The wideband wireless system is streamlining RF management and setup times for AFL, NRL, and studio broadcasts.
NEP Australia has rolled out Sennheiser’s Spectera wireless system across its broadcast operations to tackle crowded radio frequencies and simplify setup. The system is now running on major productions including AFL coverage, Fox Footy, and the Chase, with trials underway for NRL events.
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Sennheiser Spectera works by bundling microphones, in-ear monitors, and control data into a single radio frequency channel, operating across TV-UHF and 1.4 GHz bands. The hardware is refreshingly compact with a 1U base station, SEK bidirectional bodypacks, and DAD antennas. Remote monitoring runs through LinkDesk and a browser-based interface, keeping sound engineers in the loop without needing to be onsite.
For NEP, the advantages were obvious from the start. “We provide broadcast facilities for the majority of sporting codes in Australia, as well as a wide range of studio shows,” explains Alex Wong, Senior Supervising Audio Director at NEP Australia. “It’s a pretty hostile world out there for frequency management. We need something agile and easy to set up.”
The results speak for themselves. Setup time has dropped from several hours to under 40 minutes, freeing teams to focus on the actual production rather than technical logistics. Engineers can now monitor battery levels, RF performance, and bodypack status remotely–there’s no need to scramble around on location making adjustments.
Spectera went through a stress test during the live broadcast of SBW vs Gallen at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, a 20,000-capacity indoor venue that’s notoriously tricky for RF. “Even though this was a new type of setup, there were no nasty surprises,” says Wong. “Our field crew, who hadn’t seen Spectera before, were able to get across it quickly and run it live.”
Looking ahead, NEP is gearing up to deploy Spectera in outside broadcast environments. Plans are in place to integrate SMPTE 2110, which allows audio to travel over IP networks instead of traditional cabling. This shift supports NEP’s move toward centralised, remote-first production–a model that’s becoming increasingly essential in modern broadcasting.
For more information, visit Sennheiser. Check out NEP Australia here.
