Clear-Com wins NAB Best of Show for FreeSpeak Icon DECT beltpack

Clear-Com is showcasing two headline intercom products at NAB 2026 booth C5807. The FreeSpeak Icon beltpack — awarded a NAB Best of Show distinction — operates over the 1.9 GHz DECT band with nine programmable buttons, four individual channel volume controls, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The specification targets fast-paced broadcast environments where crew members need reliable wireless communication without dedicated radio frequency coordination.

The 4-Channel HelixNet beltpack extends the existing two-channel model, allowing production crew to monitor and communicate across four distinct channels simultaneously. For complex live productions with separate audio, camera, graphics, and director circuits running concurrently, the ability to manage four channels from a single beltpack reduces the physical hardware each crew member carries. Both products join the Arcadia Central Station, Gen-IC virtual intercom, and Agent-IC mobile app in Clear-Com's booth demonstrations.

President Bob Boster framed the releases around workflow evolution: "NAB gives us an opportunity to introduce new tools that expand what our communications ecosystem can do. These solutions provide production teams with flexibility and reliability as workflows evolve." The FreeSpeak Icon's Best of Show recognition signals industry acknowledgment of the 1.9 GHz DECT approach as a practical alternative to UHF-based intercom systems in crowded RF environments.