Seenheiser 112 G3 at DVinfo.net

Joe Thompson · July 14th, 2011, 04:46 PM

Hi All,

Looking to purchase a wireless mic set (Sennheiser EF112 G3).

As the frequency bands are changing towards the end of 2012, can i ask what people are doing with existing setups.

Firstly is UK & Ireland treated same? If I get 863 - 865, just how future proofed am I, and what is the quality like on these frequencies. I understand these are licence free, but just wondering if there is a specific band of model that i should be getting.

Thanks

John Willett · July 15th, 2011, 02:35 AM

Northern Ireland will be the same as Great Britain as it's all part of the UK.

I cannot say about the Republic of Ireland - I don't know.

863-865MHz will remain de-regulated and licence-free all over Europe and is not affected by the frequency changes in this way. However, I am hearing that these frequencies could suffer from high levels of interference when the new owner of the channel 60-69 frequencies starts transmitting.

Joe Thompson · July 15th, 2011, 03:56 AM

Thanks John,

Do you mind me asking what audio setup you have, and how you're handling the transition to channel 38?

I'm concerned about the audio quality on 863 - 865 Mhz & just wondering if it is worth going for channel 38 compatible devices, which I may need to purchase a licence for.

Am i correct in saying that I should stay away from the old frequency range E, and opt for the EW 112 G3 GB (606 - 614)

Thanks,

Joe

John Willett · July 15th, 2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Thompson

Thanks John,

Do you mind me asking what audio setup you have, and how you're handling the transition to channel 38?

I'm concerned about the audio quality on 863 - 865 Mhz & just wondering if it is worth going for channel 38 compatible devices, which I may need to purchase a licence for.

Am i correct in saying that I should stay away from the old frequency range E, and opt for the EW 112 G3 GB (606 - 614)

Thanks,

Joe

Hi Joe,

Although I know lots about radiomics (I used to work for a manufacturer, have sat in on international regulation committees and am on the Executive Committee of the Institute of Broadcast Sound) I don't actually use them much as most of my recording I can do with wired mics.

Yes - G3, version GB is the one for Ch.38 and it wil also do Ch.39, 40, 41 and a bit of 42.

But you will need to check that this is OK south of the border in Eire. You need to pay for a licence in the UK and you will, almost definitely, also require a licence in Eire.

863-865MHz (G3 version E) will remain legal and licence-free, but I am very worried about interference when the new mobile broadband channels get going.

Paul R Johnson · July 15th, 2011, 10:11 AM

The Republic of Ireland is broadly harmonised with the UK, so their current allocations are the same as the UK, and they have also opened up channel 38.
details here
http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/pub...mReg0808R1.pdf

So if you wish to be away from the chaos and potential for interference (not audio quality) buying kit for 38 seem the safest bet. It's also more expensive, but this should mean that Dave Double Decks will continue to buy the cheaper kit and keep out of our way! Sennheiser were not all gloom and doom about what will happen in 70, but had been collecting information on what new occupiers of channel 69 would be doing, and their opinion was clearly that ch 70 cannot be guaranteed to be totally safe. Highish power devices in peoples pockets very near the receivers on channel 70? Telecoms manufacturers have not been too good at retaining decent filtering on their equipment, because it does not impede operation if it is removed for economy reasons, so if they spread a bit into ch 70, I can't see them being too bothered.

John Willett · July 16th, 2011, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul R Johnson

The Republic of Ireland is broadly harmonised with the UK, so their current allocations are the same as the UK, and they have also opened up channel 38.
details here
http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/pub...mReg0808R1.pdf

So if you wish to be away from the chaos and potential for interference (not audio quality) buying kit for 38 seem the safest bet. It's also more expensive, but this should mean that Dave Double Decks will continue to buy the cheaper kit and keep out of our way! Sennheiser were not all gloom and doom about what will happen in 70, but had been collecting information on what new occupiers of channel 69 would be doing, and their opinion was clearly that ch 70 cannot be guaranteed to be totally safe. Highish power devices in peoples pockets very near the receivers on channel 70? Telecoms manufacturers have not been too good at retaining decent filtering on their equipment, because it does not impede operation if it is removed for economy reasons, so if they spread a bit into ch 70, I can't see them being too bothered.

G3 at Ch.38 is exactly the same price as Ch.69 and 70.

It's not more expensive to get Ch.38 gear.

Though the nice thing is with G3 version "GB" is that it is also legal in the USA. Version GB is Channels 38, 39, 40, 41 and some of 42. You can, I think, use 39, 40, 41 and 42 in the US (the frequencies in Ch.38 must not be used in the US as they are radio astronomy frequencies - but the rest are OK).

