Formula 1 uses Clear-Com’s HX Matrix for all-IP comms at Hungarian Grand Prix

Antenna Hungaria, the host broadcaster for Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix in August, chose a Clear-Com Eclipse HX digital matrix system as the basis for an all-IP wireless communications ring at the event.

The kit is said to have provided a “crystal clear, flexible communication system” in one of the largest, noisiest and most complex broadcast environments.

The system was supplied by HDwireless, a German wireless specialist, through Audio-Technica, Clear-Com’s distribution partner for Germany.

The system needed to cover a wide area including the pit lane, the paddock and the TV compound, guaranteeing a reliable signal in a high traffic audio environment, and providing exceptional audio clarity despite the extreme noise levels from the F1 cars.

Previously HDwireless had used UHF radios for this event because of the size of the area they had to cover, but the team was keen to deploy its recently purchased Clear-Com solution.

The system included an Eclipse HX-Delta matrix frame with 12 audio connections to the host broadcaster’s OB vehicle, plus V-Series Iris panels, FreeSpeak II digital wireless beltpacks and FreeSpeak II IP-connected transceivers.

Patrick Nussbaum, managing director, HDwireless, said: “We have supported the host broadcaster with wireless camera systems and a wireless video transmission for several years.  Up to now we had used UHF radios as our intercom set up but we were looking for more flexibility, more channels per user and better audio quality. We had already used the Clear-Com FreeSpeak II digital wireless system for the 24h race at the Nürburgring in Germany and everything worked perfectly. In Hungary we set up the old UHF system as a back up, but we did not need to use it at all. The Clear-Com system performed flawlessly and our customer was very happy.”