About the Team

We are a video broadcast team of 10 to 15 professionals based in Italy, specializing in small- to mid-scale productions. Our expertise covers directing, camera operation, intercom management, and overall technical coordination.

Project Background

The project was the Christmas tree lighting ceremony held at Piazza del Popolo in Rome. I was responsible for the event’s technical direction, overseeing and coordinating a seven-camera setup across a large public square.

The production took place in a densely crowded outdoor environment, with thousands of attendees and surrounding buildings. This created a highly challenging scenario, characterized by significant wireless interference from mobile devices and the need to manage multiple camera positions distributed across the venue.

Despite the complexity of the setup and operating conditions, the Solidcom H1 system delivered stable and reliable performance throughout the entire event.

Production Challenges

The scale and nature of the event presented several major challenges:

• Severe wireless interference caused by thousands of mobile phones in a confined public space
• Wide-area coordination, with multiple camera positions spread across the square
• High reliability requirements, as the event was live and allowed no margin for communication dropouts

Clear, stable, and well-structured team communication was critical to keeping the production running smoothly.

Solution: Solidcom H1 Deployment

Around 10 crew members — including production staff and camera operators — used Hollyland communication solutions during the event. The Solidcom H1 system was integrated and cascaded with a Blackmagic ATEM Constellation 8K via 4-wire connections, allowing operators to receive intercom audio directly in their cameras.

To maintain efficiency and clarity, I configured separate communication groups for:

Direction

Camera operators

Drone and technical support

This group-based setup ensured that each team could communicate independently without overlapping conversations, even during critical moments of the live production.

Performance in a High-Interference Environment

Despite the extremely challenging RF conditions, the Solidcom H1 system performed reliably throughout the entire event. Communication remained stable and clear across all teams, enabling real-time coordination between directors, camera operators, and technical staff.

Compared to my previous communication setups, Solidcom H1 offered noticeably stronger stability in crowded environments and significantly more flexibility in how we organized interdepartmental communication. This reduced on-site stress and allowed the team to focus on execution rather than troubleshooting.

Features That Mattered Most 

Signal Coverage up to 500 Meters

This is the most important for me because we often work in wide outdoor areas or in locations where the team is spread out. Stable coverage is essential to avoid communication drops during the production.

100 Independent Groups Supported

Group management is crucial when coordinating direction, camera operators, drone crew, and technical staff. Having many groups gives us flexibility to keep conversations clean and organized.

Bluetooth Connectivity

This has become very useful in situations where operators prefer lighter solutions like AirPods, especially when they can’t use bulky headsets. It adds practicality and comfort on set.

15-Hour Battery Life

Battery life is important, but most of our productions last less than that, so this feature is reassuring rather than essential. It’s great to know the beltpacks can last the whole day without recharging.

Team Feedback

“The system was easy to use and the audio was always clear, even with all the interference in the square.” 

–Antonio (Technician)

“I was impressed by the audio quality. It’s honestly better than many high-end systems I’ve worked with.”

–Frank (Intercom Specialist)

“Reliable and solid throughout the whole event. We never lost communication, which is rare in a situation like this.”

–Luigi (Production Manager)

“Having dedicated groups made coordination much easier. I could talk with my assistant without disturbing the rest of the team.”

–Simone (Drone Pilot)

Behind the Scenes

We also produced a behind-the-scenes video documenting both the project and the Solidcom H1 system in real-world use. The video offers a closer look at the on-site setup, workflow, and communication structure throughout the event.