AT Wireless System Issue

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digitalinnovations

Well-known member
I have four of the Audio-Technica 2000 Series wireless systems (2 handheld, 2 lavs). I am have problems with two lavs and I am really hoping somewhere here can help.

Symptoms: After running for 15-45 minutes the audio will begin to "pop", "crack" and "fizzle". Then the voice level with decline until it is just fuzz. I have tried and tried to recreate the problem at the office or at home and I cannot do it (just like when you take your car to the mechanic). Since I have four identical units I have tried swapping out the receivers and channels to no avail.

I am aware these are not top of the line systems, but I have seen the Radio Shack type of wireless systems working in churches, at longer distances, with as many people in the crowd without issue. So in my mind these systems should work much better than those.

I have another "live" event and cannot afford for this to happen there. I really appreciate any help you can give. Thanks in advance!
 
a couple of thoughts on the body packs - try changing their position on the talent's body. That can make a difference. Also, does your talent sweat much? If so, you may be getting a short in the body pack.

Phil
 
The UniPaks have been placed all over. From the left or right hip, middle of the back, inside the suit coat...all over really. I don't think the sweating is an issue, I haven't noticed it before.

It is just killing me because like I said, churches/civic centers/meeting rooms use extremely cheap systems without issue, so these should work better. It shouldn't be too much to ask for these mics to run for a series of lectures for a few days with no problems. I have even taken to changing batteries after every one hour presentation just in case. Still the same thing...
 
digitalinnovations said:
The UniPaks have been placed all over. From the left or right hip, middle of the back, inside the suit coat...all over really. I don't think the sweating is an issue, I haven't noticed it before.

It is just killing me because like I said, churches/civic centers/meeting rooms use extremely cheap systems without issue, so these should work better. It shouldn't be too much to ask for these mics to run for a series of lectures for a few days with no problems. I have even taken to changing batteries after every one hour presentation just in case. Still the same thing...
Click to expand...

Make sure you are not using rechargeables, just to make sure you don't.

T
 
digitalinnovations said:
The UniPaks have been placed all over. From the left or right hip, middle of the back, inside the suit coat...all over really. I don't think the sweating is an issue, I haven't noticed it before.

It is just killing me because like I said, churches/civic centers/meeting rooms use extremely cheap systems without issue, so these should work better. It shouldn't be too much to ask for these mics to run for a series of lectures for a few days with no problems. I have even taken to changing batteries after every one hour presentation just in case. Still the same thing...
Click to expand...

If you exchange the batteries with brand-new fresh ones when you start to get the noises you're noting, does it fix the problem for a while or does the noise continue even on the new batteries? If a battery swap fixes it, does a power off and restart with the original batteries in place also fix it or does the noise continue unabated unless the batteries are actually changed? Trying to figure out if the issue is excessively rapid battery consumption and the noises are coming in as they lose power or if it's something else.

Do you have the problem in a variety of locations and venues or have you only used the mics in one location? Wondering if it might be some location specific interference like occuring in a building with a cell phone repeater on the roof or a paging system in operation, etc. You said you experimented at home and in the office without getting the problem - that sort of sounds like it might be something specific to one location but your post is unclear if it happens in just one or in a variety of circumstances.

When placing the bodypack on the speaker, make sure the cable from the mic does NOT cross over or loop around the antenna. If the transmitter is in the small of the back, for example, the antenna will be to the left of the wearer's spine. Make sure the mic able runs around the RIGHT side of the wearer's body to get to his lapel. If you want it to run around the left, coil up any excess and stuff it in the wearer's belt so it crosses behind the transmitter below the level of the antenna connector.
 
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Really excellent ideas here on this problem! What a great brain trust!

The 15-45 minute thing is perplexing.

Here's another one. Does someone show up with a cell phone strapped on them?
I have had wireless go from 100 feet to totally unusable at two feet on two occasions. I don't know what kind of phone these guys were wearing, but they need to be turned TOTALLY OFF, not just in "silent" or stand by mode.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Thanks guys for the info!

I do not use rechargeable batteries, I always replace them with brand new ones. Replacing the batteries does seem to solve the issue. It is intermittent.

This has happened at two different locations where all day seminars have taken place. Speakers go for about an hour at a time with 10-15 minute breaks in between. So of course they are live and you know how people in an audience react when mics start acting up.

I was browsing around the internet and I stumbled upon a video clip that has the exact same sound that these lavs make, at first anyway. They start out doing this and then it gets progressively worse, popping and cracking more. Eventually the voice level trails off and all that is left is the noise.

