EW300 G2 Radio Mic Frequencies

[andy_pye]

Hey I am mixing for a musical next week and we are needing to use as many radio mics as possible. We have the EW300 G2's but how many can we use on license free frequencies?! I have no idea how many available frequencies there are or how much space to leave between the frequencies?! Any help mucho appreciated!!!

[Andrew C]

As I understand it, you can get 4 channels in the licence exempt frequencies. This is band 8 on the Senheisers.

[alexl123]

Hi

 

You need to leave about 400 - 500 mhz between each unit, you can just about get 5 in the free band at

 

863.00

863.50

864.00

864.50

865.00

 

If you are using more mics you will need to get yourself a shared license about £75.00 for the year you can get one off license but these can be quite expensive.

 

If you are hiring mics they should give you a shared license valid for the duration of your hire.

 

Hope this helps

 

Alex

[Andrew C]

You need to leave about 400 - 500 mhz between each unit, you can just about get 5 in the free band at

If you set a TX at 863.000, you will be transmitting below 863, This is why the lowest channel in band 8 is at 863.100.

 

The others are 863.500, 864.300, and 864.900.

[paulears]

Hi

 

You need to leave about 400 - 500 mhz between each unit, you can just about get 5 in the free band at

Sorry, but radio microphpne frequency selection is far, far more complex than this. Every manufacturer have available lists of frequencies that their (and this does not mean everybodies) equipment will operate on, interference free. The maths that suggests you just leave an even space between them doesn't work in the real world. As Andrew said, these are nominal centre frequencies, and depending on the deviation set by the manufacturer, spreads either side of this set frequency. Intermodulation products dictate that frequency planning will always be a lot more complex than it appears. Setting frequencies by simply leaving a standard gap will cause all sorts of nasty issues once you start to increase the channel count.

 

The kind of things to expect are frequencies that appear to be fine, until somebody walks closer to the receivers, or even walks close to another transmitter when spurious signals suddenly appear. Calculating them requires you to know bandwidth, IF frequencies and filtering issues. If you look at Trantec's site, you'll find suggestions for sets of 4, 6, 10 and 12 (from memory) and they are all different. They then also give you license exempt frequencies that will also work.

 

Complicated things, radio mics!

[Rob_Beech]

If you own more than 4 of these, you've spent a fair amount of cash on them, it surely must be worth a mere £75 for a license?

 

If you are hiring, then I don't know any hire companies that expect you to use your own license. Certainly if you hire from me you use my license for the duration of the hire.

 

 

Rob

[Bobbsy]

Read and inwardly digest what Paulears has said. Simply allocating even spacings will NOT guarantee trouble-free performance. When calculating compatible frequencies you have to consider both FM deviation (spacing) and intermodulation issues.

 

Fortunately, Sennheiser makes this easy for you. If you visit THIS LINK you can download their free SIFM software which calculates frequency schemes based and the number and model of microphone you'll be using.

 

As has been said, in the license free band four will be your limit--the next step will be the UK general licence which costs £75 and should give you an extra 12 or so frequencies. Anything beyond that and you'll be into relatively expensive site licenses.

 

Bob

[alexl123]

Sorry I didn't realize that the spectrum started at 863.100 I just quickly gathered the information from the JFMG website which says it starts at 863.00 and ends at 865.00. But you are all right. Sorry my mistake.

 

With the license I have nether met a company that doesn't supply a license, but I didn't want to say that they will incase some might not.

 

Alex

[bruce]

Sorry I didn't realize that the spectrum started at 863.100 I just quickly gathered the information from the JFMG website which says it starts at 863.00 and ends at 865.00. But you are all right. Sorry my mistake.

 

And you're still making the same mistake. Read what Paul said again - it's very good advice. The frequency range starts at 863.00. However, if you tune a mic to 863.00, the frequency "spread" (deviation) will be perhaps +-50kHz. So you are actually using frequencies outwith the unlicensed spectrum.

[alexl123]

Right I now understand. I didn't originally understand about deviation but I now do. thanks

 

Alex

[alisymon]

I live in Ireland and want to start using more radio mics than the free band allows. Does anyone know where I can find out what other frequencies I can use and the license requirements?

[Bobbsy]

The regulatory body in Ireland is "Comreg" and their web site is HERE. Their site is not particularly helpful, but an email or phone call to them might get the answers you need.

 

Bob

[alisymon]

The regulatory body in Ireland is "Comreg" and their web site is HERE. Their site is not particularly helpful, but an email or phone call to them might get the answers you need.

 

Bob

 

I had seen the site, but as you say, its not much help. I know that there are people who use more mics than the free band alows. I will try giving them a buzz....should be entertaining I imagine.

 

Cheers

[Andrew C]

Fortunately, Sennheiser makes this easy for you. If you visit THIS LINK you can download their free SIFM software which calculates frequency schemes based and the number and model of microphone you'll be using.

But not all that easy. At the moment, that download is unavailable.

 

Anyone know another option?