Fujian, China (September 09, 2019) – China National television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) used Lectrosonics Digital Hybrid Wireless® equipment from audio distributor Beijing Pacific Budee Technology Development Co. to record ambient sound during the dragon boat race at the 2019 Dragon Boat Festival recently held in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian. CCTV captured the sound using the WM Watertight Belt-Pack Transmitter, Venue Receiver, M152/5P Lavalier, and ALP620 Antennas.

The Dragon Boat Festival is an annual traditional Chinese holiday held on the 5th day of the 5th month near the Summer Solstice. Before 221 B.C., this day of the year was considered unlucky, and to counter this, Chinese cultural practices evolved to include the Dragon Boat Festival, a day for clearing disease and bad luck. A more modern celebration of the holiday includes the commemoration of the poet and minister Qu Yuan, who drowned in the Miluo River. Locals raced into the river to try to save him, and when they could not retrieve his body, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the water so fish would feast on rice rather than their beloved minister. This is said to have been the origins of the dragon boat races. Today, some of the most widespread activities at the Festival include eating and preparing Zongzi, drinking Realgar wine, and racing dragon boats, a canoe-sport where the boats are generally decorated with Chinese dragon heads and tails for the competition.

“One of the most important parts of the festival is its dragon boat race. CCTV makes sure to broadcast one of the competitions on its sports channel each year,” says Budee’s Chief Engineer, Freeman Lu, who worked with CCTV’s audio team to set up the equipment for the production.

This year, one of the many challenges the audio team faced covering the Dragon Boat Festival was distance and landscape after securing the equipment to the inside of each boat to record sound.

“The biggest issue was the potential for signal drop-out when the boats were waiting by the side of the Min River,” says Lu. “There can be serious signal absorption from the forest which previous systems had difficulty handling. Also, during the 500-meter race the distance from the shore can cause problems. However, the Lectrosonics WM transmitter and Venue receiver were more than capable of handling the situation, along with a M152 lavalier and a couple ALP620 antennas. Everyone was very happy with the results.”

When asked why CCTV and Budee chose Lectrosonics for the festival, Lu replied “We have always been confident in the brand and its ability to perform under a wide variety of challenging conditions to deliver great sound.”

About Lectrosonics

Well respected within the film, broadcast, and theatre technical communities since 1971, Lectrosonics wireless microphone systems and audio processing products are used daily in mission-critical applications by audio engineers familiar with the company's dedication to quality, customer service, and innovation. Lectrosonics is a US manufacturer based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Visit the company online at www.lectrosonics.com.

RIO RANCHO, NM--Lectrosonics has introduced its new Digital Hybrid Wireless microphone products designed to operate in the recently expanded 941-960 MHz U.S. frequency band. The products meet the FCC’s new spectral mask regulations, in effect since October 2018.

Intended for ENG, field/production sound, and other remote applications, the Lectrosonics product line includes: the SRc-941 dual-channel modular portable receiver, SMV-941 and SMQV-941 miniature belt pack transmitters, the HMa-941 plug-on transmitter, and HHa-941 handheld transmitter.

“We’ve received outstanding reports about rock-solid operation and excellent range in the 941 band from key beta testers who have used these products in a number of large metro areas,” said Karl Winkler, Vice President of Sales and Service at Lectrosonics, a developer of wireless microphone systems and audio processing products..

[Read: FCC Tweaks Wireless Mic Rules]

The specific tuning ranges for these products are 941.525 – 951.975 MHz, 952.875 – 955.225 MHz, and 956.475 – 959.825 MHz. Parts of these bands are shared with MAS (Multiple Access Systems) and some fixed microwave devices.

Lectrosonics’ new “941” transmitter models are functionally identical to the corresponding models in the UHF frequency blocks and bands except that they offer 50 and 100 mW RF power settings. The new transmitters also have a circular isolator in the output stage for additional intermodulation prevention, allowing closer spacing of RF carriers. And, all of the “941” units are compatible with accessories for the same models in different frequency ranges, including external powering, audio connectors, microphones, belt clips and mounting options.

