BOSTON – For a recent Aerosmith concert at Fenway Park, Steven Tyler ran from the stage through a walk tunnel and up to the top of the park's Green Monster to perform on a white grand piano. Professional Wireless Systems (PWS) faced a challenge as forbidding as the big green wall itself: ensuring that the wireless system would work properly during the show.
Chuck Bogard, wireless coordinator with the Aerosmith tour, knew the Fenway Park location would present significant connectivity issues and that PWS had resolved similar situations for multiple Super Bowls and other demanding live shows. Contacting company rep Grant Oberg at PWS global headquarters in Orlando, Fla., Bogard described the situation.
Oberg and PWS RF Technician, John Garrido, deployed a wireless package to augment the tours' existing wireless set up. Two RF line amps, a few splitters, three PWS Helicals, a pair of LPDA antennas and a bi-directional antenna, working in tandem with the tours' PWS GX-8 amplifier/combiner teamed up to ensure coverage for the Fenway show.
"Steven had a 500-foot run to the top of the Green Monster, up several flights of stairs and around a few corners. He had to be assured of total connectivity every step of the way," Bogard noted. "The PWS team helped us expand our system, and the GX-8 brought it all together.
"It's an absolute mainstay of the tour," Bogard added. "Its not uncommon for us to have 25+ wireless packs working on site. Besides the band, we've got 10 crew members wearing body packs, as well as wardrobe, security, and guests. The high output power of the GX-8 enables us to split up the outputs between multiple antennas for extensive coverage. Drop-outs are simply unheard of. I consider it the most valuable piece of equipment in the rack."
With PWS covering the bases, the crew was able to provide error-free connectivity between Aerosmith and the fans.
For more information, please visit www.professionalwireless.com.
