Newark, NJ (October 22, 2008)–Lectrosonics provided the bi-directional communication system for Nik Wallenda’s high wire bicycle ride record attempt, broadcast live on The Today Show recently.
The Today Show aired the live broadcast from The Prudential Center in downtown Newark, NJ, where Ringling Brothers Barnum & Baileys’ “High Wire Daredevil,” Nik Wallenda of the Flying Wallendas, set the Guinness Book of World Records record for the longest and highest bicycle ride across the high wire. A two-way communication system between Wallenda’s crew, the news team, and Wallenda himself was accomplished with Lectrosonics wireless equipment.
Wallenda walked and rode a bicycle on the high wire 13 stories above street level at a distance of 235 feet with no safety net. The aerial display required constant communications between Wallenda up on the high wire and his father, Terry, who served as Nik’s safety director and ground crew chief. There was also need for a continuous communications link between Nik Wallenda and NBC’s Studio-1A in New York City where anchors Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira conducted a live interview during Wallenda’s aerial performance.
The wireless communications system used by Nik Wallenda was provided by Kevin Parrish, Senior RF Engineer, NBC news field operations, and consisted of a Lectrosonics SMQa wireless belt-pack microphone and an R1a fold-back (IFB) receiver with a duplicate setup for his father. According to Parrish, “I took the signal from Nik’s SMQa from my Venue rack-mounted receivers and sent the audio back to Studio-1A as well as into an IFBT4 transmitter on a different frequency, which provided Nik’s father, Terry Wallenda, with a copy of Nik’s ‘hot mic’ so dad could hear every word spoken up on the high-wire.”
Parrish added, “As Wallenda attempts his next world record breaking attempt to cross The Grand Canyon early next spring, Lectrosonics will once again play a vital role as my partner by providing outstanding wireless equipment to NBC News.”
Lectrosonics, Inc.
www.lectrosonics.com
