The beltpack itself can function as a walkie-talkie; no headset is needed.
Intercoms are the backbone of live event production. The point at which a church decides to invest in an intercom system represents a particularly exciting moment in the life of that church; it’s incredible what a group of dedicated people can get done when everyone is on the same page. It’s also unbelievable how much something like the introduction of an intercom can production work so much more efficiently and effectively.
The Riedel Bolero Wireless Intercom system is capable of being deployed with ten beltpacks per antenna and 100 antennas at the same time. If you need that much intercom, your church is more “Six Flags over Jesus” and less a small local church, but it’s good to have goals --- and headroom. Of course, smaller configurations are available.
It’s interesting that the system itself doesn’t require a base station; the antenna functions as a base station, which is unique in the intercom world. It features “ADR (Advanced DECT Receiver) with multiple-diversity and RF anti-reflection technology for greater RF robustness.” Which is a fancy way of saying, “it just works!”
The antennas are capable of being deployed in multiple network modes, including:
- Bolero Integrated which leverages the powerful Riedel Artist infrastructure, including SmartPanels and extensive I/O connectivity.
- Bolero Standalone Link which provides plug-and-play simplicity that is especially suited to smaller installations, portable deployments, or cases when Bolero needs to be interfaced with other systems without the need for an Artist matrix.
- Bolero Standalone 2110 (AES67) enables users to set up a standards-based (SMPTE 2210/AES67) IP network with no Artist infrastructure required.
Each network mode is purpose-designed with a specific deployment, but one of the big things they have in common is unlimited point-to-point connections.
Beltpacks
The Bolero beltpacks are built to last with a rubberized outer layer and constructed to withstand everyday abuse. Each beltpack features a full-color sunlight-readable LED to display connection status, Bluetooth connection, battery life, and all the necessary information. Surrounding the display are four dedicated latching talk buttons. Buttons five and six are located on the side and are non-latching PTT (push to talk) buttons. A convenient “reply” button lets you reply to the last caller you listened to.
That Bluetooth connection is one of the surprising features of the beltpack; it allows for a Bluetooth headset to be connected to the beltpack or a phone to be connected to the beltpack, which is just a fantastic feature. It will enable the beltpack to function similarly to a hands-free connection on a car so you can take calls without messing with your phone.
However, that isn’t the end of what the Bluetooth connection is capable of; it can also be used to pair your favorite Bluetooth headset with the Bolero beltpacks. This is just the starting point for headsets; because there is also a standard four-pin XLR connection to use regular intercom headsets. But wait, there’s also an option for no headset at all. The beltpack itself can function as a walkie-talkie; no headset is needed.
The last notable feature of the beltpacks is the charging capability. The beltpacks can be charged individually via USB-C, or they can be charged in a charging station. The station can charge the beltpack and battery or just the battery. Which is basically exhaustive; what other way would you want to charge intercoms? The only option they don’t offer is inductive wireless charging, which doesn’t make sense.
Touch and Go Registration
The touch-and-go registration is excellent for large churches or churches with multiple buildings or campuses. It allows you to move from one antenna to the next by simply touching the beltpack to it. In practice, if you have one of these in your main auditorium and one in your kids’ area, when the tech person moves from the main auditorium to the kids’ area, they touch the belt pack to the antenna, and now they are on that side of the house from a coms standpoint. Also, it’s an excellent option for large multisite churches with people moving between campuses; keep your intercom and tap when you arrive. This is amazingly convenient; if that is a feature you need, there are not many options that allow for that level of flexibility.
In Conclusion
There is a lot to like about the Riedel Bolero, too much to fit into one article. The instruction manual is almost 100 pages long, and the options with Bluetooth alone could fill an entire article. It’s a bit of an understatement to say some things are getting glossed over. We will go more in-depth in the Bolero in an upcoming hands-on review.
At the end of the day, this intercom system has way more options and flexibility than many churches need. However, if you need some of these options like the touch-and-go registration or the ability to inject phone calls into your com channels, there is not a lot on the market that will compete with the Bolero.
