sunray

Frequencies makes sense. That was at a village fete at the village hall and sports field, the mast is within their property as a means of financing their facilities. I've identified the system I had was a W Audio quad receiver and I believe it was only £200 for the whole system of 4 mics so an 'economical' system. I sold it on ebay and received several messages about only 3 mics holding the price down.

We spent ages trying to work out where something like feedback was coming from with a product similar to those when we front ended an installed system with mixer and radio mics in a hall, we were convinced it was from the AFIL especially as we were assured there were no radio mics there. Personally I can never work out why radio/wireless is ever used for such purposes in a fixed system, bearing in mind power has to be run a signal cable isn'y much more effort. Portable/temporary is a different kettle of fish. I'm always happier with things like Denon DN202 if the delay isn't a problem.

Unless I have it wrong or there have been changes I was under the impression LTE 20 is below CH38 band, more like 800MHz. I was given some cheap CH65 kit (I feel I remember the name of 'M Audio' on the kit) for the same interference reason but moving the 3 channels up to the top end and channel mapping them seemed to rid the problem. I used them several times without issue until receivers were right near a phone mast, like 50m, and they were swamped with full bars, tone locked mics would light the busy light but there was a fairly contsant hiss with just ocassional sylables of audio. Trantec S4.16 CH 38 or 70 (no idea which, may have been both) no problems. As DavePallant mentions we also encounter interferance on CH 38 sometimes, in our case on Trantec S5000's from a fairly local CH39 TV transmitter but to date has not affected CH38 S4.16 yet.

And that is why I posted our solution. This was fifteen years ago or more and done with tower PC's. We had PC's there with dual screen capability but we simply didn't have the time to deal with such. The original requirement was for 2 screens to display different things: powerpoint, VHS tapes, cameras, document camera, ultrasound machine. It was simply easier to grab the PP logo page into paint, split and shape it and save to PP in 2 different PC's dedicated to the function, even the PC monitors and foldback video were CRT to give an idea how far back. The biggest issue we had with it was not being able to switch both screens simultaneousely using an Extron 8x8 matrix. Part of the job was to provide power sockets for visitors laptops and due to the number of foreigners I purchased a load of 4way Shuko leads from Auchen in Calais while on a Sun tokens cheap day out. I've started waffling, hopefully it's food for thought.

We had this same arrangement a few years back using 2 projectors (and several pairs of 42" repeater screens) and VGA matrix. Whole thing was done in a real hurry so the full screen logo was split on to 2 PC's. Yes very clunky but unexpectedly created minutes before doors opened.

Yes thanks, I hoped that was the case.

