The NANO Wireless Intercom is the latest communication device from CAME-TV. The NANO is being touted as a compact, portable intercom device that utilizes full-duplex technology to enable multiple people to engage in simultaneous conversations.
They feature a built-in speaker on their body, as well as a 3.5mm TRRS audio jack that allows you to use your own headset or connect to other audio devices. This intercom offers a variety of carrying options, including hanging, clipping, or handheld use.
The intercom system consists of a master and multiple remotes. The master acts as a signal transfer station for the remotes.
They can also be combined with a Hub so that up to 20 people can communicate on the same network. You can also divide them into two/three/four separate groups as well.
Build Quality
There is certainly a lot of plastic being used and that is reflected in the weight.
While they don’t particularly feel solid or robust there isn’t anything you could probably break even if you happened to drop them.
The buttons are reasonably tactile and I wouldn’t be concerned about anything happening to them.
The included belt clips are also made out of plastic.
When they are placed inside their belt clips you do get slightly more protection. I would have preferred to have seen some rubber protection placed around the edges of the NANO.
The NANO does come in a small-sized case, which is decent enough.
Size & Weight
The Master and Remote units are all the same size and weight. They are reasonably compact and they weigh just 80g / 2.82 oz each (with the belt clips attached).
This low weight makes them easy to wear or clip onto your clothes.
Range
The claimed range of the CAME-TV NANO is 1,100′ / 335m line of sight. This is slightly shorter than the claimed range of the CAME-TV KUMINIK8 which is 1,500″ /450m.
The signal antenna of the CAME-TV NANO is generally located around the lanyard hole area. It is important to not cover this region to ensure better results.
To improve signal reception, CAME-TV also recommends placing the master devices/ HUB at a higher elevation with no obstructions around it. For even better performance, you could place them up on a stand.
I wanted to test out the range of the CAME-TV NANO in a typical operating scenario. As with any type of wireless system, the distance you can get will depend on the environment you are in.
I found that even in a busy suburban area of Tokyo the range was fairly impressive. I was able to go around the other side of tall apartment complexes and still be able to hear and talk to someone. I could get around 300-350 meters, but it will break up if you get too many large objects between you and the other headsets.
Battery Life & Charging
The NANO system uses internal non-replaceable 1500 mAh batteries. The Master device will run for up to 8 hours and the remote units will run for up to 15 hours. 8 hours is a decent enough time, but I think 10 or 12 would have been better. Because you can’t swap out the batteries, if you need to run longer you would have to charge them up during a break or run them via a USB-C power bank or similar.
You have to charge the NANO via its USB-C input. USB-C charging is done at 5V, 500mA.
CAME-TV does give you two splitter cables that go from USB-A to three USB-C connectors that you can use for charging.
You should make sure the devices are off while charging to prevent battery draining when fully charged.
When the master device is connected to multiple remotes it will also increase power consumption. To ensure optimal sound quality and performance, you should ensure that the battery of the Master device/ HUB units is charged sufficiently. If you experience poor audio quality or range performance, try replacing the batteries of the Master units with fully charged batteries.
Included Headsets
CAME-TV includes 5 headsets in the kit. These are in-ear single earphones that have a clip that sits behind your ear to keep it from falling out.
The headphones have an attached microphone. You do get some windshields in the kit that you can put over the microphone.
You can place them in either ear, but you need to take off the clip that goes behind your ear and reverse it to be able to do this.
Are the headsets comfortable to use?
Comfort is right at the top of the list for me when it comes to purchasing any type of headphones. So are the NANO headsets comfortable to wear?
With any type of headphone, comfort is going to be different depending on the individual. We all have different ears and this can be problematic when trying to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution.
The headsets are ok, but they do take a bit of manipulation and fiddling to put in your ear and make comfortable. I asked a few different people to try them out to see what they felt. As expected, some people were ok with the comfort and others weren’t.
