PHOENIX – Big League stadiums come with major-league RF interference, but that's helped HME Pro Audio get a wireless foot in the door at the home stadiums for the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I had a lot of experience working with the HME systems as both an engineer and installer," said AVDB Group's Jamie Gillespie, who helped arrange a demo of an HME Pro 850 wireless intercom system for Mark Tenkely, audio engineer for the University of Phoenix stadium, home of the Cardinals.
After a preliminary scan and some fine-tuning, Tenkely took the demo, which paired four belt packs with a single HME Pro 850 base station, up a notch, using the system in a "trial by fire" on two subsequent game weekends.
Tenkely ordered the system, and is now using an HME Pro 850 base station with eight belt packs with single muff/noise canceling headsets. "We run a pre-game check for interference problems and make adjustments if necessary, but once the game begins, I never have to make any adjustments."
The NFL venue hasn't switched completely from the previous wireless system, but Tenkely anticipated replacing it with additional HME belt packs and headsets for the 2010 season. "Programming is simple, belt pack button changes are quick and I've never had battery packs die at any event," he noted.
The focus for Tenkely has shifted from football to other events hosted at the stadium, including concerts, monster truck rallies, trade shows and conventions. Over at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, audio manager Eric Hanson is gearing up for the approaching season.
Hanson first got acquainted with HME at the 2008 NAB show, then demoed an HME Pro 850 base station and four belt packs with single muff/noise canceling headsets and then got funding to buy the gear, which proved well-suited to the existing setup at Chase Field.
"It's great that the HME system interfaces with our previous system and other major intercom systems," said Hanson. "The two channel flexibility of the PRO850 allows the RF camera operator to talk to the camera director and other operators without interfering with the three crew members on the production channel."
In order to boost the signal as a safeguard for the most extreme distance, Hanson purchased non-powered telescoping antennas from a local supplier. This allowed him to pick the length of the antenna to match the wavelength of the frequency, improving reception even more.
"With the addition of the antennas mounted outside of the booth, we easily reach distances of 400 feet with clear and uninterrupted communication," said Hanson. "Also, the belt packs and headsets are very light for our long days."
Hanson can now put the HME system to use on more than 100 events a year, 83 of them regular and preseason games. The venue will also host the 2011 All-Star Game, and Hanson plans on expanding the four-up system by then to accommodate additional crew.
For more information, please visit www.hme.com.
