As a wireless solution these systems augment on-site operations on a number of levels allowing greater flexibility and enhanced communications in line with HSE issues. Both systems have made an impact in theatre, broadcast and corporate presentation application markets.
Recent sales include four BTR 700 systems to The Barbican, which were integrated into their existing wired RTS comms system. In addition systems have been acquired by a number of hire companies including, The Wireless Works, Metro Staging and Tech Comms and the BTR 700 belt pack system features as part of a substantial systems up-grade in The Guildhall School of Music.
The Barbican's senior technical manager, Steff Langley, explained: "We decided to purchase these systems having previously hired the BTR wireless comms solution from Orbital on many occasions for large scale productions, including The Black Rider that starred sixties icon - Marianne Faithful - for which we hired in 16 belt pack systems. These days theatre producers expect wireless solutions for their stage crews as a prerequisite. It not only allows greater freedom, but eliminates dangerous safety issues associated with wired cables. This is why we only use wireless solutions on our fly floor at The Barbican in line with HSE.
"The purchased BTR systems have integrated seamlessly with our existing wired RTS system and debuted recently on a new production of A Midsummer's Night's Dream by Korean theatre company Yohangza and deployed on the anticipated return of Woyzeck, co-produced by Reykjavik City Theatre, the Young Vic and barbicanbite05 as part of Young Genius. It's an investment that has paid dividends - it's a very useful tool."
Having a UHF frequency agile wireless intercom base station with Enhanced ClearScan, the system operates on 700 MHZ. Its talk/listen headset station at the base is easy to operate via its graphical user interface and Intelligent Power Control. Promoting speech intelligibility and sonic clarity, the systems offer combination tone code/RF noise squelch and DSP digital audio processing.
Allowing for straightforward systems' up-grades, the BTR -700 is fully compatible with all two and four wired intercom systems including Clear-Com RTS and Tech Pro.
Orbital's head of sales Tom Byrne says: "Despite new systems coming out from other manufacturers the UHF Telex wireless comms just keep moving out of the building. It's audio quality is unparalleled, plus it's one of the only systems in the UK to offer 2-channel operations and an exceptional coverage range both indoors and out."
(Chris Henry)
