I have recently purchased a Sennheiser G3 Evolution wireless transmitter and receiver to use at weddings. I am having issues with audio just stopping and starting for no particular reason. Everything appears to be connected properly and in parts the audio is perfect but then just cuts for example in the middle of a song. It restarts as abruptly as it cuts out and does this at frequent intervals. Has anyone else experienced this or does it sound like a problem with the equipment? I apologise for the basic language, I am pretty new to wireless audio!

Abrupt interuptions sound like a broken cable somewhere....mike to transmitter, receiver to camera; or a loose or bad audio connector. Dirty or corroded battery terminals are a possibility. Of course, there could be something wrong with the electronics, but the Sennys are pretty rugged, in my experience.

Of course............

It could be you've got the squelch control wound up too high, and it's muting the signal as the signal strength changes with movement.

Try backing it off a bit, then a bit more to see if that eliminates the problem.


CS

About how long of a distance is between the transmitter and receiver when this behavior happens? Can we assume the transmitter and receiver are in the same room (line-of-sight) and not separated by walls or other solid obstacles? Have you scanned for 'clear' channels or tried other frequencies? (Banks/Channels)

Thanks for the replies. It happens even when the transmitter and receiver are only 5m apart and there is no obstructions. I'll check the squelch setting as it is possible I have accidentally changed this. I'll let you know how I get on! Thanks again :)

I have just checked the receiver unit and Squelch was set to high so I am hoping that this was the issue!! Thank you, I will make sure I never accidentally change it again.......

I have just checked the receiver unit and Squelch was set to high so I am hoping that this was the issue!! Thank you, I will make sure I never accidentally change it again.......

Sounds like this was the problem; the squelch should really be set to "low" for normal use.

If the transmitter is body-worn and the antenna is touching the body, you can be attenuating the signal by as much as 70dB; so try and get the antenna about 1cm away from the body if you can.

It's also wise to spend some time learning how to Scan for available frequencies on the receiver, and then to Sync the found frequency from the receiver to the transmitter. You should be Scanning and Syncing every time before you use the wireless system, especially when you move to a new location. Traffic in the airwaves can cause dropouts, even with proper Squelch settings. You can avoid the traffic by Scanning and changing frequencies, and ultimately avoid wireless problems that can potentially ruin your shoots.

Thanks Sam I'll look into this for my next wedding.

Many people new to radio systems automatically assume that once set up, they don't need any specific skill to use. Nothing could be further from the truth. When I was teaching at a college, the way we did it was to turn the squelch off, or to the easiest to open setting and then using good quality headphones monitor what the receiver can hear, and then get a person to walk away from you, so you can listen to what the system produces. Watch very carefully and note the strange things you hear - if they simply walk away in a straight line the signal holds up then noise starts to increase, eventually the signal either cutting out or becoming 100% noise, depending on how your squelch system works. Then try it again, and then before you get to the limit, get the person to slowly spin around, so you can see and hear the effect the body absorption has on the RF signal. If you have another system available, then get the person near to the maximum distance, then turn the other on close to the receiver and hear what happens. Then just for the worst case, tune the new transmitter to a frequency close to the original and listen for the weird products this causes. All these frequency and distance artefacts sound different, and with practice you can hear them coming and even take steps to maintain the integrity of the signal. Even the place you are causes weird problems - inside in steel framed or clad buildings, even when the receiver and transmitters are close, strange deadspots can appear, so getting your ears 'tuned' is great practice. It doesn't always cure problems, but sometimes at least prepares you for the problem before it becomes a real issue!

Bev, I have the G3 system but I very seldom use it as I prefer to place multiple Z1's. You're welcome to borrow it to compare if you think your own unit may be faulty. We're a few miles apart but if you're shooting in this area or want to use RM Special Delivery (insured to £500) which I think is about £10 each way let me know.

Pete

p.s. members, Bev has been around a long time in Stills so I know she's safe!

It's also wise to spend some time learning how to Scan for available frequencies on the receiver, and then to Sync the found frequency from the receiver to the transmitter. You should be Scanning and Syncing every time before you use the wireless system, especially when you move to a new location. Traffic in the airwaves can cause dropouts, even with proper Squelch settings. You can avoid the traffic by Scanning and changing frequencies, and ultimately avoid wireless problems that can potentially ruin your shoots.

Thanks Sam I'll look into this for my next wedding.

Be very wary about doing this.

You are in the UK and you cannot use any frequency willy-nilly.

Do you have a transmission licence?

If not you can ONLY use the four pre-set frequencies between 863 and 865 MHz and no other frequency at all.

