Issues with Lectrosonic Wireless

D

DVX100Shooter

Veteran
It seems that when I am at home and getting my gear together for an upcoming shoot, I have no issues with my wireless as I run through some tests. I make sure I am using fresh batteries and that the correct channels are selected on my DVX100 camera. My last 2 shoots, I have ran into some sort of issue with interference.

I did a shoot a few weeks ago where I shot some b-roll of someone performing (rapping) everything sounded good (I monitored the audio through headphones) at first then as the shoot went on, I noticed the audio starting to drop low and taking static hits every now and then. There was nothing else wireless in the room we were in. The DJ had a turntable and a laptop computer he was using and thats it.

Yesterday I did a shoot where I plugged my transmitter (cube) into the mixer and the audio on that channel had static on and off, at times the whole channel would go dead then come back up. I know that audio is going to be not useable. I will have to take the audio from my shotgun mic.

Other than these last 2 times, the lectrosonic has worked great for me. I have the UCR190 and I don't think I have the ability to change to a different frequency on there.

Now I did notice that when jiggled the antenna on the Lavalier transmitter (body pack) I would hear static. When I completely removed the antenna it would be nice and clear.

Any suggestions on what I could try. Like I said it sounds fine when I am home but its when I go out and about that its interferring with other frequencies for some reason at least the last 2 times anyway.
 
Well, from what you describe, there are lots of possibilities - everything from a short or bad connection in your Tx to (the most likely culprit) RF interference. The reason I think this is the mostly likely cause is that you say you don't have problems as you prep for the shoot at home.

One of the reasons all of the better wireless kits are now somewhat frequency agile is the overcrowding of our wireless airwaves. You might try borrowing/renting a set of either 200 or 400 series Lectros or even a set of Sennheiser G2's and see if you still have the problems (when you hit interference, try changing the frequency). The Lectros and the G2's come in frequency blocks and Lectro has a nice table on their Web site so you can look up your area and figure out which block would be best (i.e. least occupied) for you.

One other thought is that someone in the audience may have had a Blackberry. They are notorious for causing wireless interference, regardless of frequency block (those darned Canadians and their wireless gadgets!)

One other thing you gain with the 200 or 400 series Lectros is diversity Rx's. You can also get diversity Rx's with the Senn. G2's, but only as base-stations, not as portables.

Hope this helps.

Phil
 
The 190's are not frequency agile, so I would think that it's a frequency issue if they are working fine at home, not a short. If it was a short it would happen all the time. The other culprit is low batteries, but if you have fresh ones in, then that's obviously not the problem.
 
Ditto. As our world has become more and more wireless, the RF pollution has gotten out of hand. The old one frequency w/l are going to fail you at one point or another. I personally would not sell your 190 but augment it with some frequence agile w/l.

Cheers
 
try to find scanner and check the fq you are working with if you have good range at home and have hits in other places you might have to change the fq of your system -.it might be done for something like 150$.
while you checking ,check at least 2-3 mh on each side since if you have heavy interference from tv station which occupied your block it would be very pricey to change the the fq since it would be involved with replacing allot of components .
 
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