NewYorkLion
Well-known member
I've heard that the Block C G2s are going to be very bad soon. Will they work at all? How long untill we need to get rid of them?
How bad with Sennheiser Block C be?
- Thread starter NewYorkLion
- Start date
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
They will always work, there just may be alot of other devices occupying those frequencies. Until those devices are in mass use we wont know how bad it will be. I wouldnt buy any new block c's but I wouldnt start replacing them if I had them already either.
SouthBySoWhat
Well-known member
I just happily bought a used Block C set (Austin TX, the C spectrum is pretty vacant here acccording to Sennheiser's site).
NewYorkLion
Well-known member
when will those devices start being used?
Steve House
Veteran
As analog TV goes dark and new services come online in the bands it's vacated.
Captain Pierce
Veteran
A "block" or "band" is a frequency range that a mic can work on. (Most UHF mic systems have multiple frequencies that they can operate on, unlike the older VHF systems that were locked on just one frequency, and if it was already being used in the area, you were screwed.)
Each manufacturer picks their own frequency blocks; in the case of Sennheiser, they made their Evolution series wireless in three frequency blocks:
A: 518-554 MHz
B: 626-662 MHz
C: 740- 776 MHz
...so block C is the only block they have affected by the upcoming DTV transition scheduled for next February; they've pretty much discontinued it and are only making systems in that block on special order.
In general, for people in the US, I would advise avoiding any used wireless that operates only between 698-806MHz. (Or close--for example, my company owns around twenty-five Shure UC systems, which operate in what Shure called the "UB" block, 692-716MHz. That only leaves us 6MHz to work in, which probably won't allow more than three or four simultaneous systems.) Systems in those frequencies won't become instantly obsolete when the DTV switch happens, but their days will definitely be numbered.
Each manufacturer picks their own frequency blocks; in the case of Sennheiser, they made their Evolution series wireless in three frequency blocks:
A: 518-554 MHz
B: 626-662 MHz
C: 740- 776 MHz
...so block C is the only block they have affected by the upcoming DTV transition scheduled for next February; they've pretty much discontinued it and are only making systems in that block on special order.
In general, for people in the US, I would advise avoiding any used wireless that operates only between 698-806MHz. (Or close--for example, my company owns around twenty-five Shure UC systems, which operate in what Shure called the "UB" block, 692-716MHz. That only leaves us 6MHz to work in, which probably won't allow more than three or four simultaneous systems.) Systems in those frequencies won't become instantly obsolete when the DTV switch happens, but their days will definitely be numbered.
NewYorkLion
Well-known member
yeah, im thinking i should probably sell off that block C set. just to be safe. I work in cities mostly where bands can get pretty cluttered.
tallrd
Well-known member
according to what a lot of wireless audio manufacturers are telling us, there are few things definite with how devices will work in those bands as of Feb 2009. That's b/c we don't fully know who is buying that band from the FCC and if/when we do, what they will do with it. That said, it's safe to say that whoever pays the FCC the winning bid for that "block" will occupy it with digital transmissions of some sort (versus analog).
Digital interference is WAY worse than analog because it occupies big chunks of bands like big squared off blocks instead of more peaks and valleys like traditional analog interference does.
If you are concerned about anything which works in that band today potentially NOT working sometime after Feb 2009, then the first question I think of is how agile is your wireless? In other words, does it have multiple frequencies in that band within which is searches? For example, the Sennheiser G2 stuff has 1440 frquencies within that band (in this case the "C" band).
Long story short is if you are looking to buy something I would avoid acquiring NEW items in that band, but your current gear in that band MIGHT still work if it's agility is effective enough against the unknown digital interference to come.
Keep in mind that at the big biz/FCC level, it is likely that whatever goes in there will be widely transmitted.
Digital interference is WAY worse than analog because it occupies big chunks of bands like big squared off blocks instead of more peaks and valleys like traditional analog interference does.
If you are concerned about anything which works in that band today potentially NOT working sometime after Feb 2009, then the first question I think of is how agile is your wireless? In other words, does it have multiple frequencies in that band within which is searches? For example, the Sennheiser G2 stuff has 1440 frquencies within that band (in this case the "C" band).
Long story short is if you are looking to buy something I would avoid acquiring NEW items in that band, but your current gear in that band MIGHT still work if it's agility is effective enough against the unknown digital interference to come.
Keep in mind that at the big biz/FCC level, it is likely that whatever goes in there will be widely transmitted.
John Willett
Veteran
You will never have to get rid of them.
It is quite easy to change from a version C to a version A (for example).
It's just a matter of changing the RF boards in the transmitter and receiver and doing a re-align and program with the frequency set for the other version.
Sennheiser Service can do this for you quite easily.
So if the frequencies in range C go tits-up, just change over to range A or B (or whatever is best for you).
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
John thanks for sharing that, I didnt have any clue they could be switched to a different block like that.
Any clue as to the cost of doing this?
Any clue as to the cost of doing this?
tallrd
Well-known member
I know that Senneheiser is planning on rolling out a rebate program for customers who may experience difficulty with their "C" freq group wireless come next February. For example, if you had the system for 1 year, you get a $200 rebate (or discount) towards a new wireless purchase (details on the logistics are yet to come, so I know what you know as of the date of this post).
If you had the system for 2 years, you get $100 rebate. The longer a customer had the system the less the rebate.
That's all I know for now, and i will try to post more info on this as I am made aware on my end. Happy 4th everyone?
If you had the system for 2 years, you get $100 rebate. The longer a customer had the system the less the rebate.
That's all I know for now, and i will try to post more info on this as I am made aware on my end. Happy 4th everyone?
John Willett
Veteran
I don't know about the USA, but in the UK the cost of changing an SK/EK system is £186 +carriage +VAT.
The price is based on the cost of a new RF board and half an hour's labour per unit.
I have attached a pdf the price list showing the cost for each unit - I would assume that it would be pretty similar in the USA, Sennheiser USA would be able to confirm.
I hope this helps.