In a recent audio upgrade, Colorado’s Pepsi Center has been equipped with a Shure Axient Wireless Management Network.
From hosting NHL and NBA All-Star Games to serving as the home arena for all Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche home games, the venue also hosts a wide variety of concerts, extreme sports events, and conventions every year. With this many high-profile events, the in-house audio equipment needs to produce quality sound and work in a variety of use-cases in downtown Denver’s crowded RF environment.
Equipment selection and installation was by Colorado-based LVW Electronics. The team selected Axient for two reasons: Shure’s reputation for reliable, high-quality performance and Axient’s ability to avoid RF interference.
“Two dual-channel Shure UHF-R systems were installed approximately five years ago at the Pepsi Center, but with this latest facility upgrade, we wanted to add more wireless to further support Denver Nuggets basketball and Colorado Avalanche hockey games, all with the main goal of avoiding any possible event interference,” commented an LVW engineer. “Axient was the clear winner, not only because it’s near bulletproof when it comes to a noisy RF environment, but it can be managed through Shure Wireless Workbench 6 — the exact software we run for UHF-R.”
Axient supports the Nuggets and Avalanche PA announcers, Kyle Speller and Alan Roach, national anthem talent and important in-game announcements using a combination of BETA58 and KSM9 wireless handhelds. LVW has set up a UHF-R—a UR4D Dual Channel Wireless Receiver and a UR2/Beta58 Handheld Transmitter — to support other announcers’ interaction with fans in the stands.
Playing a key role in the new installation is the AXT600 Axient Spectrum Manager. The AXT600 delivers wide-band UHF spectrum scanning, spectrum analysis, and compatible frequency coordination — all in a single rack unit. By scanning and displaying the RF environment, calculating compatible frequencies, and deploying them to the audio engineers’ Axient receivers, the team has access to precise information for allocating the best available frequencies to any number of wireless channels.
“The frequency coordination is huge, but so is Axient’s advanced power management and ability to change a wireless transmitter’s frequency directly from Wireless Workbench,” continued the LVW spokesperson.
The Axient rechargeable power system provides real-time monitoring of power levels, charge status, and overall battery health. Wireless Workbench software offers comprehensive control for networked Shure wireless systems. It provides an interface to manage every facet of wireless audio over the network—from pre-game planning to in-game monitoring.
“Making gear upgrades is part of maintaining a venue like the Pepsi Center, whether it’s the audio system or the scoreboard,” concluded LVW. “The Pepsi Center is pleased with our selection of Axient, and so are we. With Shure, Nugget and Avalanche fans alike can hear every last game call for seasons to come.”
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