New IFB from Zaxcom - VRX-1

[Jeff Wexler]

Zaxcom has introduced a new IFB device designed to be used primarily the way in which current IFB systems used. The sound quality is amazing, it seems to be a very rugged and hopefully indestructable unit, so important for a device that will be the hands of other crew, Director, Script, etc. It will be very easy to integrate this with almost everybody's existing systems since it is compatible with all of the Comtek transmitters. Gotham has done a really good video showcasing the VRX-1.

 

 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Can I just say hooray?  I've been waiting for a better VHF IFB than Comtek for ages ... it looks like we finally have one!

I probably won't buy in until there's a matching Tx.  I *really* hope Zaxcom can find a way to move their whole Zaxnet infrastructure to VHF ... it's too crowded in 2.4GHz, and VHF is perfect for a control protocol.

[PMC]

"The sound quality is amazing"... "compatible with all of the Comtek transmitters."

 

How will it sound amazing when receiving a signal from my Comtek TX? Comtek TX and RX are not known for their fidelity. 

 

And I assume it will come with Zaxcom pricing level.

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

USD$495.  Not unreasonable I think.  I think the weak link in the Comtek system is Rx, not Tx; reports I've seen from the field have confirmed better quality.

But, really, Comtek compatibility is just a stop-gap while Zaxcom develops the Tx.  They will be doing a digital VHF transmitter.  I won't judge it yet because it's not released, but that is the final intended use-case.  These aren't just better 216PRs, they are the beginning of a different system.

[Derek H]

I think it’s pretty great to have a modern Comtek alternative. According to the video $495 is the introductory price. Hopefully it doesn’t get much more expensive otherwise it will be less enticing. Nice that you can add some of these to an existing Comtek system without having to use a separate transmitter. 
 

13 hours on rechargeable AAs is cutting it pretty close if you ask me. 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

I agree.  And once the batteries are worn, they won't get that much.  I refuse to run my IFBs on Lithium.

That said ... I already change Comtek batteries at lunch anyway, so it's not a big change to keep doing that.  I know Comteks *do* last more than a day, but I've also had enough charging issues with lithium 9Vs that the lunch change is a normal habit.

[glenn]

The VRX will go 17 Hours on Lithium if needed. 13 hours on a NiMh is a conservative number. With a high capacity battery 14 hours continuous reception is easy to get. I would not think of the Analog FM mode as a “stop gap”. It is a very respectable way to work. Slowly transitioning to a fleet of VRX allows the switch to digital with a very low cost. All anyone needs to do is start by switching to the VRX rather than purchasing new Comtek to replace lost or broken receivers. 

[Derek H]

Glad to hear that 13 hours is conservative. Glenn, you mentioned in the Gotham interview that, potentially, a VRX1 could be programmed for different frequency ranges. Can you elaborate on that? For example, if I’m able to order a few custom units to operate in the older 72-76 band or maybe TV5/6 could I later have them re-tuned to 216 or 944? Would this just be a firmware update or a hardware swap?

 

 Which brings another question about.. Could the VRX work with Lectrosonics IFB mode transmitters?

[Fred Salles]

Hi.

If I understood correctly, for now the only frequencies available are the 216Mhz "band" used by Comtek tx, 10 of them. Isn't that quite limited nowadays?

 

The Lectrosonics T4 VHF band is 174.100 to 215.750 MHz, so it seems we won't be able to use it unfortunately, for now.

[Derek H]

In the interview Gotham did Glenn said it was possible to order it in custom frequency bands as a special order. 

[austinmplocher]

Yes I'm quite curious about that also, Derek -- the prospect of ordering VRXs operating in block 941 is mighty intriguing.

[Derek H]

That’s what I’m saying!

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Zaxcom's frequency range is 192-216MHz, with 76-86MHz available as a custom order.  The presets are changeable with external hardware — Zaxcom's GUI bridge — and, also, apparently, with some kind of voice prompt (???).

So ... not totally fixed, but changing them isn't entirely straightforward.  Do your research before buying ... I don't think it's entirely clear yet.  The manual doesn't give details for changing frequency; so consider the voice prompt method a rumour for the moment.

 

BTW, this is my source for much of this information:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/zaxcomusers/permalink/7913907468635692/?mibextid=oMANbw
 

There's been a decent discussion on Zaxcom's Facebook group about a lot of these questions, so it's a good source of further research.  There is also apparently a video from a demo at Gotham Sound, which I haven't seen yet.

[Derek H]

Well the president of the company did the video interview with Gotham where he said they could basically tune them to whatever band. Their official website indicates that ordering them in TV5/6 is also an option so I’m just guessing here but I suspect if you contacted them and asked for a different band it might be possible. We’ll see. I expect it would be a factory mod to get it changed to something different. 
 

I’m not on Facebook anymore but thanks for the link. 

Also, they demo the voice prompt control in the video so I’d say that rumor is confirmed. 

[Jim Feeley]

3 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

There is also apparently a video from a demo at Gotham Sound, which I haven't seen yet.

 

That's the video Jeff embedded in the first post above. 30min.

[RadoStefanov]

Doing some testing today between setups. Set is a very old industrial building made of bricks, concrete at pavers. Perfect location for an RF test with all the corners and reflections.

 

 

[Izen Ears]

On 2/13/2024 at 6:01 PM, PMC said:

How will it sound amazing when receiving a signal from my Comtek TX? Comtek TX and RX are not known for their fidelity. 

What other wireless are you comparing to?  I think Comtek middle channels (full fidelity or whatever they call it) sound great for dialog with decent cans.  The cans make a yuuuge difference.  The Lectro IFB has a more bass, but the middle and high freqs sound comparable to me; super easy to hear voices clearly.  Music is a different story.

[RadoStefanov]

1 hour ago, Izen Ears said:

What other wireless are you comparing to?  I think Comtek middle channels (full fidelity or whatever they call it) sound great for dialog with decent cans.  The cans make a yuuuge difference.  The Lectro IFB has a more bass, but the middle and high freqs sound comparable to me; super easy to hear voices clearly.  Music is a different story.

COmparing to mainly Comtek. But also URX100 and URX50.

[Derek H]

How does it compare?