If you are going to wear something for a long period of time, which is something you would be doing in most scenarios with headsets, they need to be comfortable otherwise people will not want to use them.
Mounting Options
CAME-TV provides several ways to mount or wear the NANO.
You can use the belt clip which is an easy solution. My only slight concern with doing this is that the 3.5mm cable ends up pointing down and it could potentially get broken or bent.
I would have preferred to have seen the headphones come with a right-angle connector instead.
You can also wear them around your neck with the lanyard strap.
You can also use an armband in conjunction with the belt clip.
As the buttons are nice and large they are easy to access when wearing on your arm.
Audio Quality
With any communication device, you need to be able to hear people clearly and they also need to be able to hear you.
On the box that the NANO system comes in, it states:
- Superior Audio Performance
- Crystal-Clear Wireless Communication
- Premium Noise Cancellation
To be honest, I found the audio quality to be fairly average with the NANO system, but you do have to remember that they are being billed as an affordable intercom system and not duplex headsets. They aren’t anywhere near as good as something like the CAME-TV KUMINIK8 Digital Duplex Wireless Headsets when it comes to audio quality.
The sound quality is pretty much what you would expect if you were using a walkie-talkie. I also found that headsets weren’t that loud, even with the volume turned right up.
The in-built speaker is a lot louder, but again, the audio quality coming through it is just ok.
I also tried out the system by using my own headset that had a microphone and the audio quality was pretty much the same.
When devices are in close proximity to each other, they may generate noise. To mitigate this you press the middle button to turn off the microphone.
The best communication quality is achieved when there are no obstacles between the master and remote devices. Obstructions like the human body can impact the effectiveness of the device. CAME-TV advises using the arm belt for best results.
Now because of the operating frequency they work on, some frequencies used by mobile phone signal base stations may interfere with the NANO system, causing disruptions when it is in use.
To maximize audio performance, it is recommended to use the included standard headphones. The 3.5mm interface follows the OMTP standard. If you have (US) CTIA standard equipment, an audio cable will be required.
Specifications
| STANDARD | DECT technology, GAP compatible |
| WORKING DISTANCE | 1100 ft. radius at Master in the open air |
| WORKING TIME | Master 8 Hours / Remote 15 Hours |
| CHANNEL BANDWIDTH | 1.728MHz |
| MODULATION TYPE | GFSK |
| DUPLEX OPERATION | Time Division Duplex (TDD) |
| CE FREQUENCY | 1881.792-1897.344 MHz |
| FCC FREQUENCY | 1920-1930 MHz |
| USB-C CHARGING | 5V, 500mA |
| BATTERY CAPACITY | 1500 mAh |
| AUDIO INTERFACE | 3.5mm TRRS (OMTP) |
Price & Availability
Above you can see what the various CAME-TV NANO intercom systems retail for.
The kit I was testing, the NANO-5KIT-EU, retails for $688 USD.
Pairing them with the CAME-TV KUMINIK8
The first thing you need to do is unpair one of the KUMINIK8 remote headsets from its master. You then need to take a NANO Remote unit and pair it with the KUMINIK8 master headset.
This can be a bit of a tedious process, but it does work.
Having the ability to mix and match the NANO with the KUMINIK8 can certainly be handy in some situations.
Conclusion
The CAME-TV NANO works as advertised, but the audio quality could be better. My take is that it is a more compact walkie-talkie solution. They are lightweight and easy to use, and they come with a good selection of mounting options. If you are expecting the audio to sound like a duplex headset system you will be disappointed.
I see the NANO as more of a stand-alone system that perhaps PAs, drivers, etc. could use for basic communication when they are not close together. They would also work well if you combined them with a set of CAME-TV KUMINIK8 duplex headsets and a hub. That way you could have key personnel using the KUMINIK8 and others, such as runners, make-up, etc, using the NANO.
Look, don’t get me wrong, they do work as advertised, but you just need to be aware of their limitations.
