Sennheiser EW100 problems. I am taking on intermittent audio hits with this mic. They are loud instant spikes that clip. They do it at any location and on any frequency. It used to be rare but is now so common I can’t use the mic. It happens with the HH transmitter and the lav.

This mic is also the only lav I have ever used that generates very loud white noise (for lack of a better term) if you shut down the transmitter while the receiver is on. In the sample clip the hits are on the front half. Then I recorded the noise when you turn off the transmitter. I included that because the noise is similar to the hits if they were constant. I generated the the audio hits myself by walking away from the receiver until they started, but they are exactly the same thing it does when well within normal range.

Is this mic toast or does anyone have a suggestion for me? It has been a good mic. I would love to salvage it.

Be careful with the sample, it is at a clipped volume.

Steve

Hello Steve,

Which Sennheiser to you own? A, B or C. What is the operating frequency you're using? Is this happening in Phoenix?

Regards,

Ty Ford

Hello Ty,

"A"

It happens in Phoenix and other citys. I am currently on 653.475 That was a problematic frequency last week here in Phoenix. Even though I have used it many other times without issue.

Steve

KDPH LD is under that and KDPH LP is over it, but sounds like someone else is on that freq.

If the receiver will do a scan, let it and find a new frequency,

Regards,

Ty Ford

Sennheiser EW100 problems. I am taking on intermittent audio hits with this mic. They are loud instant spikes that clip. They do it at any location and on any frequency. It used to be rare but is now so common I can’t use the mic. It happens with the HH transmitter and the lav.

This mic is also the only lav I have ever used that generates very loud white noise (for lack of a better term) if you shut down the transmitter while the receiver is on. In the sample clip the hits are on the front half. Then I recorded the noise when you turn off the transmitter. I included that because the noise is similar to the hits if they were constant. I generated the the audio hits myself by walking away from the receiver until they started, but they are exactly the same thing it does when well within normal range.

Is this mic toast or does anyone have a suggestion for me? It has been a good mic. I would love to salvage it.

Be careful with the sample, it is at a clipped volume.

Steve

You have not set the squelch, it's turned off.

The "white noise" when you turn the transmitter off is normal on any radiomic. where the squelch is switched off. So go into the squelch control on the receiver and set it to "LOW" and this should cure the problem.

The loud spikes could be that you have not screwed the mic. in properly, or that the cable has been strained and is partially broken.

So - plug it all up and to a test - listen to what happens when you move the mic. cable. If you get these spikes when you move the cable it's an indication that the cable is broken. If you suspect that it's by the connector, you could cut it off and put on a new one.

This sort of problem is common where people just wrap the mic. cable round the transmitter when they take it off - if you do this use a couple of fingers on the transmitter when you do the first loop so that you leave a loop from the connector and don't pull it tight so that it will break.

I hope this helps.

John

John,

Thank you. I had always figured the factory setting of “0db” was the lowest setting for the squelch, there are no –db settings. Apparently 0db is off, the next setting up is 05db and the noise instantly went away. I have been using radio mics of all types for fifteen years. On one hand I displayed ignorance and on the other that goes to show the things you can learn here. Thank you.

The “hits” I am taking are not from a bad mic wire. They also occur when I am using the hand held transmitter. Here is another dumb thought. The noise from the squelch not being suppressed was so loud and powerful is it possible that it could be bleeding through, causing the “hits”? It sounds the same? I know it is more likely to be interference but I know little about the actual circuitry inside the mic.

All input will be appreciated.

Steve

Steve is this the later model Ew100? Is the lighting green or amber?
AL

Which exact model transmitter & receiver do you have. G2, G3 or other? EM or the EK portable receiver
You state your set to 653.475? Sennheiser 100 series frequency Block A in the G2 goes from 518>554MHz. G3 from 516>558MHz

I think it is amber but I will have to check. The Lav transmitter is SK 100, the body pack is EK 100, the HH plug is SKP 100 - does that help? I'm guessing I bought it about 8 years ago. They are not the newer G model.

Steve

My range is 630 to 662 Mhz - Group "A' is off my old memory?

