DON’T buy incompatible broadcasting equipment.
Most likely, you’re not buying a piece of standalone broadcast equipment. If it is part of a larger infrastructure — like a mobile unit, production studio, or flight pack — ensure that the new equipment sits well with other components of your production ecosystem.
Products bought from different manufacturers may not be compatible and often require specific interconnecting devices or additional engineering time to get them working with each other. You can:
- either make sure that all pieces of your broadcasting equipment will work well together, or
- make sure that there’s a solution that’ll make them work well together, or
- forgo the purchase and find equipment with better compatibility.
DON’T buy outdated broadcast equipment.
Broadcasting equipment is always evolving. Manufacturers continually release updated models or new products with more sophisticated features and functionalities.
While staying on top of the curve may feel intimidating, researching what you want to purchase is important. One of the worst buying experiences is to purchase a piece of equipment only to see a better model released the following week. And while it’s true that the newest model isn’t always the best, it’s still important to not buy something outdated unless you’re convinced that it will do the job.
DO buy equipment that genuinely fills a need.
When it comes to purchasing broadcasting equipment, it’s appealing to focus on what you “want” instead of what you “need.” There’s an ocean of “fun” broadcasting gadgets on the market. You might see a piece of equipment that would be exciting to own, but is it worth the cost if there’s no justified use?
Stay focused on what you require, and ensure that your purchase genuinely fills a need. Ask yourself: Is this something I will use regularly? Only buy the equipment if the answer comes out to be a “Yes.”
DON’T buy from an unreputable source.
Depending on what you’re looking to buy, there are hundreds of options for purchasing equipment — maybe even more. However, purchasing your broadcasting gear from a reputable source has several upsides.
While cost is undoubtedly the central consideration for most buyers, you need to make sure you’re protected in case there’s an issue with your equipment.
If you’re buying online, check the seller’s return policy. It’s important to buy returnable equipment to ensure that you’re not stuck with an incompatible device. Further, read the product’s reviews before buying it to check if previous buyers had any issues.
DON’T buy equipment that can’t keep up with your content output.
The equipment that you’re buying should accommodate your current needs and more, so you don’t outgrow it in the future.
If you’re getting broadcasting equipment for a facility, it’s important to keep your growth potential in mind. In case you expect to expand your content output, factor it into your buying decision. You don’t want to find yourself with a new piece of broadcasting equipment that’s maxed out already.
Need more advice on choosing the right broadcasting equipment? Reach out to Quickmedia who are experts when it comes to broadcasting services.