Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???

Subject: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 30 Jun 17 - 11:34 PM

Recently noticed high quality pro radio mic kits being knocked down cheap on internet music shops...

Anyone know if the radio frequencies are due to change in the foreseeable future and that's the reason why,
thus rendering them useless and a waste of money...???

cheers...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 01 Jul 17 - 11:17 AM

..any gigging UK musicians, and music tech geeks left at mudcat these days...???

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: GUEST,Lou
Date: 02 Jul 17 - 10:35 AM

The 600 MHz band has been sold at a profit by the FCC to cell phone type companies. So 700 MHZ has been illegal for mics for a few years, and in 2018 600MHz will also be illegal. This is in the USA, home of commercialism in government. There's more to the story but it is too depressing to go into. As a pro engineer I have four sets of WL mics, all fortunately in the 500 band...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 02 Jul 17 - 12:08 PM

Sorry, hit return on an iPad and it posts!

So the US market could be offloading its stock? The only times I've used radio mics in anger, we've hired them so the problem has been someone else's.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Jul 17 - 12:39 PM

Some advice on frequencies here.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: John J
Date: 03 Jul 17 - 10:36 AM

Worth contacting Bernard - I'll send him a link to this, he may be able to advise - He knows about this sort of stuff.

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 03 Jul 17 - 11:54 AM

If anyone is interested, these mics are the main reason I started this thread...

I'll pass despite my addiction to bargain gear buying,
I'm not a singer and our band hasn't gigged for over a year.................

There are also lesser quality radio mics being discounted in various places...


AKG digital wireless vocal mic & receiver set

http://www.gear4music.com/PA-DJ-and-Lighting/AKG-DMSTetrad-P5-Wireless-Vocal-Microphone-Set-v2/2025

Supposedly £550ish retail knocked down to £99...

As always, if interested google for user reviews...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 05:05 AM

The problem is the 2.4GHz frequencies, which are not true radio mic frequencies. I doubt that, even now, they would would perform reliably given the growth in use of WiFi equipment.

Channel 38 is the official dedicated radio mic range which is not changing in the forseeable future. Channel 69 was sold for 4G, and many channel 69 radio systems are able to use the deregulated part of channel 70 (all my Sennheisers, for example), and there are no plans for that to change. People who continued using their channel 69 equipment are now finding they are subject to a lot of clicking and popping from mobile phones!

Here is some relevant information, and 2.4 information...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stagrnard.e Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 06:15 AM

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 06:32 AM

cheers Bernard..

That's precisely the level of knowledge and advice I was looking for but couldn't find on google...

Best for folks to avoid these digital radio mics then...

A lengthy phone call to the shop asking for honest disclosure, resulted in mostly
"I don't know about any of that. I'm sure they'll be ok... we've got loads of 'em at this bargain price off AKG discontinued stock warehouse clearout..."


Can you also please check these out for potential problems..

http://www.jhs.co.uk/products/pro-audio/lewitt-microphones/lewitt-lts-wireless-series/lewitt-dual-wireless-system-dynamic-mics


Supposedly over 300 quid, I do admit to already picking up a set of the D dynamic mic option for £75 off an internet shop.
[so far still shrink wrapped box in case they should be returned for refund].

At 75 quid I thought they might be a gift I could donate to some mate's project,
or just keep in the tool box for whenever handy.

But if you can give an OK or not, to keep or send 'em back...???

thanks again...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 06:53 AM

Lewitt are gaining a serious reputation for quality mics, I believe they are headed by a former top AKG techie..

Hopefully this info from a UK shop is correct:

Lewitt LTS 240 Specifications

Transmitters

Transmission principle - UHF, FM, diversity
Directional pattern - cardioid
Available channels - 4 selectable channels
RF carrier frequency ranges - 863 - 865 MHz
Modulation - FM (25 kHz max. deviation), compander system with pre- and de-emphasis
Audio bandwidth - 70 ... 18,000 Hz
THD - < 0.5% typical
Signal / noise ratio - > 85 dB-A typical
RF radiation - 10 mW
Battery life - 2 pcs AA size dry batteries, 10 hours typ.
Dimensions - 50 dia. X 262 mm, 1.96 dia. X 10.3 inch
Net weight - 258 g, 9.1 oz.
Receiver

Audio outputs - balanced 3-pin XLR, unbalanced TS 1/4" jack
Gain adjustment range - 0 - 6 dB
Squelch - yes
Dimensions - 160 x 115 x 30 mm, 6.3 x 4.5 x 1.2 inch
Net weight - 540 g, 19 o

Here's a manual - though not sure how informative...

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/880910/Lewitt-Lts-240-Dual-CPlusd.html?page=8#manual

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 07:09 AM

.. and recent disclosures about mega Hollywood actors at work on movie sets...

.. wearing in ear radio monitors, linked to personal assistants reading out the script line by line
as the scenes are filmed...

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 07:10 AM

- oops wrong thread .. mods please delete

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 01:17 PM

"RF carrier frequency ranges - 863 - 865 MHz"

This is the de-regulated part of channel 70 set aside specifically for radio mic use, and is unlikely to be sold off in the forseeable future.

It is possible to use six systems within that range, but they may be susceptible to inter-frequency interference problems, so the recommended spread of four frequencies is advised.

De-reg frequencies channel 70 - 863.000 to 865.000

Recommended spacing:

863.100 MHz
863.500 MHz
864.300 MHz
864.900 MHz

Six channel function:

863.100 MHz
863.400 MHz
863.750 MHz
864.225 MHz
864.550 MHz
864.975 MHz

Subject: RE: Tech: Wireless radio stage Mics - UK ???
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Jul 17 - 03:47 PM

cheers again Bernard.. that's looking optimistic..

over the last year there'e been some great bargains on Lewitt mics as older [ 2 or 3 years] discontinued models got cleared out..

But I noticed they no longer seem to be marketing any radio mics at all,
anywhere in the world, this year.
Nothing on their web site.. which made me even more concered there might be problems...???

Still 2 good brand new boxed mics and a receiver knocked down to 75 quid is a fair gamble..

Even if only for social club raffles and bingo...