External Antennas

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digitalinnovations

Well-known member
I have a AV/PA gig coming up and I would like to see what kind of options I have to add on some external antennas to boost the reception. I have a Gig Rig with four AT 2000 series units in it, mixer, etc. I am pretty uncertain where to start, so I was hoping some of you more knowledgeable people could help me out. Thanks in advance!
 
Wow. That is a little more than I was hoping to spend. Would those ATW-A3D antennas be of any benefit in place of the factory antennas on my AT2100 receivers? Does it matter that the ATW-A3D (found on B&H) say they are for VHF systems in the 655 - 680MHz range? I am hoping there will be some options to increase my range without busting my budget. Thanks for the help!
 
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That must be a typo at B&H--AT's website says they're UHF, and IIRC, anything in the 655-680MHz range by definition has to be UHF. At any rate, theoretically just stepping up to the half-wave antennas should improve your reception somewhat, but going with the antenna DA would allow you to take one pair of antennas and mount them somewhere other than your rack to improve it even more.
 
In a multi-channel system an antenna distribution system is essential, not an option.

If you don't have it, you should keep your receivers at least a metre apart to minimise the risk of physical blocking and back emf getting into the other receivers.

Also - when using external antennas remember that the antenna cable can reduce the signal by about 5dB every 10-metres (RG58 cable and 850 (ish) MHz frequencies).
 
In a perfect world, yeah. :) But there's also a lot of us out there that just stack the receivers on top of each other and get away with it. Including myself--with the hodge-podge of mics that I typically have to work with, there's no real way I can run a distro without trying to convince my boss to buy any number of them. Maybe, maybe when we have to start buying new mics after the DTV transition...
 
Captain Pierce said:
In a perfect world, yeah. :) But there's also a lot of us out there that just stack the receivers on top of each other and get away with it. ...
Click to expand...

Get away with it being the word.

The bottom receivers will have attenuation and blockage due to the metalwork of the receivers on top of them.

There will also be serious back emf interference as each receiver is transmitting to the others.

In good conditions you may get away with it, but the signal *is* degraded and the system will fall over earlier than a properly put together one.

Just because your worn retread tyres are OK in dry weather around town doesn't mean that they will be safe at high speeds on a motorway in the rain.

I am just advising the proper way to do it.
 
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