The penalties for using illegal frequencies can be a fine of up to £10,000, 5 years in prison and/or confiscation of all equipment (not just the radio stuff, they can take all the camera stuff as well).

If you have a mobile licence you can use the Ch.69 frequencies (854 to 862 MHz) up until the end of next year - after this they will become totally illegal.

Legal frequencies for professional licensed use have shifted to Sennheiser G3 version "GB" frequencies in Ch.38.

Be very careful about taking frequency advise from people outside your country as they will unlikely be aware of particular local licensing laws - some countries have far more lax laws than others and you do need to be aware of the regulations in the country of use.

Thanks Peter that is really kind but I already have a h4n so I know how good they are - it saved my bacon this week! I may look tat getting an h1n as an extra back up but the Senny is so good when it works!

John I have a license for Ch 38 606.500-613.500 and 39, 40 614.500-621.500 and 622.500-629.500 and 14 frequencies on channel 69. I have to admit I tend to leave it on 606.500 as that is the first one that comes up and interference has never been a problem (yet!)

Yes Bev the H1's are a good insurance. I have the H4n as well but its a big brute compared to the H1. The H1's are so small and light that they can e.g. be slipped into flower arrangements on ceremony tables in seconds and just left to themselves :-) And they can easily slip into pockets with lavs attached. Also much less noticeable when clamped to lecturns or placed on wedding breakfast tables.

Where I've recorded the same speaker on both devices I actually prefer the sound of the H1's over the H4n's

A well respected member of this forum posted on another forum that all mobile phones need to be switched off within 100 metres of wireless gear to avoid the risk of interference. Try doing that at a wedding eh!

Pete

Thanks Peter that is really kind but I already have a h4n so I know how good they are - it saved my bacon this week! I may look tat getting an h1n as an extra back up but the Senny is so good when it works!

John I have a license for Ch 38 606.500-613.500 and 39, 40 614.500-621.500 and 622.500-629.500 and 14 frequencies on channel 69. I have to admit I tend to leave it on 606.500 as that is the first one that comes up and interference has never been a problem (yet!)

Great!

You have the right kit then.

It looks as if the drop-outs were the squelch set too high.

But you MUST BY LAW - check the JFMG website before switching on as there are very large exclusion zones where Ch.38 is not permitted. For instance there is a 100 mile exclusion zone centred on Jodrell Bank and several others around the country - this is to protect Radio Astronomy and radar stations that use Ch.38 (so your drop-outs may have been caused by radar if you tried to use Ch.38 in one of the exclusion zones). The look-up table on the JFMG website will tell you if you can use Ch.38 where you are. If you are in an exclusion zone it will tell you if you can use Ch.39 or Ch.40 instead (and your G3 system also contains all these frequencies). Your licence covers you for these extra frequencies, but you MUST look and check before use.

NB: this is for this year (2011) only. From 2012 the exclusion zones will go and you will be able to use Ch.38 freely all over the country.

From next year Jodrell Bank will stop Ch.38 Radio Astronomy (this will be taken up by other radio telescopes elsewhere in Europe) and the radar stations using Ch.38 will stop at the end of the year.

A well respected member of this forum posted on another forum that all mobile phones need to be switched off within 100 metres of wireless gear to avoid the risk of interference. Try doing that at a wedding eh!



Yes - mobiles, especially Blackberrys, should be switched OFF (IE: not just set to silent) as they can radiate a lot of interference.

A mobile phone can ramp up to 2 or 3 Watts in power - your radiomic. transmitter is only radiating about 30mW (ie: thirty thousandths of a Watt)!

But as the family are paying lots of money to get the wedding videoed, someone from the family politely asking guests to switch off their mobiles to as not to ruin the bride and grooms wedding video would surely be listened to.

Hi John

I always put in the postcode of the venue before I go and it has always returned as Channel 38 being available. I imagine if it is in an exclusion area it would show as unavailable?

Thanks
Bev

Hi John

I always put in the postcode of the venue before I go and it has always returned as Channel 38 being available. I imagine if it is in an exclusion area it would show as unavailable?

Thanks
Bev

Looks like you have done everything correctly - great!

So it's almost certain your problem was the squelch setting.

I hope it doesn't happen again.

But as the family are paying lots of money to get the wedding videoed, someone from the family politely asking guests to switch off their mobiles to as not to ruin the bride and grooms wedding video would surely be listened to.

