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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => Wireless and Communications => Topic started by: Gary Greyhosky on December 20, 2018, 11:19:59 AM

Title: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Gary Greyhosky on December 20, 2018, 11:19:59 AM
I have a theatrical client that is looking to implement a new comm system. They'd like to have two or three wireless units for roaming stagehands. I'm looking for affordable solutions to integrate these wireless units into the comm system. Base station and wired units will likely be Pro Intercom. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Spoke with Pro Intercom tech support and they were only marginally helpful.
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Erik Jerde on December 20, 2018, 11:55:04 AM
I have a theatrical client that is looking to implement a new comm system. They'd like to have two or three wireless units for roaming stagehands. I'm looking for affordable solutions to integrate these wireless units into the comm system. Base station and wired units will likely be Pro Intercom. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Spoke with Pro Intercom tech support and they were only marginally helpful.

Most wireless comms setups will interface with your standard clear com 2w setups.  Freespeak for example.  You’re going to probably spend more on the rf portion than the entire wired portion.
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Pete Erskine on December 20, 2018, 01:59:33 PM
I have a theatrical client that is looking to implement a new comm system. They'd like to have two or three wireless units for roaming stagehands. I'm looking for affordable solutions to integrate these wireless units into the comm system. Base station and wired units will likely be Pro Intercom. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Spoke with Pro Intercom tech support and they were only marginally helpful.

The most inexpensive system is CrewCom from Pliant.  a 2 channel system similar in capabilities to a Telex BTR with coverage of the Theatre space only would be comparable in price to the BTR.

A less expensive system would be Unity Intercom which would use cell type beltpacks and possibly wifi if you have good coverage.

inbetween the two is Clearcom DX410 https://www.clearcom.com/product-family/hme-dx410-wireless/
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: brian maddox on December 20, 2018, 03:37:07 PM
The most inexpensive system is CrewCom from Pliant.  a 2 channel system similar in capabilities to a Telex BTR with coverage of the Theatre space only would be comparable in price to the BTR.

A less expensive system would be Unity Intercom which would use cell type beltpacks and possibly wifi if you have good coverage.

inbetween the two is Clearcom DX410 https://www.clearcom.com/product-family/hme-dx410-wireless/

I think the DX210/410 gets a bad rap.  If all you need is a single channel of wireless comms, they work remarkably well, and are very hard to break given that they were originally designed for fast food drive thru systems.  I also like that you can add quite a few more beltpacks as your needs grow so long as you don't need full duplex operation for all the users, which most people can live without.

Of course, as soon as you need multiple channels or more advanced features, the limitations of the system show up pretty quickly...
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Gary Greyhosky on December 20, 2018, 04:45:38 PM
Thanks for the input gentleman. I'll look into these options. It's summer stock theater and while they do very good work, I know that the budget is going to dictate exactly how far they can go with this. Much appreciated.
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Pete Erskine on December 20, 2018, 05:42:40 PM
I think the DX210/410 gets a bad rap.  If all you need is a single channel of wireless comms, they work remarkably well,

410 is true 2 channel with iso
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: brian maddox on December 20, 2018, 09:17:03 PM
410 is true 2 channel with iso

True, but aren't the beltpacks only capable of using one at a time?  That is, they can talk/listen on channel 1 OR 2 but not both at the same time [or was that just the DX210?]?    I find that to be a rarely useful feature.  Far too often someone will switch to the other channel and forget to switch back making them unresponsive when you need them.
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: Pete Erskine on December 20, 2018, 09:38:30 PM
True, but aren't the beltpacks only capable of using one at a time?  That is, they can talk/listen on channel 1 OR 2 but not both at the same time [or was that just the DX210?]?    I find that to be a rarely useful feature.  Far too often someone will switch to the other channel and forget to switch back making them unresponsive when you need them.

Only talk on 1 at a time or both and at all times hear both.  There are 3 buttons AB and ISO
Title: Re: Hybrid wired / wireless intercom for theater
Post by: brian maddox on December 20, 2018, 10:30:24 PM
Only talk on 1 at a time or both and at all times hear both.  There are 3 buttons AB and ISO

Excellent. That significantly increases the usability of the system.  So now I like the DX even more than I did before.