NAB Event News
Mic-ing Up Is Easier Than Ever With Shure's Sweat-Proof Micro-Bodypack
By
Apr 16, 2008 - 11:23:20 AM

By Carolyn Braff

Brand new for NAB, Shure has unveiled its smallest bodypack transmitter yet, perfect for use in the sports world. The UR1M micro-bodypack transmitter weighs less than 3.5 oz with two AAA batteries inside, is sweat-resistant and is has a tamper-proof feature that ensures a lineman won’t accidentally turn off the mic on your mic’d up quarterback.

“The UR1M bodypack is compatible with the UHF-R wireless series that a lot of sports people already use, but this body pack is half the size and very lightweight, so it’s a lot easier to conceal under a uniform,” explains Christopher Lyons, manager of technical and educational communications for Shure.

The bodypack has adjustable transmit power from 10mW to 50 mW and is available in all of the frequency groups Shure offers, so it can be configured to match any Shure system a crew already owns or rents for a given production. It has the same power output as the larger bodypacks and with a magnesium composition, is surprisingly durable for its small size.

“The circuit board has been dipped in a special compound to make it more sweat resistant,” Lyons says. “You can hide this in a helmet or under pads and it will take it all. You can also set it so that the buttons are defeated, so that nobody can bump or unintentionally turn it off.”

The bodypack also automatically transmits its battery condition back to the receiver, and the condition can be monitored both on the receiver and on a PC, so the crew can see remotely if the referee’s battery is running low.

The UR1M retails for $3,200 and starts shipping this summer.