Pebble

Viviana Pebble is an innovative antenna designed for body-worn wireless transmitters used in film, television, theatre and corporate production. In traditional wireless systems, range is often limited because the human body absorbs and blocks RF energy. When a standard whip antenna is placed close to the body, much of the transmitted RF energy is directed into the body where it is absorbed and dissipated. Viviana Pebble solves this problem using patented BodyWave technology.

2 Items

VIV-PBL

Viviana Pebble

How would you like to double your wireless range? Viviana Pebble is an innovative antenna designed for body-worn wireless transmitters used in film, television, theatre and corporate production.

371 Unit(s) In stock

£125.00

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VIV-PBL-CBL

Viviana Pebble Cable

The Viviana Pebble Cable is for use with the Pebble to connect it to your transmitter.

80 Unit(s) In stock

£14.00

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Viviana Pebble and what problem does it solve?

Viviana Pebble is a body-worn antenna designed to improve the performance of wireless transmitters when used close to the human body.

In traditional setups, the body absorbs and blocks RF energy, reducing range and reliability. It is designed to direct RF energy away from the body and around it, allowing more signal to reach the receiver.

In simple terms:

More signal getting out means more usable range.

What is the polarisation of Viviana Pebble (and how should I set my receive antennas)?

Viviana Pebble is designed to improve real-world performance in body-worn situations, and part of that comes from how the signal is radiated around the body.

In free space, Viviana Pebble is mostly circularly polarised. However, when worn on the body, the BodyWave effect that allows RF to creep around the body tends to produce useful radiation on the far side that is largely in the horizontal plane.

This is not a drawback, but a direct result of the antenna working with the body rather than against it.

Many wireless systems are traditionally set up with vertical receive antennas only, which means they may not capture the full benefit of this effect in body-shadowed situations.

For best results, we recommend:

Using a pair of receive antennas in opposing slant polarisation(typically +45° and -45° from vertical). For RX-mounted whips, we are looking to supply slide-on covers that set the antenna at approximately 45°.
• Or using circularly polarised antennas, such as helicals

The good news is that this approach is beneficial with all transmit antennas, not just Pebble, because reflections and body interaction naturally rotate polarisation in real-world environments.

In short:

Viviana Pebble works well with vertical antennas, but to get the maximum benefit, especially in difficult situations, opposing slant receive antennas are recommended.

How much does it improve range?

In controlled measurements, Viviana Pebble shows a clear gain advantage over a standard whip antenna in all directions, particularly in body-shadowed areas.

In real-world testing, this has translated into more than double the usable range in some body-worn scenarios, especially when the transmitter is on the opposite side of the body from the receiver.

As always, actual range depends on the environment, but the underlying antenna advantage remains.

Does it still help in complex environments such as buildings or sets?

Yes.

The gain advantage provided by Viviana Pebble is an antenna characteristic, so it exists in any environment. What changes is how visible that advantage is.

In highly reflective environments, signals may already arrive via multiple paths, so the improvement may be less dramatic. In more challenging situations, such as body shadowing or partial obstruction, the benefit is often much more noticeable.

Why did you test it in an open field?

The open-field test was used to create a neutral baseline with minimal external variables.

This allows the performance difference between antennas to be seen clearly, without the result being dominated by reflections, buildings or other environmental factors.

The underlying behaviour is also confirmed using controlled chamber measurements on a body phantom.

How does it perform in car scenes?

Viviana Pebble still provides an advantage in car scenarios, because its main benefit is improving how RF leaves the body in the first place.

At these frequencies, plain glass is usually not a major barrier, and the window area is effectively a useful aperture for the signal. The main challenges in a vehicle are typically the metal bodywork and the reflections it creates.

So, while a car introduces additional losses for any antenna, Viviana Pebble maintains its advantage over a standard whip in the same position.

Does it help if the transmitter is not on the body?

Viviana Pebble is specifically designed for body-worn or close-proximity use.

In free space, a standard quarter-wave whip is already a relatively efficient antenna, so Viviana Pebble is not aimed at improving that scenario.

Its real advantage is maintaining performance when placed close to the body or other lossy objects, where a conventional whip would typically lose efficiency.

Can Viviana Pebble be used for receive as well as transmit?

Yes.

As a passive antenna, Viviana Pebble behaves the same on transmit and receive. The same principles apply in both directions.

It can be particularly useful for body-worn IFB receivers or compact setups where antennas are close to the body.

For bag or cart-based systems, larger antennas such as fins or directional antennas are still better suited for long-range reception.

Does it work like the Shure ADX1M antenna system?

No.

The Shure ADX1M uses an internal adaptive antenna designed to optimise performance when worn against the body.

Viviana Pebble is a separate external antenna system with a different operating principle, designed to improve how RF radiates around and away from the body.

Both address similar challenges, but they are not the same technology.

Why is the bandwidth relatively narrow?

To achieve higher efficiency and improved on-body performance, Viviana Pebble is more tightly tuned than a standard whip antenna.

This is not simply a design preference, but a natural trade-off of this type of high-performance antenna design.

In simple terms:

You trade bandwidth for improved real-world performance and range.

Can it be made multi-band?

A true multi-band version covering widely separated frequency ranges would compromise the performance benefits.

Viviana Pebble is designed to be optimised for specific frequency bands, which is what allows it to achieve its efficiency and range improvements.

Additional bands are possible, but they require separate designs rather than simple retuning.

Will other frequency versions be available?

Other frequency bands are possible, but they are not simple variations of the same antenna.

Each band requires its own design and optimisation. The current focus is on delivering the best possible performance in the available band.

What frequency range does the current version cover?

The current version of Viviana Pebble is tuned for 590–630 MHz.

Can I use it outside that range?

For optimal performance, it should be used within its specified frequency band.

Like any tuned antenna, performance will degrade outside its designed range. That said, these limits are not ‘brick walls’, but performance will reduce if used outside the stated band.

Does it come with a cable?

Cables are supplied separately so that users can choose the correct connector for their specific transmitter.

A range of cable options is available, including SMA, SSMA and Lemo variants. Available via Viviana dealers worldwide.

Why does orientation matter?

Viviana Pebble has a defined front and back.

The side marked “Back” must face the body, as this is part of how the antenna directs RF energy away from the body.

The front should be kept clear of cables or conductive materials to maintain optimal performance.

Can cables or objects affect performance?

Yes.

Cables, metal objects or RF-absorbing materials placed in front of the antenna can degrade performance.

If excess cable needs to be stored, it should be positioned on the “Back” side of the Viviana Pebble, not in front of it.

Are accessories available?

Viviana Sound Solutions offers a range of mounting accessories, and additional options are being explored based on user feedback.

This includes ideas such as belt clip mounting solutions for quick rigging.