Axient Digital passes the test for Henry Cohen of CP Communications
Key Takeaways
- Henry Cohen, Senior RF Engineer at CP Communications, evaluated Shure Axient Digital Wireless Systems during major televised sports broadcasts in challenging, high-channel-count RF environments.
- As available UHF spectrum continues to shrink, Axient Digital helped address key challenges around wireless reliability, spectral efficiency, and RF performance.
- The system's Quadversity™ technology simplified coverage management across large RF zones, improving workflow efficiency during complex live productions.
- Cohen highlighted Axient Digital's signal robustness and spectral efficiency in both standard and high-density operating modes.
- For CP Communications, Axient Digital delivered the combination of wireless microphone performance, workflow advantages, and future-ready scalability needed to succeed in increasingly congested spectrum environments.
CP Communications is a full service RF production provider for major sports and special events broadcasting. With the 600 MHz UHF spectrum being significantly reduced, and the 500MHz band experiencing repacking of the remaining DTV broadcasters, finding robust, reliable wireless solutions is a critical need.
To evaluate performance in these demanding conditions, Senior RF Engineer Henry Cohen tested a four-channel Shure Axient Digital Wireless System during two major televised sporting events in large urban markets. These required high RF channel counts across a multi-zone distributed antenna system.
Cohen found the Axient Digital platform very promising for its spectral efficiency, and for its new Quadversity antenna capability, which allows four antenna inputs into its receiver.
Customer Profile
Henry Cohen is a RF system design specialist with CP Communications, a full service production support provider of RF audio and video for major sports and special events broadcasting across the U.S.
Challenge
To improve wireless reliability, increase channel count, and maintain sound quality in the increasingly crowded UHF environment.
Solution
Shure Axient Digital wireless with AD Series transmitters
Advantages
- Significantly upgraded RF performance
- Improved spectral efficiency
- Enhanced audio quality
- Better workflow efficiency for complex RF deployments
Why Axient Digital Stood Out
Cohen found the Axient Digital platform particularly promising for its spectral efficiency and Quadversity antenna capability, which allows four antenna inputs into a single receiver.
“Quadversity is a powerful feature. It proved very useful in executing a large RF coverage area,” notes Cohen.
“Often, balancing coverage areas for overlapping target zones is a real-time effort, adjusting sensitivity and turning zones on and off as needed during the event. Quadversity eliminates a lot of that activity, making for a much improved work flow, which was invaluable.”
For large-scale broadcast productions operating across multiple coverage zones, simplifying antenna management can deliver significant workflow benefits while helping maintain consistent wireless performance.
Performance in Challenging RF Environments
Cohen was also impressed with the Axient Digital RF performance, which benefits from a new digital radio with improved sensitivity for operation above today’s higher noise floors.
Henry notes: “The digital RF system in this product is vastly improved, surpassing other Shure products as well as competitors in both signal robustness and spectral efficiency in both regular and ‘high density’ modes.”
The combination of improved RF performance and spectral efficiency helped demonstrate the platform's ability to support high-channel-count wireless microphone deployments in demanding broadcast environments.
Built for the Future
Overall, Cohen found that Axient Digital will thrive in the difficult RF scenarios that CP Communications is constantly faced with.
He also appreciates the fact that the Axient Digital receivers he buys now will be fully compatible with the advanced ADX series transmitters that Shure will ship in early 2018.
“The system has a great design, feature set, and build quality. Its integration of improvements and new features provide a real workflow advantage.”
“All things considered, the new Axient Digital system is the best option in wireless microphone products coming to market to cope with reduced and more congested spectrum.”
FAQ: Axient Digital in Challenging RF Environments
Why did CP Communications evaluate Axient Digital? CP Communications needed a wireless solution that could maintain reliability, audio quality, and high channel counts in increasingly congested RF environments.
What is Quadversity and why was it valuable during testing? Quadversity allows four antenna inputs to be used with the receiver, helping simplify coverage management across large RF areas and improving workflow during complex live productions.
How did Axient Digital perform in crowded spectrum conditions? During testing, the system demonstrated strong signal robustness and spectral efficiency, helping support reliable operation in demanding RF environments.
What types of productions can benefit from Axient Digital? The system was evaluated in major televised sports broadcasts and is designed for applications where dependable wireless performance is critical, including large-scale sports and special events productions.
What advantages did Axient Digital provide beyond RF performance? In addition to improved wireless performance, the system offered workflow benefits through its feature set, design, and compatibility with Shure's AD and ADX transmitter ecosystem.
Gear List
| Model Number | Quantity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accommodates up to 8 Shure rechargeable bodypack and handheld transmitter batteries in a single rack space. | |
| 4 | A rugged metal handheld transmitter with powerful features and a KSM8 cartridge. Black or nickel finish. | |
| 1 | Compatible with all AD series and ADX series transmitters. | |
| 4 | Lightweight, durable bodypack with optional rechargeability and TA4 connector option. |
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