What frequency block for wireless...? at DVinfo.net

Peer Landa · November 19th, 2009, 11:29 PM

I'm about to lash out some serious dough on a lav setup and wonder what frequency block I should pick. Is there an "interference" chart, or something, for my area? I'm in San Francisco Bay Area. Any help appreciated.

-- peer

Bruce Taylor · November 20th, 2009, 12:51 AM

Find Available Frequencies

Interpreting results:
-----------------------
green blocks =
Channel is vacant and is recommended to be considered for the operation of your wireless microphone.

yellow blocks =
Channel is either vacant with strong transmitters on an adjacent channel or occupied by a transmitter generating weak signal strength at the point of interest. Operation of wireless systems should be possible.

white =
Channel is occupied by either analog or digital TV broadcast station. Likely to cause interference with the operation of wireless systems.

Though I don't know how up-to-date this is, to be honest. 'Cause I thought the 698MHz - 806MHz band was made illegal for wireless mics in the USA, yet some results I get give GREEN in that range (presumably because they are not used by a TV station in a particular state).

Most wireless mics selling in the USA now:
566 to 590 MHz
638 to 662 MHz
from Sony.

Sennheiser have similar ranges. None are in the 700ish-800ish range (illegal now in USA).

Peer Landa · November 20th, 2009, 12:59 AM

Bruce...
..thank you so much -- that was exactly what I was looking for!

-- peer

Bruce Taylor · November 20th, 2009, 01:05 AM

My pleasure.
(I have been researching this like mad for the past week)

John Willett · November 20th, 2009, 01:38 AM

The Sennheiser G3 frequency versions used in the USA are A, B and G (G is between A and B).

Garrett Low · November 20th, 2009, 02:42 AM

Peer,

I just got the EW100 G3 in the G block and have had no problems so far. I'm in the SF Bay Area and have used it from Marin to South SF.

Garrett

Peer Landa · November 20th, 2009, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett Low

Peer, I just got the EW100 G3 in the G block and have had no problems so far. I'm in the SF Bay Area and have used it from Marin to South SF.

So what's the MHz for our G block?

-- peer

Garrett Low · November 20th, 2009, 03:09 AM

Freq: 566-608 Mhz

Garrett

Peer Landa · November 20th, 2009, 10:45 AM

Bummer. My plan was to also use this lav setup back in Norway (block-31 800-820 MHz), and, as Bruce pointed out, since this 31-block is also vacant here in northern California, I wonder if it's perhaps possible to have, for example a Sennheiser unit set/modified for this block (their new G3 model has a frequency range of 516-865 MHz).

-- peer

Nathan Moody · November 20th, 2009, 10:46 AM

My Lectro 400 series are super-happy on Block 21 in Marin and SF counties! RAMPS posts also report lots of free space on blocks 20 and 25.

Mark Boyer · November 20th, 2009, 10:59 AM

Go to the lectrosonics page and do a frequency lookup for your area (in Seattle block 25 is what I use).

Lectrosonics-Switch Settings versus Frequency Charts

Lectrosonics | TV Station Lookup

John Willett · November 20th, 2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peer Landa

Bummer. My plan was to also use this lav setup back in Norway (block-31 800-820 MHz), and, as Bruce pointed out, since this 31-block is also vacant here in northern California, I wonder if it's perhaps possible to have, for example a Sennheiser unit set/modified for this block (their new G3 model has a frequency range of 516-865 MHz).

Be careful - in Europe the 800MHz block is all about to be sold off to the mobile phone companies for wireless broadband and I think you will find that all frequencies from the late 700MHz area, all the way up to 862MHz will be totally unusable after 2012.

The licence-free frequencies (863-865Hz) will continue to be legal all over Europe beyond this date as these are by international (ETSI) agreement.

I think you will find that there is no safe frequency that is the same in Europe and the Americas.

Nate Haustein · April 21st, 2013, 09:48 AM

About to take a trip to Norway for some shooting. Can anyone help me out with the frequencies I need to use? Or even better, a good contact that I can acquire a set from for around a month?

Robert Benda · April 21st, 2013, 11:38 AM

Whatever ends up being right for you, the best option is a microphone/receiver that has selectable channels. Apart from any frequencies that always have interference in your area, the last thing you need is to go somewhere for a ceremony, and find out they use the same microphone channel. Mine are selectable 1-9 on a Shure mic. If I get noise on one channel, I just switch to another. Some mics do this automatically.

Paul R Johnson · April 21st, 2013, 11:45 AM

Robert - that's not what they're talking about. You are talking about selecting the channels from the range your unit covers, they are talking about the different version available - nobody yet makes one that covers all, so if you take a working unit from one location to another, where that band is occupied by higher power devices, you may not have an empty channel to use that is free - plus, the licensing authority in the area/country may not appreciate you working out of band. As an example, the UK now have a different allocation to the rest of europe, so touring from the UK to mainland Europe is not simple any longer.

