Local tv station chooses Trew to deliver multiple Lectrosonics wireless systems

WTVF Cameraman Nathan Sharkey and his newly outfitted camera

Over the years WTVF–NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee, has kept a close watch on emerging and evolving technologies and is often among the first to adopt systems that will truly aid their mission of news gathering and delivery. NewsChannel 5 was the first station in Tennessee to use live radar in weather reporting. WTVF was the second station in the country to employ live ENG crews, and the station’s website, newschannel5.com, was one of the first tv station websites in the country. So it is no surprise that NewsChannel 5 engineers emerged from the recent Digital transition and resultant frequency spectrum changes with a plan for updating the wireless audio systems for 19 of their on-staff videographers.

Mike Rose, Chief Photographer at WTVF, and his station engineers researched Lectrosonic’s SRA-5P dual channel system to replace their nearly 20 year old Lectro single channel work horses. They had some old wireless systems which were operating on frequencies that required vacating per FCC mandate and others that suffered RF interference. “We hoped to see the SR5 system in action before making such a large investment,” Rose recalled, “so having a local vendor like Trew Audio be part of the process made lots of sense.” Rose called John Algee, Sales Manager at Trew Audio. Algee mentions, “Mike and his staff pretty much knew they wanted the SRA-5Pdual channel receiver, so then we discussed transmitter options and output cabling into their Sony cameras. We arranged for Mike to have a demo system on his camera for a week to test before going any further in the process. We also suggested the Remote Audio SRA-5P output cable which connects Lectro’s exclusive RATPAC right-angled TA5 connector to 2 XLR output cables. Mike was very happy with the system and gave the go ahead for a total of 19 systems.”

Rose adds, “John and Skylor [Morgan] have been very helpful throughout the process, but especially now as they schedule installation time with each videographer and are careful to outfit cameras, coordinate wireless frequencies and answer questions.”

Trew’s Skylor Morgan shows cameraman Charlie Woodward the settings for his new system

“So far, so good,” Algee quips, “and we’ll be close by for any questions that arise down the road.”

The final configuration is as follows:
1. Lectro SRA-5P Dual-Channel Receiver
2. Sony SRSNY Slot Adapter
3. Lectro UH400A/HM Plug on Digital Hybrid Transmitter
4. Lectro UM400A Digital Hybrid Transmitter
5. Remote Audio SRA-5P Output Cable