The crew and clear-com: Cutting-edge broadcast solutions

Clear-Com and The Crew BV come together to bring the latest OB van technology to take on their variety of programs and set locations. Based in Nederhorst den Berg, close to the broadcasting center of the Netherlands in Hilversum, The Crew BV has a refreshing view of broadcasting. Focused on the skills and talent of their people, they seek out the best equipment and tools to accomplish their wide variety of work.

Their programming runs the gamut, from live sporting events to gameshows, talent shows to national fundraisers, from reporting to biographies, cooking shows to concerts. These wide-ranging programs are set in studios, theatres, clubs, and the outdoors.

Catering to their technical needs are two modern OB vans and a flexible mobile set that they have labeled ‘Flight Pack”. The flagship of the fleet is their new OBV2, a state-of-the-art van that can process up to 14 cameras and 16 workplaces.

Communication is key for modern broadcasters, and for their newest OB van, The Crew turned to Clear-Com specialist Frans van Houten at Ampco Flashlight Sales for a range of intercom solutions.OBV2 now holds a Clear-Com Eclipse HX Digital Matrix system equipped with an E-IPA card with 32 ports,15 V-Series Keypanels, and 5 V-Series Desktop panels with headsets and microphones that make up the end user stations, as well as 24 Clear-Com 4W Interfaces, used for connections to the sound mixer; two-way radios and many other external systems. All of this is augmented with the FreeSpeak II digital wireless system comprising of 24 FreeSpeak II 1.9 GHz belt packs and four IP transceivers. Additionally, there are Agent-IC mobile app connections for users who want to use their own devices to tap into the intercom system. Lastly, the Arcadia Central Station can be used as a standalone system for smaller events with wireless FreeSpeak II beltpacks or added to the OBVs via 8 DANTE ports.

Peter Westbroek, engineer at The Crew, adds:
“With OBV2 our aim was to create a state-of-the-art, modern OB van that can cater to any job in any location for any client. It goes without saying that this also counts for the equipment used. With Clear-Com we found a perfect solution for our communication needs, installed in the workspaces as well as mobile. Together with Frans and his Ampco Flashlight Sales crew we designed, commissioned, and installed a comms system that proves itself daily in our wide variety of jobs and customers”.

With television programming and the preferences of viewers constantly in flux, The Crew has adapted to new programming formats and where audiences want to view the content. This need for utmost flexibility from their communications system provided Frans van Houten of Ampco Flashlight Sales with a healthy challenge.

“It was very gratifying to connect the professionals at “The Crew” with my Clear-Com experience,” comments Frans. “The team is very adaptable and knowledgeable; their requests were clear and reflected the organization’s goals and ways of working. Being able to offer a solution based on the intercom market leader Clear-Com’s systems is always a pleasure and has resulted in a modern and future-proof system for The Crew!” RavePubs