ADP antennas and low-loss coaxial cables were also included in the microphone solution to ensure uninterrupted coverage in each studio.
Alaraby TV recently invested in a set of Sennheiser solutions to address the interference in its studio from a lot of electronic devices. The team was on the lookout for a solution that was not plug-and-play and allowed to shoot from anywhere in the facility and not just from the studio.
Having understood its exact requirements, the implementation team suggested using Sennheiser D6000 wireless microphone systems, which consisted of EM-6000 Dante receivers, SK-6000 bodypack transmitters, and MKE-2 lapel microphones. The microphone solution also included multiple ADP antennas with low-loss coaxial cables to ensure full and uninterrupted coverage in each of the studios. Sennheiser’s 2000 Series In-Ear Monitors were also deployed for the presenters’ IFB systems. These used a comprehensive antenna distribution system, including A-5000 CP circularly polarised antennas.
“Due to the relationship Sennheiser Middle East has with both Alaraby and systems integrator Ideal Systems, we were involved with the design of this project from a very early stage. This is crucial to be able to ensure that things like radio frequency coordination, antenna positions and cable runs are agreed upon before the installation of the products takes place,” explained Ryan Burr, Sennheiser Middle East.
The installation wasn’t without its challenges.
“The two main challenges we faced (and knew we would face) were the amount of LED screens and video walls each studio had and the fact that all three studios were in close proximity to each other. The LED walls generate a certain amount of RF noise that can have an impact on the performance of the wireless equipment. However, good antenna positioning and the fact the D6000 system has a carrier-to-noise ratio of 11dBm meant that all studios performed well during the testing phase. In terms of proximity, we ensured that the frequency coordination of all the wireless systems allowed for transition between each studio so that even if a presenter walks between them with a transmitter turned on, this will not create any kind of interference. This entire setup ensured that news anchors could present news freely, standing anywhere in the room or roaming around the place. All three studios have a redundant system in place, which enhances the communication robustness.”
Ali Husseini, Director of Operations & Creative Services, Alaraby TV, added: ”Our studio is the classic example of how a modern-day news channel should look and sound like from every quarter of the space and that’s what has been made possible the abled team of Sennheiser.”
