Shure wireless delivers audio over water for Victoria Harbour duck
Published: ASIA
CHINA: Hong Kong’s first maritime art exhibit was recently celebrated with a special music and entertainment ceremony at the Harbour City outdoor shopping centre in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. The event saw Shure PSM-1000 and UHF-R wireless systems used to provide coverage across a large expanse of open water.
The exhibit comes in the unlikely form of a 16.5m inflatable rubber duck floating in Victoria Harbour to signify ‘youthful optimism in the form of free public art’. Marking the installation of the duck, Harbour City shopping centre organised the celebratory ceremony, contracting Hong Kong-based rental company Amek Services Co to provide audio coverage for attendees scattered throughout the complex.
Among the biggest challenges was transmitting audio signals to audience members located across a bend in Victoria Harbour. The wireless microphone setup was complicated by the fact that many attendees were separated from the performance area by a large gap of water.
The solution – devised by Amek Services’ Anson CW Wong – comprised a point-to-point wireless configuration equipped with Shure PSM 1000 personal monitor systems and UHF-R channels. Working alongside the Shure Asia Applications team, Mr Wong added two channels of PSM 1000 and six channels of UHF-R to the point-to-point setup, plus four UA874WB active directional antennas and two HA-8089 helical antennas to improve RF performance and facilitate the transmission of audio signals over a longer range multi-dimensionally.
‘A Shure point-to-point wireless setup was the solution needed to allow secure and safe wireless transmission,’ explained Mr Wong. ‘With the ability to transmit high-fidelity audio from one area of the harbour to another area – separated by water – we were able to address a difficult challenge and execute ceremony performances with the level of sophistication needed.’
Shure Asia applications engineer Owen Leung added his own thoughts regarding the crucial placement of the UA874WB and HA-8089 antennas: ‘Because the ceremony’s environment had large pillars that could potentially block the audio signal’s line of sight, we had to position antennas on both sides of the harbour very carefully, making sure they were raised up high, pointing directly across from each other.’
Following the positioning of the antennas, the team used Shure Wireless Workbench 6 software to scan and coordinate frequencies, helping to maintain RF signal strength.
‘The opening ceremony was executed without a hitch,’ enthused Mr Wong. ‘The ability to transmit audio through our point-to-point wireless configuration meant there were no signal interruptions during the event – something we always strive for. During a live event, we only have one chance to get it right. Shure technologies exceeded our expectations.’