November 19th, 2009, 11:29 PM	#1
Peer Landa Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwegian lost in California Posts: 890	What frequency block for wireless...? I'm about to lash out some serious dough on a lav setup and wonder what frequency block I should pick. Is there an "interference" chart, or something, for my area? I'm in San Francisco Bay Area. Any help appreciated. -- peer __________________ www.NoPEER.com

November 20th, 2009, 12:59 AM	#3
Peer Landa Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwegian lost in California Posts: 890	Bruce... ..thank you so much -- that was exactly what I was looking for! -- peer __________________ www.NoPEER.com

November 20th, 2009, 01:38 AM	#5
John Willett Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 976	The Sennheiser G3 frequency versions used in the USA are A, B and G (G is between A and B). __________________ John Willett - Sound-Link ProAudio and Circle Sound Services President: Fédération Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

November 20th, 2009, 10:45 AM	#9
Peer Landa Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwegian lost in California Posts: 890	Bummer. My plan was to also use this lav setup back in Norway (block-31 800-820 MHz), and, as Bruce pointed out, since this 31-block is also vacant here in northern California, I wonder if it's perhaps possible to have, for example a Sennheiser unit set/modified for this block (their new G3 model has a frequency range of 516-865 MHz). -- peer __________________ www.NoPEER.com

November 20th, 2009, 10:46 AM	#10
Nathan Moody Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF Bay Area, CA, USA Posts: 78	My Lectro 400 series are super-happy on Block 21 in Marin and SF counties! RAMPS posts also report lots of free space on blocks 20 and 25. __________________ designer of media for eyes and ears sound design and field recording at http://www.noisejockey.net/blog

November 20th, 2009, 12:51 AM	#2
Bruce Taylor New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24	Find Available Frequencies Interpreting results: ----------------------- green blocks = Channel is vacant and is recommended to be considered for the operation of your wireless microphone. yellow blocks = Channel is either vacant with strong transmitters on an adjacent channel or occupied by a transmitter generating weak signal strength at the point of interest. Operation of wireless systems should be possible. white = Channel is occupied by either analog or digital TV broadcast station. Likely to cause interference with the operation of wireless systems. Though I don't know how up-to-date this is, to be honest. 'Cause I thought the 698MHz - 806MHz band was made illegal for wireless mics in the USA, yet some results I get give GREEN in that range (presumably because they are not used by a TV station in a particular state). Most wireless mics selling in the USA now: 566 to 590 MHz 638 to 662 MHz from Sony. Sennheiser have similar ranges. None are in the 700ish-800ish range (illegal now in USA).

November 20th, 2009, 01:05 AM	#4
Bruce Taylor New Boot Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24	My pleasure. (I have been researching this like mad for the past week)

November 20th, 2009, 02:42 AM	#6
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Peer, I just got the EW100 G3 in the G block and have had no problems so far. I'm in the SF Bay Area and have used it from Marin to South SF. Garrett

November 20th, 2009, 03:09 AM	#8
Garrett Low Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Novato, CA Posts: 1,774	Freq: 566-608 Mhz Garrett

November 20th, 2009, 10:59 AM	#11
Mark Boyer Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bothell Washington Posts: 174	Freq Block look up Go to the lectrosonics page and do a frequency lookup for your area (in Seattle block 25 is what I use). Lectrosonics-Switch Settings versus Frequency Charts Lectrosonics \| TV Station Lookup

April 21st, 2013, 09:48 AM	#13
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Re: What frequency block for wireless...? About to take a trip to Norway for some shooting. Can anyone help me out with the frequencies I need to use? Or even better, a good contact that I can acquire a set from for around a month? __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

April 21st, 2013, 11:38 AM	#14
Robert Benda Trustee Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Crookston, MN Posts: 1,353	Re: What frequency block for wireless...? Whatever ends up being right for you, the best option is a microphone/receiver that has selectable channels. Apart from any frequencies that always have interference in your area, the last thing you need is to go somewhere for a ceremony, and find out they use the same microphone channel. Mine are selectable 1-9 on a Shure mic. If I get noise on one channel, I just switch to another. Some mics do this automatically.

April 21st, 2013, 11:45 AM	#15
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,046	Re: What frequency block for wireless...? Robert - that's not what they're talking about. You are talking about selecting the channels from the range your unit covers, they are talking about the different version available - nobody yet makes one that covers all, so if you take a working unit from one location to another, where that band is occupied by higher power devices, you may not have an empty channel to use that is free - plus, the licensing authority in the area/country may not appreciate you working out of band. As an example, the UK now have a different allocation to the rest of europe, so touring from the UK to mainland Europe is not simple any longer.