NB: Channel numbees above refer to the 8MHz PAL/SECAM channels and are different numbers from the 6MHz NTSC channel numbers used in the US.

Joe Thompson · July 16th, 2011, 06:14 AM

Thanks John, paul,

The attachment was exactly what I was after, and section 2.2.2 appears to answer my concerns over licencing and using channel 38 with the Sennheiser EW112 G3 GB

2.2.2 Licence-Exempt Operation
It is also worth noting that there are a large number of radio systems which are exempt from licensing in Ireland. Licence-exempt equipment shares radio spectrum with other radio devices and is restricted to low output power for use over short distances. It is not permitted for licence-exempt equipment to cause interference to other devices. In addition, operators of such equipment are not entitled to claim protection from any interference received.
Examples of short range radio systems used at special events, for which licence-exempt operation is available in specific frequency bands and under specific conditions include:

Wireless microphones and audio systems;
Walkie-talkies (PMR 446);
and Wireless CCTV links.

July 14th, 2011, 04:46 PM	#1
Joe Thompson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Posts: 70	Seenheiser 112 G3 Hi All, Looking to purchase a wireless mic set (Sennheiser EF112 G3). As the frequency bands are changing towards the end of 2012, can i ask what people are doing with existing setups. Firstly is UK & Ireland treated same? If I get 863 - 865, just how future proofed am I, and what is the quality like on these frequencies. I understand these are licence free, but just wondering if there is a specific band of model that i should be getting. Thanks

July 15th, 2011, 02:35 AM	#2
John Willett Major Player Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 976	Re: Seenheiser 112 G3 Northern Ireland will be the same as Great Britain as it's all part of the UK. I cannot say about the Republic of Ireland - I don't know. 863-865MHz will remain de-regulated and licence-free all over Europe and is not affected by the frequency changes in this way. However, I am hearing that these frequencies could suffer from high levels of interference when the new owner of the channel 60-69 frequencies starts transmitting. __________________ John Willett - Sound-Link ProAudio and Circle Sound Services President: Fédération Internationale des Chasseurs de Sons

July 15th, 2011, 03:56 AM	#3
Joe Thompson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Posts: 70	Re: Seenheiser 112 G3 Thanks John, Do you mind me asking what audio setup you have, and how you're handling the transition to channel 38? I'm concerned about the audio quality on 863 - 865 Mhz & just wondering if it is worth going for channel 38 compatible devices, which I may need to purchase a licence for. Am i correct in saying that I should stay away from the old frequency range E, and opt for the EW 112 G3 GB (606 - 614) Thanks, Joe

July 15th, 2011, 10:11 AM	#5
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,045	Re: Seenheiser 112 G3 The Republic of Ireland is broadly harmonised with the UK, so their current allocations are the same as the UK, and they have also opened up channel 38. details here http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/pub...mReg0808R1.pdf So if you wish to be away from the chaos and potential for interference (not audio quality) buying kit for 38 seem the safest bet. It's also more expensive, but this should mean that Dave Double Decks will continue to buy the cheaper kit and keep out of our way! Sennheiser were not all gloom and doom about what will happen in 70, but had been collecting information on what new occupiers of channel 69 would be doing, and their opinion was clearly that ch 70 cannot be guaranteed to be totally safe. Highish power devices in peoples pockets very near the receivers on channel 70? Telecoms manufacturers have not been too good at retaining decent filtering on their equipment, because it does not impede operation if it is removed for economy reasons, so if they spread a bit into ch 70, I can't see them being too bothered.

July 16th, 2011, 06:14 AM	#7
Joe Thompson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ireland Posts: 70	Re: Seenheiser 112 G3 Thanks John, paul, The attachment was exactly what I was after, and section 2.2.2 appears to answer my concerns over licencing and using channel 38 with the Sennheiser EW112 G3 GB 2.2.2 Licence-Exempt Operation It is also worth noting that there are a large number of radio systems which are exempt from licensing in Ireland. Licence-exempt equipment shares radio spectrum with other radio devices and is restricted to low output power for use over short distances. It is not permitted for licence-exempt equipment to cause interference to other devices. In addition, operators of such equipment are not entitled to claim protection from any interference received. Examples of short range radio systems used at special events, for which licence-exempt operation is available in specific frequency bands and under specific conditions include: Wireless microphones and audio systems; Walkie-talkies (PMR 446); and Wireless CCTV links.