Filter
Top Products
Chapter 6 - Introduction to Wireless Intercom Systems 85
C HAPTER
6
C
HAPTER
6
I
NTRODUCTION
TO
W
IRELESS
I
NTERCOM
S
YSTEMS
TOM TURKINGTON
Introduction to Wireless Intercoms
Wireless intercoms have a long and important history as part of the communication
professional’s repertoire. They have gone through many changes and technological
improvements over the years to bring us to where we are today. The purpose of this
chapter is to allow you to become familiar with the history, general workings, and special
considerations of wireless intercoms. This includes their advantages and disadvantages so
that in the next chapter we may explore the wild, sometimes weird, but almost never
boring, world of wireless intercom systems design.
Note
The use of the term RF is made extensively throughout this chapter and the next. RF is an
abbreviation for Radio Frequency. If you are unfamiliar with the term and would like a
detailed explanation of what RF is, see the definition in the glossary of this book.
History of Wireless Intercoms
In the beginning there was wire, and the wire was good. Soon engineers realized if they
could cut the wires and move the audio, video and communications signals around the
television venue without encumbering cables, they would have tremendous freedom to
accommodate ever-increasing production challenges. They also believed that wireless
transmission of signals would make their job easier by not having to run miles of cable for
large remote productions. It turned out not to be so simple. Developing wireless
microphones, wireless cameras and wireless intercom systems would be a trial and error
adventure that has spanned the last 30 years or more, and it is not over yet!
In this section, we look back at the history of wireless intercom systems and see what we
have learned about wireless communications in the process. The original “wireless
intercom” consisted of two-way radios and (if you were lucky) a headset. The advantages
were the technology was readily available and it was relatively inexpensive to use. Two-
ways worked well for some applications, such as pre-show setup and post-show teardown
where they are still used today in much the same way they were 30 years ago. Two-ways