced the CommandKeyboard-Advanc...
12/06/2026
Comcast Smart Solutions announces a new smart technology deployment with Major L...
12/06/2026
Elevation Worship completed the initial leg of its Elevation Nights 2026 tour ...
12/06/2026
AJA Video Systems has announced KONA IP25 support for Colorfront Transkoder and ...
12/06/2026
Audinate Group Limited (ASX: AD8) will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth C7321, Ce...
12/06/2026
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould has announced the appointment of Scott Adametz as Chief Technology Officer. The Pac-12 describes the hire as the first CTO appo...
12/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced AMPP Edge Live, a production system combining Grass Valley hardware, NVIDIA Blackwell GPU acceleration, and AMPP OS in a single platf...
12/06/2026
At one time a trailblazer with the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Universit...
12/06/2026
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press rel...
12/06/2026
Chyron has announced PAINT 10.4, an update to its illustrated replay and sports ...
12/06/2026
SVP, Production, Mark Gross: With the new schedule, with not having every Sunday night, it has given us an opportunity to take a step back and reimagine what o...
12/06/2026
For Televisa Technical Engineering Manager Roberto N nez Ibarra and the small team of 12 technicians and two production personnel at the IBC things are already ...
12/06/2026
Simple Steps to Better Acoustics - Taming The Small Room
Most of us mix in spare rooms and small spaces, where the acoustics fight us at every turn. At Gear...
12/06/2026
Latest addition expands vintage-inspired effects palette
Meris' Ottobit pedal range draws its inspiration from vintage gaming consoles, and the latest a...
12/06/2026
Soundbox-based chamber strings series expanded
Sonora Cinematic have just announced the launch of the second instalment in their Soundbox-based chamber stri...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
AJA Announces KONA IP25 Integration with Colorfront Software
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Collaboration enables uncompressed SMPTE ST 2110 I/O ...
12/06/2026
URSA Cine 12K LF Used to Create Visuals for STUTS' K-Arena Concert
Brie Clayton June 12, 2026
0 Comments
Organic visuals projected on a giant scre...
12/06/2026
MTI FILM Acquires Mango New Edit, Expanding its Global Post-Production Services ...
12/06/2026
AI Point Tracking Speeds Up Complex VFX Tracks in Mocha Pro
Jessie Electa Petrov June 12, 2026
0 Comments
The 2026.5 release adds automatic point trac...
12/06/2026
Bitmovin, a provider of video streaming solutions, has partnered with Simplestream, a provider of OTT and broadcast solutions, and technology provider Xperi, to...
12/06/2026
Leostream Corporation, creator of the world-leading Leostream Remote Desktop Access Platform, today announced Jigsaw24, a leading B2B IT solutions provider wit...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/06/2026
How Aussie indie games and screen are levelling up with IP 11 June 2026
Ari Harrison, Pro Jank Footy
Head of Games Joey Egger and Ari Harrison of Umbrella sha...
12/06/2026
AgentPerf from Artificial Analysis, the industry's first agentic AI benchmark, gives developers, enterprises and infrastructure providers a clear way to com...
12/06/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils First-Look Images from Villaflor, Santiago Mitre's New Film
Entertainment
12 June 2026
GlobalArgentina
Link copied to ...
SVG Sit-Down: Dale Pro Audio's Joel Guilbert on the Company's New RF Solutions Group The effort aims to help wireless clients adjust to ongoing spectrum turmoil By Dan Daley, Audio Editor 
