Gravity Media Chief RF Communications Engineer Glenn Willems uses Wisycom RF over Fiber and wireless solutions across major cycling events and international marathons, including the Tour of Italy, Tour of Denmark, and marathons in Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. The broadcast season runs from February through October, with productions sometimes requiring communications links spanning more than 100 miles.

“The wireless part of the communication is absolutely critical,” says Glenn Willems, Chief RF Communications Engineer, Gravity Media. “It’s all live television, so our broadcast simply has to work.”

Berlin Marathon

At the Berlin Marathon, Willems was tasked with enabling a reporter to conduct live interviews while riding a bike alongside runners. The solution used Wisycom MCR42 camera receivers integrated directly into the video link system.

“If you looked at it, you might realize we weren’t operating like a professional scripted TV or film production team,” Willems says, “but it worked extremely well. That’s the kind of outside-the-box thinking we often need, and Wisycom made that possible. Thanks to the MCR42’s multiband and multi-compatible capabilities, we were even able to integrate third-party microphones without issue. That flexibility meant we could adapt quickly, which is crucial in live broadcast environments.”

Stadium Installation

Gravity Media also deployed Wisycom’s MFL RF over Fiber system on a stadium installation where the TV compound was 700 to 800 meters from the field of play.

“The MFL is a modular system, so you can really mix and match and configure it the way you like,” Willems explains. “That flexibility is a huge benefit, especially for environments like concerts, large events or complex outside broadcasts. Doing that with traditional wireless intercom methods would have been cumbersome and very expensive. With MFL, it turned out to be a very cost-effective way to get the job done. The system, which links the OB vans to the field of play via fiber, has now been operating reliably for several years. It just works great.”

RF over Fiber

Willems cites fiber’s signal preservation as a key advantage for long-distance coverage.

“Fiber virtually has no losses, which means every fraction of a dB is preserved. That directly translates into range and stability. For us, every fraction of a dB counts. As long as your connectors are clean, fiber is also plug-and-play. People think it’s black magic, but it’s actually incredibly robust.”

“When you’re working outdoors in wind, rain and constantly changing RF conditions, you simply cannot afford failure,” Willems says. “Reliability is of utmost importance and Wisycom delivers. The quality, flexibility and reliability always amaze me. In live TV and major events, that combination is exactly what you need. Wisycom consistently delivers, and that’s why it has become such a trusted part of my RF toolkit.”