Hi everyone,
Can I ask for assistance from you audio experts on radio microphones, frequencies & licencing.
I look after the sound for a small Baptist chapel, and we have had for some years a 110V line amplifier, speakers and originally fixed mics. We then added a couple of Shure VHF radio mics, and 3 years ago replaced these with 2 Sennheiser Freeports (1 clip on & 1 hand held). These were set for the unlicensed UK band (I was very careful not to use licenced frequencies without a licence, in fact some people thought I was overly paranoid about it).
Now the clip on Freeport has gone faulty (due to having had surgery and being grounded for a couple of weeks I haven't personally been able to check it out) so they are asking about buying replacements, and also as there have been strange issues with the Freeports there is a thought that there are interference problems, so should we switch to licenced frequencies?
So how does his work? Do we have to apply for licences, be allocated frequencies, and then buy systems to match? How much, how and where from do we buy the licences? We could be looking at a clip on, a slim gooseneck type to fit into a lectern, and possibly a hand held, so any recommendations? I'm thinking of going back to Shure as the reliability and performance of the Freeports hasn't been as good as I had expected. We are also adding a mixer so we don't have a huge budget, the Freeports were about £160 each at the time.
Obviously I need to get this right, so has anyone got any advice for me please!
Dave
I would reckon the place to start would be here:
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/pmse/
It's not that complicated. There are four (or five with Sennheiser G3) available in channel 70, but everyone is now on channel 38 - too low for existing channel 69/70 kit to tune down to. You buy a license online at the link above, and your receive a license document with your available channels detailed on it - you also get access to a few other and not that easy to find equipment for channels, but in the main - it's channel 38. You get a reminder each year and that's pretty well it. I have a slightly different one because I hire equipment out, but same channels mostly.
New radio kit on channel 38 is not as cheap, but still doable, although the days of cheap ones is really past.
The Chinese flooded the market with illegal counterfeit systems looking like Sennheisers on channel 69, but things have changed and they have nothing on the Ch 38 bands - mainly, I'm told by one Chinese supplier, because that band is used by the military in China - so they're not producing much kit on that band.
Also worth considering digital offerings by Line 6, AKG and Sennheiser in the 2.4GHz wireless band - no license required. Most users report good things. My own experiences are very good - the only grief when a lighting guy stood his iPad router on top of the rack ours are in, which wiped them out. Other than that, not a single dropout. AKGs also in use in a show last night - and they were equally trouble free.
I use a Sennheiser G2 system in a Baptist Church which has a mixture of up to four evolution G2 and G3 microphones in the 863 - 865 MHz band (863.10, 863.55, 864.30 and 864.90 on Bank 8). A G3 with a default 863.55 caused problems with my G2 on a default 863.50. My G2 was retuned for intermediate frequencies of 863.3, 863.8, 864.1 and 864.6 MHz in bank U (user defined in 25 KHz steps) and these used instead. There have been no interference problems since, and all 8 frequencies can be used simultaneously. I'm guessing, but the unlicensed 863 - 865 MHz band looks like it is a fixed European wide frequency band, not just for the UK, so may be much harder to change.
You can operate where you like in channel 70, but because of the narrow band and intermod products, only 4 will work with most manufacturers equipment. G2 Sennheisers can manage 4. G3 can do 5 because of the tighter RF specs. Choosing IM free channels isn't something you can do randomly, and the manufacturers own band programming is always the safest. It does use up a fair few channels though.
If your audio is important, then the free channels, at a weekend with every Disco Dave Double Decks using them to do the two feet between his receiver and transmitter can easily wipe out these 'empty' channels.
Historically, the Government have also looked after licensed users quite well. I got a very good compensation package when channel 69 was being closed down, which I bought new stock with. People with no licenses got nothing!
Thanks all
I did look at the Line 6 ones when I bought the Freeports, I wasn't sure of the reliability of using the 2.4Ghz band. As there's no wifi within the church and I can't see many routers from my phone while in the building it's definitely worth a look, I like the looks of the AKG ones.
Also managed to find that Sennheiser will repair the dodgy Freeport for £54 so will recommend repairing that one, but I need to have a look first, it sounds like a connector issue on the lapel mic, but I've had eye surgery and still can't see straight!
Thanks again!
Most people seem to report that the radio mics seem to 'win' against the iPads and other computer users. A frequent complaint to me is that wi-fi is a bit poor in the venue, and this always corresponds to when we have a number of mics on. Line 6 have a version 2 more friendly band plan, but I switch these back to the original because it is rock solid. My own fault for not spotting the newly installed router somebody put in the rack. I'd certainly buy more - I've currently got 6 Line 6's up and running and reliability is better than Sennheisers. Build quality is a little less - the plastic a little more fragile, and I have the odd crack in a couple of them caused by over zealous re-batterying by people who just want to give that extra heave!