I went through the entire video and this sound occurs at 4 minutes 10 seconds, again at 5 minutes 2 seconds.

The video is here:
http://vimeo.com/1929822?pg=embed&sec=1929822&hd=1

I really appreciate your help and the time it takes to look that clip over. Thank you!!!
 
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Hi Jeremey,

Thanks for posting the clip. That's a pretty normal "hit." Something interfering with the RF signal. Could be locational; the RF from the mic bouncing off of something and colliding with the direct signal at the receiver. Usually if the person is not moving around much, it's not a reflected RF thing. There are weird little places, though, where a turn here or there will make this happen.

Can you try putting the receiver closer to the talent and cabling back to the camera or mixer?

Wireless is wireless. That's what happens sometimes.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Thanks for the reply! The talent I am working with usually are moving around quite a bit, pacing back and forth. Ordinarily though once that starts, it will not go away, and gets progressively worse than what was heard on that clip. Once I start hearing that noise I know that I'm "in for it".
 
Jeremey,

Perplexing. Does this happen at every venue? I'm wondering if it could be a circuit that heats up over time in the transmitter or receiver. What happens if you fire up the system and let it run for that amount of time elsewhere?

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
tyreeford said:
Jeremey,

Perplexing. Does this happen at every venue? I'm wondering if it could be a circuit that heats up over time in the transmitter or receiver. What happens if you fire up the system and let it run for that amount of time elsewhere?

Regards,

Ty Ford
Click to expand...

Just what I was thinking - I would expect the first symptoms that a transmitter that was gradually drifiting off-frequency as it heats up would exhibit would sound remarkably like RF hits. I think our OP needs to send the bodypacks on a little vacation to Audio Technica for servicing.
 
Not every venue. Just the "seminar" type settings. I do a lot of television production that usually only has a limited amount of people present, then these types of live A/V setups that have about 150-200 people attending. Elsewhere (not "live" events), i have only had it happen once one twice. Thanks for your help!
 
Given that there are so many people in the audience, I would go back to the earlier guess - cell phones. I guarantee that no matter how many times you ask/demand/plead/beg, someone's cell phone is on.

Phil
 
Thank you guys! Those all sound like solid thoughts. I am leaning towards agreeing with Steve that that particular transmitter needs to be sent in. I am almost positive it is somewhere in that transmitter because I switched the receivers and the problem followed the transmitter.
 
Yes, I have four of the 2100 series wireless mics (2 lavs, 2 handhelds) so I tried putting that "troubled" UniPak on different receivers to try and troubleshoot the issue.
 
OK, you say the trouble is with the body mics. That could be because they are on the body and not in the open as the plug ons are. Bodies do absorb a certain amount of the RF. Other things can reduce range. transmitter antenna curved. (If it sticks out on top and flops over, try spinning it in the mounting bracket so it hangs down, but is straight.

How far away are they from the receivers.

As we know, the spectrum is pretty screwed up these days. It ould be that they do need a tweek. I have had to send one of my sets back, after which I was getting better range.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
Just another thought -- someone mentioned cell phones in proximity to either the transmitters or receivers. Blackberries are very good at creating interference with wireless gear... I don't know whether that becomes a problem when you have a room of people with blackberries, or whether your talent has one... but it's worth checking.
 
The range is always less than 100'. More often than not we are looking at around 50', give or take with the presenter's pacing.

Blackberries could be another issue, in these rooms full of professionals, I know most of them carry one. But I guess my question is, does everyone experience these issues that I am? It does not seem so with churches, and other seminars where the audio is in the back of room and the speaker in the front. Is it the caliber or mics I am using? They seem to be pretty decent, at least not at the bottom of the pile. As I am sure you know, it is extremely nerve racking to worry about such things 8 hours a day for 3-4 days in a row.

I really appreciate the help and advice here!
 
The range is always less than 100'. More often than not we are looking at around 50', give or take with the presenter's pacing.

Blackberries could be another issue, in these rooms full of professionals, I know most of them carry one. But I guess my question is, does everyone experience these issues that I am?

>>>>Yep.

It does not seem so with churches, and other seminars where the audio is in the back of room and the speaker in the front. Is it the caliber or mics I am using?

>>>> No way to tell here.

They seem to be pretty decent, at least not at the bottom of the pile. As I am sure you know, it is extremely nerve racking to worry about such things 8 hours a day for 3-4 days in a row.

>>>>We all feel that way. Did I mention you could try moving the receivers closer to the transmitter?

I really appreciate the help and advice here![/QUOTE]

No problem.

Ty Ford
 
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