Not gonna happen John. The use of camera phones is now so widespread that many guests would consider it an affront. Most officiants here now just limit themselves to requesting that phones are switched to silent as they know full well the phones will be used throughout the ceremony regardless of any announcements they might make requesting no photography by guests.

There has been a retreat in good manners in recent years and its all some guests can do to get themselves to arrive on time :-( Therein is another issue - late guests walking through your shot or standing directly in front of a locked down camera.

My G3 is gathering dust for reasons already mentioned. I had imagined that it would be more straightforward to use "free" frequencies than in fact it is. What is the ball park figure for licensing fees? Thanks.

Pete

Yes - mobiles, especially Blackberrys, should be switched OFF (IE: not just set to silent) as they can radiate a lot of interference.

John, I've been working on the assumption that Airplane Mode (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1355) in the iPhone is safe for use near wireless mics. I have found it so at any rate - never heard any interference when using it - but I believe there is not an equivalent setting on Blackberries.

But as the family are paying lots of money to get the wedding videoed, someone from the family politely asking guests to switch off their mobiles to as not to ruin the bride and grooms wedding video would surely be listened to.

Not gonna happen John. The use of camera phones is now so widespread that many guests would consider it an affront. Most officiants here now just limit themselves to requesting that phones are switched to silent as they know full well the phones will be used throughout the ceremony regardless of any announcements they might make requesting no photography by guests.

There has been a retreat in good manners in recent years and its all some guests can do to get themselves to arrive on time :-( Therein is another issue - late guests walking through your shot or standing directly in front of a locked down camera.

At least the family will know that the problems are caused by the rude guests, then.



My G3 is gathering dust for reasons already mentioned. I had imagined that it would be more straightforward to use "free" frequencies than in fact it is. What is the ball park figure for licensing fees? Thanks.

If you have the G3 version E with the licence-free frequencies you can get a Ch.69 licence for a year, but these frequencies will become illegal after the end of next year and you will only be able to use the licence-free frequebcies after that.

The new licensed version is version GB with the new Ch.38 frequencies.



John, I've been working on the assumption that Airplane Mode (http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1355) in the iPhone is safe for use near wireless mics. I have found it so at any rate - never heard any interference when using it - but I believe there is not an equivalent setting on Blackberries.

Airplane mode totally switches off the transmitter, so that would be OK - as long as the phone mode is totally OFF and not just silent.

Peter I paid £75 for the License. I am definitely going to get a H1 to see how it goes. Do you find you get much drift with it? The G3s are spot on as is the H4n but I have been reading about drift in some of the others.

Bev, I'm not getting drift but I'm not continuously recording for long enough periods for it to likely present a problem anyway. The longest would be about 1 hour being a church ceremony - from say 10 mins before the processional till shorty after the recessional when I can dive back in to the building switch off remotely placed recorders. I have notes somewhere on how to easily correct it in Vegas Pro but not sure where as it hasn't arisen :-) Maybe it would be more of a potential problem at corporate gigs where the recording may be continuous for 2 or 3 hours. I use Plural Eyes to sync up long audio clips with multiple shorter video clips.

As you know there is a lot of nonsense posted on the net about performance of many devices anyway. For example the battery life of the Zooms. If you just test one with fresh batteries recording a television at say 48/16 WAV you find it goes on for so many hours as to be irrelevant.

Pete

Sorry, one more question! What size cards do you use in the H1?

I use Lexar microSD class 4, 8 gig cards which I got from 7dayshop:

7dayshop.com - Online Store (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?&products_id=106974)

I bought Lexar for reliability and via 7day so as to be sure of not getting fakes, and this particular type as you get an adapter as well enabling you to use a standard card reader. I also use them in the H4n using the card adapter.

Class 4 is fine for the job. I got 8gb to be sure of never having to change these fiddly micro cards during a job.

The H1 card doors are flimsy so I have permanently sealed mine using the fluffy side of sticky velcro. I download direct from the H1's.

Pete

Thanks Pete!

I use Lexar microSD class 4, 8 gig cards which I got from 7dayshop:

7dayshop.com - Online Store (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?&products_id=106974)

I bought Lexar for reliability and via 7day so as to be sure of not getting fakes, and this particular type as you get an adapter as well enabling you to use a standard card reader. I also use them in the H4n using the card adapter.

Class 4 is fine for the job. I got 8gb to be sure of never having to change these fiddly micro cards during a job.

The H1 card doors are flimsy so I have permanently sealed mine using the fluffy side of sticky velcro. I download direct from the H1's.

Pete

I agree about buying from a known source as there are plenty of fakes around.

However - I always use SanDisk cards as the No.1 in quality and reliability.