While the 944-952 MHz band was previously reserved for use by licensed broadcasters for their Studio Transmission Links (STLs), some wireless microphones, and IFB systems, the FCC recently expanded the use of specific ranges between 941-960 MHz, as well as opening up this spectrum to Part 74 licensed wireless microphone operators.

ENG and mobile production crews can now access clean spectrum in this 941-960 band wherever they go in the U.S. Before doing so, operators should coordinate their frequencies with the local SBE (Society of Broadcast Engineers) office and select frequencies that are least likely to interfere with other licensees operating in the area.

Winkler added, “The availability of this newly expanded frequency band, along with increased eligibility, should really help those licensed wireless mic users who are feeling the spectrum crunch.”

BURBANK, CA–Bexel an NEP Broadcast Services Company, says it has completed a “major purchase” of audio and RF intercom inventory and plans to invest over $1.5m on new audio technology this year.

“We are excited about this investment, which not only increases our rental inventory, but also supports the latest wide-band technology, offering our customers more flexibility to meet the demands of the limited spectrum,” said Tom Dickinson, vice president of technology for, Bexel.

[Read: NEP, Bexel Support NCAA Tournament Production]

Bexel has invested heavily in RF microphone systems, primarily from Sennheiser, Lectrosonics and Shure. The new systems comply with new FCC spectrum requirements and provide increased flexibility with wide-band capable systems. The investment includes Sennheiser EM 3732-II high-end RF receivers, SKM 5200/5212-II world class RF transmitters, Lectrosonics DRM encrypted receiver modules for digitally encrypted secure audio plus SMWB transmitter and Venue frames and DUET MTR IFB transmitters. Shure includes ADX1 and ACX2FD dual transmitters plus AD4QUS 4 channel receivers.

The company has also purchased advanced RF intercom systems comprising of Clear-Com’s FreeSpeak II, Radio Active Designs RAD UV-1G and Pliant Technologies Crewcom wireless intercom systems. These technologies provide unique and different approaches to the RF spectrum that enable a variety of solutions to meet the demands of this new, complex frequency space, as well as complying with the new FCC guidelines.

In addition, Bexel is increasing its investment in their custom Sideline Audio/Video Cart, a plug-and-play solution for streamlining the acquisition of audio and video feeds on the field. The self-contained, mobile cart is designed to be set-up within minutes on the sideline or the end-zone of a sports field. It is equipped with single-mode fiber, SMPTE hybrid and copper cables, and hydra cable assemblies, and it enables MADI audio and wireless audio and video transmissions. 

With the company’s latest investment, the carts have been upgraded to include Shure Axient or Sennheiser RF microphones, Radio Active Designs (RAD) or Clear-Com RF intercom systems, Sennheiser shotgun microphones and Klover Mik-26 Parabolic microphones. This solution is is fully customizable to each client’s specifications.

RIO RANCHO, N.M.—Lectrosonics has debuted its two new Digital Hybrid Wireless dual-channel diversity “slot” receivers, the SRc and SRc5P. Both receivers are designed for RF environments and come with Smart Tuning and SuperSlot compatibility.

The SRc and SRc5P units consist of two receivers built into a single, compact housing, and feature optional adaptors for video camera receiver slots and for standalone use. The two internal receivers can be operated separately, each using switching, antenna combining diversity, or in tandem with ratio diversity reception, according to Lectrosonics. The audio inputs can be either mixed internally or left separated for recording tracks or external mixing. The 5P version also allows dual channel operation for cameras with just a single audio channel slot.

Each unit features a wide tuning range of three standard Lectrosonics blocks or 76 MHz. Tuning steps of 100 kHz or 25 kHz allow for up to 3072 frequencies per band. Tracking front-end filters provide out-of-band rejection of RF noise. The receivers can be compatible with other Lectrosonics systems and other third-party wireless systems.

The SmarTune feature selects frequencies based on local scan data. Four frequency ranges are available: A1 (470-537 MHz), B1 (537-614 MHz), B2 (563-640 MHz) and C1 (614-691 MHz).

The SRc and SRc5P receivers are scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2016. SRc will be priced at $3,080., while SRc5P will be available for $3,280.