I'm not sure if most of that is aimed at me or a general broadcast. I have worked in a fair number of schools, mostly as subby to a contractor so I agree some seem to say 'oh yes sign in here, the hall is that way' while others do a DBS check and escort visitors, I'm happy with any arrangement they put in place as long as it allows me to get on with my job. As an example to this, I installed a stage lighting system in a junior school, They already had certified bars in place and didn't want those altered but the precursor to the junior8 and the 3 core maroon cotton/rubber twisted wiring and 2A sockets had to go... I installed conduit and 15A sockets above their bars, Anytronics 24ch pack and a 2412style desk. The guy I contracted to was a KCC approved contractor and as such his approval was sufficient to cover me. We went in for the initial survey escorted by the drama teacher and a deputy head, discussed the options and on the spot came up with a ball park price. Apparently we were the 4th to survey but the first to come up with proposals which avoided structural changes and also avoided the asbestos. First day of work either the drama teacher or the deputy head were in the hall, after that they didn't bother, caretaker assisted with access equipment and pulling cables into tubes (offered at survey to keep within a budget). Nice job, went well, I worked with their timetable. A few months later a senior school less than 1/2 mile away had problems with faulty lighting; I had to be fully DBS checked before I was even allowed in the building, the physics teacher was the lighting expert and we had to work round his timetable and the hall timetable to survey: eight IWB's with flying leads/5A plugs to 6CH analogue dimmer packs distributed around the rig, each fed by a 15A MCB in the cubical at the back of the balcony, on the back wall was a pair of shallow 19" racks, each containing 5x 3U plates 4 contained 15 faders. That's: 2 pre-sets per channel, 2 submasters with several interlocked push buttons to select their function, master. 5th plate again a 2 pre-sets but this time controlling the submasters previously mentioned and more selection switches. All of that was facing away from the stage and basically formed a 48 channel 2 preset manual desk however the 2 pre-sets didn't have to be fully linked. On the desk facing the stage was a panel containing Quadrant faders, about a dozen which could remotely control both 5th panels. In addition to that was a patch panel of banana plugs, all 48ch of control had 2 o/p sockets, all dimmers had 1 I/p socket. and a much shorter row of 'off' sockets to park any dimmer channels not required. In use it required a team to pre-set each scene so quick scene changes were very tricky. This was a bespoke system by a company who had gone out of business leaving no technical documentation behind and I'm sure that anyone reading this is scratching their head and saying something like 'oh dear me I wonder how this works' just like I did. The physics teacher was all over it, demonstrating what wasn't working, and lots wasn't so losing me very quickly. It reached a point where I asked about budget as I was predicting major long winded reverse engineering and fault finding hours. I phoned the deputy head from the other school and asked If I could bring someone in to see their installation and passed my phone over to arrange a visit a bit later in the day. As it happened it was while the hall was in use rehearsing for the end of year show and were able to see how a junior student was setting and saving scenes. On the walk back I proposed stripping the existing system, fitting 2 Anytronics 24ch packs and wiring direct in the existing trunking using 'junction boxes' to the IWB tails and a 4824 desk. As the dimmer packs were considered to be architectural the final solution was to remove the electronics and cable to the sockets. Some 10 years later I returned to add some undimmed circuits and DMX lines, they had a PC running the system by then. Something fairly similar happened with 2 other schools except a teacher was describing the new system at some meeting and 2nd school viewed before calling us, I was told the words used on the phone where a very good impersonation of 'want that one in my school' and they got an exact copy as the building was the same.

I've installed loads of the Shure SCM mixers but only the basic 5 input mono units, with or without tone controls. I don't (well didn't) know there was a stereo version. Brilliant things about them: They matched the Shure receiver mounting brackets, so could be perfect match mounted beside a mic rx. They had 4 unbalanced phono line/XLR mic I/Ps. Plus one line I/P They had unbalanced phono socket line O/P and XLR switchable mic/line so brilliant at using as a DI mixer. EDIT and provide a local monitor IEC mains input so no chance of losing the PSU. I used to pick them up on rip-outs and had several in 'hire stock', most had hardly been touched after commissioning and looked brand new after a wipe with the shirt tail. I'll lay money on still having at least one here. IIRC they are only 12V phantom power so not good for 451's etc.

Having just penned a reply, I give another. I installed a school stage lighting system in 2007, in 2017 I quoted for and moved the entire system into their new building, however I'd stated I'd return for alterations or training if required. While preparing for Nativity 2021 (I think) the teacher concerned reckoned there was a problem, basically the lights were laid out on the desk in a different order to what she thought was correct. I simply swapped them round in the 24ch pack and while there I mentioned a DMX inlet at the position they used the control desk (sound and light). I'd included it in the quote and cabled for it but E&M reckoned it wasn't in the job. Releasing the front plate I found my cable, drilled the hole for XLR, terminated it and fitted stuffing gland and plug at dimmer pack, meaning they didn't have to have a 15m trailing cable. Despite being several years later, rightly or wrongly, I didn't charge as all of this was within my original quote.

Indeed. I'm in the lucky? situation of retirement and able to assist FOC or minimal expenses, I have now done 4 junior 'summer schools' with others, to get their students playing with knobs and assisted through to a show. In the last 2 weeks I've helped 2 schools (one being replace the damaged 5 pin male in the wallbox and corresponding DMX cable female with 3 pin. Other; teaching 2 staff and 3 students how to use the sound desk and adding Dymo labels) and a church (loan of a twin preset light desk as theirs has succumbed to battery growth). All within walking distance or 10min drive. Materials amounted to two XLRs from plentiful stock so no worth the effort raising an invoice. Getting back to OP; that looks very much like an installation I know except 2 different fittings... However I also know how difficult it is these days with vetting for schools and use of approved contractor lists etc.

