Lectrosonics has announced the DCR822 Dual Channel Portable Digital Receiver. This may look like just another radio mic receiver, however, it has a trick up its sleeve.
Not only is the receiver equipped with a microSD card slot for data transfer such as firmware updates and frequency group information, but a microSD card can also be used to record audio channels directly from the receivers onto the card. This recording is done in the industry-standard .wav (BWF) file format at 24 bits/48 kHz.
You may be thinking, hold on, doesn’t Zaxcom have a patent for that? Well, they do, but only for simultaneous audio transmission and recording when it is being recorded to the TX unit. In this case, Lectrosonics is recording the audio in the RX unit. This isn’t going to help you in noisy RF environments, but it is giving you a backup and the ability to record audio without having to have the DCR82 attached to a camera or a mixer.
Key features
- Continuously tunable tracking filters covering 470.100 – 614.375 MHz
- Compatible with D2, Duet and Digital Hybrid Wireless® transmitters
- Vector Diversity with two receivers per channel for superior digital signal recovery
- High IP3 and high-current front ends for robust performance even in severe RF environments
- IR bi-directional port for transmitter setup
- Analog and Digital audio outputs with TalkBack (in applicable RX modes)
- USB interface
- Up to 4 channel recording on microSD card (depending on RX modes)
- AA Battery or external powering
- Same cross-section as the UCR411a for mounting using existing hardware
- Bright, high-density OLED display for clear viewing in any lighting conditions
The new DCR82 receiver is compatible with all current Lectrosonics mono and stereo digital transmitters and is backward compatible with any of the Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters made in the past 18 years. This includes:
- DBu, DHu, DPr, DCHT, and M2T
- Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters including the SM and SMWB series, WM, HM Series, MM400 Series, HH Series, LT, LMb, UM400 Series, and SSM
The DCR82 uses a machined aluminum housing and the panels are surfaced with a hard-anodized finish with laser-etched markings. Audio outputs are via two locking TA3M connectors, with either analog mic/line level or AES3 digital outputs selectable in the menu.
The DCR822 tunes across 144 MHz (A1B1 version) or 155 MHz (B1C1 version) and offers over 6000 frequency choices. Settings can be made from the front panel via buttons and the LCD interface. An RF spectrum analyzer and SmartTune are built into the receiver to help alleviate interference problems. 2-way IR sync makes it easy to set up matching transmitters. The new receiver includes a USB jack on the back panel for connectivity with the Lectrosonics Wireless Designer software for frequency coordination and RF system monitoring.
The RF gain stages in the front end use a newly developed design that is said to provide low noise RF amplification, excellent sensitivity and extremely low susceptibility to intermodulation and de-sensitization with an IP3 (3rd Order Intercept point) of +15 dBm. The DCR822’s Vector Diversity subsystem continuously combines RF signals from two receiver front ends per channel, with differing phase angles to obtain maximum energy. This method is said to deliver clean, artifact-free performance in all modes. Along with Vector Diversity on each receiver channel, the two channels (four receiver front ends) can be used together for a single Frequency Diversity channel operating on two different frequencies for full redundancy.
The mechanical design of the receiver fits into the same dimensions as the legacy UCR411A so that existing mounts can be used. To decrease weight, the new receiver provides two independent channel receivers in one unit powered by 4 AA Lithium batteries or external DC.
The receiver also incorporates AES 256-CTR mode encryption, with four different encryption key policies available including Universal (common to all Lectrosonics D2, M2X and DCHX units), Shared (great for sports coverage), Standard, and Volatile (one-time use key).
Price & Availability
The DCR822 will be available worldwide from Lectrosonics Authorized UHF dealers starting in Q4, 2020. The recommended retail price will be $4,740 USD.