My range is 630 to 662 Mhz - Group "A' is off my old memory?

It's a version B - the G3 version B is 626-668MHz.

A is 516-558MHz

I would guess yours is a G2

John,

Thank you. I had always figured the factory setting of “0db” was the lowest setting for the squelch, there are no –db settings. Apparently 0db is off, the next setting up is 05db and the noise instantly went away. I have been using radio mics of all types for fifteen years. On one hand I displayed ignorance and on the other that goes to show the things you can learn here. Thank you.

The “hits” I am taking are not from a bad mic wire. They also occur when I am using the hand held transmitter. Here is another dumb thought. The noise from the squelch not being suppressed was so loud and powerful is it possible that it could be bleeding through, causing the “hits”? It sounds the same? I know it is more likely to be interference but I know little about the actual circuitry inside the mic.

All input will be appreciated.

Steve

OK - 1st problem sorted.

If the second problem happens with both transmitters, it's either external interference or a damaged output cable.

Do the same tests as I suggest with the mic. cable to the receiver output cable and see if you get the noises when you play with the cable at each end.

If it happens it could be a broken output cable.

If not, it's likely to be external interference from somewhere.

I would think a G2 also.
As I recall the squelch adi.s are Low-Med-High. Try setting it to Low, with the transmitter off, if you see RF reception you'll need to find an open frequency. Try the receiver's 'Scan' function. You may have to try alternate banks and re-scan if your area is very congested.
BTW, You can't use two transmitters at the same time on the same frequency with one receiver .. If you need more than one transmitter you will need another transmitter/receiver system set to a different frequency.

If the receiver will do a scan, let it and find a new frequency

I had the same exact issue with my G2 system. Once I figured out that receiver can scan for open frequencies I did so and the problem disappeared.

Just remember to set the transmitter(s) to the same channel!

Hey Guys,

The output cable checks out just fine.

It is not a G2. It must be older than that. The original manual is archived in a storage unit. I went to the seni site for a PDF ad G2 seems to be the oldest they have archived.

This thing clearly says EW100 on it. It is an older body style than the G series. There is no big LCD screen on the front of it. Just a VERY small screen on the side of it. Super heavy metal construction. Battery slides in the side of it.

It does not scan. I have been changing mic frequencies manually before they would scan. I usually work with Shure or Sonys though.

Squelch settings are not low, med, high. They start at 0db and go up.

This is the ENG receiver kit.

Steve

I just went through 3 pages of google images and did not see this style. Maybe I bought it more than eight years ago? But it is a good mic until it started taking hits.

Steve

I have access to a system that sounds identical to this one and I found the same problem. There were very short "pops" of noise that happened primarily in certain spots in the room. Unfortunately, these short blasts of energy are not acceptable going over live PA so I abandoned the system. Did your earlier post mean that there is a squelch setting and that you fixed the issue? I may have to get it out of storage and try it out again as it is the only system I have access to that has a capsule mic.

Hey Guys,

The output cable checks out just fine.

It is not a G2. It must be older than that. The original manual is archived in a storage unit. I went to the seni site for a PDF ad G2 seems to be the oldest they have archived.

This thing clearly says EW100 on it. It is an older body style than the G series. There is no big LCD screen on the front of it. Just a VERY small screen on the side of it. Super heavy metal construction. Battery slides in the side of it.

It does not scan. I have been changing mic frequencies manually before they would scan. I usually work with Shure or Sonys though.

Squelch settings are not low, med, high. They start at 0db and go up.

This is the ENG receiver kit.

Steve

Does it take a PP3 9V battery?

In which case it would be a G1.

But the G1 only had a 24MHz frequency window and the frequencies you mentioned are wider than this.

The G1 had a screw-on antenna, so it could be a loose or broken antenna causing the crackling as well as a possible external interference problem.

Make sure the antenna is screwed down properly and wiggle it a bit to check that the antenna is not broken internally. If it makes the "crack" when you move the antenna, then a replacement antenna should cue it.

Otherwise try a different frequency.

The old evolution wireless G1 manual *is* on the Sennheiser website - it's HERE (http://94.100.244.130/sennheiser/old_manual.nsf/resources/ew100.pdf/$File/ew100.pdf) (it's a 7.5MB PDF).