Why do people not put their location in their profile?

Not sure if I'm thinking of the right unit, doesn't the Samson have 3.5mm Mic inputs? I agree; not an ideal connector though.

During a 3ph dist board replacement, electrician wired the existing 3core (3C flat R,Y,B - not 3C&E) lighting circuits as 3ph instead of 1ph L,E,N. Apparently 3 of the 4 20W bulbs in 2 double fittings over noticeboards went with a rather spectacular bang. Luckily these were the first to be switched on and the remainder of the halls lights were undamaged. They supplied exactly those linked to by Sandall, during 'normal use' by a switch they are fine The 2 light circuits in the hall include 5A sockets and plugs which get re-plugged into dimmer pack for show mode. With just those 4 LEDs connected (measured as 12-13W) none of the 4 channel packs coped, went from almost off to almost 100% within first few% of dimmer and to 100% within top few%, few being certainly less than 10%. With a couple of hundred Watts of GU10's added I'd make a guess they go from off to full at about 20-40%. We assumed they contain constant current drivers and chose to not switch them on when in show mode. However Varilight V-Pro 1-Gang 2-Way LED Dimmer Switch White - Screwfix in trailing edge mode is quite successful (hasn't been tried in leading edge mode), I'd go with your description of the curve.

In fact all the remote button does is turn on the mains.

Does the button lock on this model? I'd expect it to be quicker than 5 second if it is simply 'on' I have the use of BeamZ 900 and rage1000 machines and the fixed cable remote on both is locking and both pretty much used exclusively by locking on and only applying mains when snow is required, both start as instantly in that mode as powered then operate the button mode though.

Without knowing the circuit of the pack being used, there is a possibility there is no input capacitor and just sufficient voltage from the pre-amp bias/feedback resistors to give it a tickle. I have known it twice: 50 years ago with a Norman Rover 1200 amplifier, with the volumes running very high a lapel mic worked after a fashion but the MKII version they didn't. Fairly recently a similar thing; A radio ham friend built a handsfree mic system and suffered with low volume, he had increased the feedback resistor round the Op-amp to some ridiculous figure, increasing the system noise. Adding a cap and simple R/C arrangement brought it right up and the gain of the pre-amp had to be restored back down to make it anywhere near useable.

EDITED

It beggars belief they are so stupid that they don't realise they can do this sort of thing. They will appeal and lose, ignore the enforcement notices etc until the bulldozers move in. All they had to do was find an appropriate site and chances are grants may have even been available to help.

It's not just the plugs; looks like they did or about to earth the shell, no sleeve on bare earth, poor workmanship. I do use 3mm FST (known by many as install cable) and even use similar markers but no way I'd supply to a customer for this sort of use.

I received a call earlier today asking for help at a venue I installed stage lighting. In a nutshell I installed IWB's and 2x 24 channel Anytronics packs about 12 years ago, basically the hall has been turned round during some building alterations and 2019 I dismantled the system and re-installed it at the other end. They were rigging for their Christmas show and some strange activity seemed to be happenning in the DMX chain. I proved it onto this cable (the numbering being length 2metres no2 ie 5 metre versions would be 51, 52, 53 etc). I found pins 1 & 3 in contact with plug shell.Further I found one of the fingers (an example circled) had punctured the cable arrowed. I asked who had made the cables? One of the requirements of their procurement system is they receive a copy of the invoice for any materials over £10 purchased for the job, They have stated they went to one of those invoices I provided and purchased a selection of DMX cables from the supplier. I am concerned that any of the suppliers I used would supply bespoke leads like this.

I'll make the guess late january as there is a panto run starting 1st feb,

What a wonderful idea. I have a paper8 pointed star which I hang in the window which I have been saying for years is the last time due to the age and state of it. but have beenn unable to find a replacement. I think I now have.

Would it not make sense to use something with a switched output QTX DP4 4 Channel DMX Dimmer Pack | eBay 3 Channel 5A DMX512 Controlled Relay Switch DIY Kits Converter DMX Dimmer Relay | eBay rather than mess about with some big light hidden away somewhere?

That reminds me I only changed the battery in one desk back in summer, I must do the others after the seasons useage. No excuse they are sitting here waiting.

How did you get on with this?