When do I need RF coordination?
Plan RF whenever the event depends on multiple wireless mics, IEMs, comms, IFB, camera hops, interpreter systems, or neighboring rooms using wireless.
RF
Wireless microphone RF coordination for events, IEMs, comms, and crowded rooms.
RF coordination gives each wireless device a channel plan, scan history, antenna path, and person responsible before the room goes live. Shadow Cat Audio plans and manages wireless microphones, IEMs, comms, IFB, camera hops, breakout rooms, conferences, live shows, private events, and broadcast-adjacent programs where many transmitters share the same air.
What clients are hiring
RF coordination is risk management for wireless shows.
Wireless problems rarely wait for a convenient moment. RF work is scan time, frequency planning, antenna position, pack labels, spare channels, mic discipline, and a practical plan for dense rooms, outdoor sites, IEMs, comms, camera hops, and last-minute microphone changes.
Shadow Cat Audio is a fit when wireless is important enough that guessing is not a plan.
Where it fits
Best uses for RF Coordination.
Panels, keynotes, awards programs, ceremonies, and general sessions with multiple wireless microphonesConferences with breakout rooms, nearby ballrooms, shared venue wireless systems, and overlapping schedulesLive shows, private concerts, and performance events using IEMs or wireless backline supportBroadcast, livestream, camera, comms, IFB, press, and interpreter environmentsRooms where hotel AV, outside vendors, touring systems, exhibitors, or neighboring events share the airJobs with roaming hosts, mixed wireless inventory, late presenter additions, or no tolerance for audible dropouts
What can be included
What RF Coordination can include.
Wireless inventory audit, channel count planning, frequency-band check, and usable-spectrum expectationsFrequency coordination, spectrum scans, intermodulation planning, exclusion ranges, and spare channel strategyWireless microphone, IEM, IFB, comms, camera hop, press, interpreter, and presenter confidence coordinationAntenna placement, RF rack layout, distribution check, combiner and distro planning, coverage checks, and transmitter power managementPack labeling, lav and handheld assignments, battery discipline, spare pack planning, and show-site monitoringCoordination with venue AV, broadcast teams, production crews, touring teams, and other wireless usersDocumentation that ties channels, packs, receivers, antennas, spares, and responsible parties together under show pressure
Planning review
Planning details to review before RF Coordination.
Nearby rooms, ballrooms, broadcast crews, hotel AV, exhibitors, or touring systems using wireless channels that were not disclosed during planning.
Presenter packs, handhelds, lavaliers, IEMs, comms, IFB, camera hops, press gear, interpreter systems, and neighboring systems all competing for usable spectrum.
Antenna placement compromised by room layout, sightlines, decor, staging, camera positions, LED walls, metal structures, or late seating changes.
Wireless systems rented from different vendors without one person responsible for frequency coordination, labeling, battery discipline, and who may turn on a transmitter.
Frequency bands, firmware, regional blocks, or rented inventory that do not match the venue environment or the rest of the wireless package.
Roaming presenters, offstage pack changes, wardrobe changes, and microphone swaps that need a pack plan before the stage manager is under pressure.
For quoting
Details that make the RF Coordination proposal useful.
Venue, room count, wireless channel count, microphone models, receiver models, IEM count, comms, IFB, camera hops, interpreter needs, press needs, and frequency bands.
Whether nearby rooms, broadcast crews, hotel AV, touring crews, presenters, interpreters, camera teams, or other vendors will also use wireless systems.
Schedule for scans, setup, rehearsal, doors, media call, panel changes, performances, speeches, awards, and critical live moments.
Existing gear inventory, including transmitters, receivers, antennas, distro, combiners, IEM transmitters, comms bases, batteries, spare packs, and software files.
Known RF history in the venue, including previous dropouts, restricted areas, nearby broadcast activity, TV channels, cellular congestion, Wi-Fi congestion, and rooms that share air.
Stage plot, seating plan, presenter movement, wardrobe concerns, antenna mounting options, booth location, rack location, and who controls rented or house wireless inventory.
Technical notes
How RF Coordination is planned in practice.
RF risk is easy to underestimate because wireless mics look simple from the seats. The working system depends on available spectrum, antenna placement, gain, transmitter power, body position, batteries, distance, and neighboring users.
Coordination is more than choosing frequencies. It also means inventory, scans, intermod work, exclusion ranges, antenna strategy, labeling, spares, battery management, and clear notes for the crew.
RF paperwork has to survive show site. It should show pack assignments, spare channels, vendor ownership, scan timing, and which transmitters stay off until assigned.
The best RF result is uneventful: every mic, IEM, IFB, comm path, interpreter feed, or camera hop passes signal when the program needs it.
Working sequence
How RF Coordination moves from inquiry to delivery.
01
Confirm the venue, rooms, wireless inventory, channel count, transmitter and receiver models, frequency bands, schedule, and known RF constraints.
02
Analyze scans, coordinate usable spectrum, identify local conflicts, plan compatible channels, and define antenna placement before the room is active.
03
Deploy, label, test, and document the wireless system, including spare channels, spare packs, battery plan, antenna paths, and pack-change responsibilities.
04
Coordinate with nearby rooms, broadcast crews, hotel AV, comms, camera teams, touring crews, and other vendors using wireless equipment.
05
Monitor performance, track battery and pack changes, log meaningful updates, and adjust before interference becomes audible to the audience.
Service-area fit
Where RF Coordination projects are planned.
RF coordination is available for events anywhere with enough wireless microphones, IEMs, comms, or camera hops to need scan time, pack labels, antenna planning, and backup channels.
Strong RF calls name wireless count, schedule pressure, venue density, and production complexity before show day.
Questions
Questions about RF Coordination.
Can you work with gear we already rented?
Yes. Client-owned, rented, house, touring, or production-company wireless systems can be coordinated once the inventory and schedule are known.
Do breakout rooms need RF planning?
Often. Rooms that look simple one at a time can still conflict when several ballrooms or breakouts are active together.
Can you coordinate mixed wireless systems?
Yes. Mixed systems can work when channel counts, model numbers, frequency bands, antenna plans, and the show schedule are documented early.
Can you coordinate with broadcast or video teams?
Yes. Wireless mics, IFB, camera hops, comms, press needs, and livestream paths can be coordinated with broadcast or video teams.
Project inquiry
Send project details for RF Coordination.
Send the date, city, venue or site, timeline, and the outcome the project needs to support. For events, include rooms, guest count, schedule, and must-work moments. For systems work, include existing equipment, access limits, photos, vendor contacts, and support expectations when available. That context helps confirm fit, spot unresolved items, and choose the next step.