I hope this helps.

nice spelunking work John!

Have a great day,

Ty Ford

Takes standard 9v.

Screw on antenna checks out fine.

Marcus, see OP, squelch fixed second problem. I'm not sure if it had an effect on the first yet or not. Stay tuned.

So....in fifteen years of using Shure and Sony wireless mics (for live reinforcement & video produc) I have never heard a mic do exactly this. Now there are several other Sennheiser users jumping up here and saying "I had the same problem."

I keep thinking about how I can replicate the pops by walking out of the transmitters range. That can cause noise before the signal goes away but not usually violent hits. I am going to try that again today now that I have the squelch under control.

Steve

Hate to ask, but you are using fresh batteries in both units, yes?

Yes. But it is really hard to get 6 AA batterys in it for 9 volts because the hole is square!

Yes. But it is really hard to get 6 AA batterys in it for 9 volts because the hole is square!

Hmmmm ... is there perhaps a battery holder that has gone missing, leading to an intermittent battery connection in the unit?

No the holder is not missing.......my clients just don't like wearing the battery belt from my video light I adapted to the transmitter so I have to pound six "AA"s into the little square hole!

Steve

I recall the predecessor (prior to G2) SK 100 series transmitters used a standard 9-volt battery.

Solved!

First: You guys do know I was completely joking about "AA"s and battery belts don't you. I thought it was really funny. How else do you respond when someone asks if I am using old batterys? Yes it takes regular 9V.

John, Thank you for finding the manual and cluing me in on squelch. My squelch test today fixed it and the manual pretty much confirmed it. On this mic the squelch settings are not low, med, & high like the "G" series. The settings start at 0db and go up in .5 db increments to 40db. 0db is the factory setting and it is squelch OFF. That is where I have been running my mike all these years until it eventually became problematic. The manual states squelch controls the hissing when the transmitter is turned off, and controls how the mic responds when the transmitter is leaving its usable range. The hissing (when you turn off the transmitter) as the manual calls it is more like speaker blowing white noise if the receiver is outputting anything close to a usable level. By adjusting the squelch to just 05db the noise goes away. Not only that, I tripled my usable distance for the transmitter because the popping does not start now until I am at the real edge of the transmitters range. With no squelch applied the noise was out of control and bursting through the transmitted signal. Today I fixed it, tomorrow I will have time to sit down and really tune the whole system for maximum performance.

Thank you everyone that took a look into this issue for me!

Steve

Hmmmm ... is there perhaps a battery holder that has gone missing, leading to an intermittent battery connection in the unit?

There is no battery holder in the G1.

The battery pushes hard against a sprung plate - The G1 has one of the best ways of using a PP3 there is.

Solved!

First: You guys do know I was completely joking about "AA"s and battery belts don't you. I thought it was really funny. How else do you respond when someone asks if I am using old batterys? Yes it takes regular 9V.

John, Thank you for finding the manual and cluing me in on squelch. My squelch test today fixed it and the manual pretty much confirmed it. On this mic the squelch settings are not low, med, & high like the "G" series. The settings start at 0db and go up in .5 db increments to 40db. 0db is the factory setting and it is squelch OFF. That is where I have been running my mike all these years until it eventually became problematic. The manual states squelch controls the hissing when the transmitter is turned off, and controls how the mic responds when the transmitter is leaving its usable range. The hissing (when you turn off the transmitter) as the manual calls it is more like speaker blowing white noise if the receiver is outputting anything close to a usable level. By adjusting the squelch to just 05db the noise goes away. Not only that, I tripled my usable distance for the transmitter because the popping does not start now until I am at the real edge of the transmitters range. With no squelch applied the noise was out of control and bursting through the transmitted signal. Today I fixed it, tomorrow I will have time to sit down and really tune the whole system for maximum performance.

Thank you everyone that took a look into this issue for me!

Steve

If I remember correctly, Sennheiser UK used to recommend 15dB as the default squelch setting on the original "G1" series.

Low enough to effectively squelch out external noise without compromising range too much.