December 2005: Exploring the boundaries of wireless technology: entertainment for 227.500 spectators
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Apart from making its preparations for the Christmas turkey and the New Year’s fireworks, a huge part of the Belgian population spends its time in the Antwerp “Sportpaleis”, the largest venue in Belgium. Over the last six years, Clouseau - a band with a local popularity comparable to that of Robbie Williams or Coldplay - literally attracted hundreds of thousands of attendants to its spectacular December shows.
In order not to become predictable or old-fashioned, the band dreamt of a completely new show on a 60-meter (65-yard) stage in the middle of the venue with, in addition, 5 moving platforms (carrying a part of the musicians) on it. The electrical power to top move the platforms was solved, by installing large battery packs under the platforms. But one big problem was open: how to transmit the sound of multiple microphones (for example 16 units only for the percussion set) to the audience, without any disturbance or loss of quality? This was not easy to solve. Multicap, its hardware provider Aeras Networks and the Belgian sound and light specialists EML did extensive tests and studies to get this problem solved. The ambitious idea for the Antwerp “Sportpaleis” shows was presented to us in the summer of 2005 on the occasion of our cooperation with EML on the famous Rock Werchter festival. We immediately started looking for the right wireless technology which would guarantee a performance equal to the traditional wired solutions used in sound productions. The eventual choice would be three Aeras Networks links operating next to each other in the 5,3 (2 links) and the 5,8 GHz (1 link) frequency bands. Step by step, the right omnidirectional and sector antennas were found and the final tests in the Rotterdam Ahoy Arena (12 times 30.000 spectators) proved to be positive. Nevertheless, a high degree of scepticism and fear were still present… However, after the first couple of shows, everyone involved changed from frightened and worried to relaxed and proud. And rightfully so, the fans were ecstatic, the press comments laudatory and from all over Europe, sound experts flew in to explore this unique realisation never seen before on this planet!