Rodelink Interference problem

omnikron

omnikron

Well-known member
Has anybody had a similar problem as me? I'm trying to replace some Sennheiser G2s and G3s with the new Rodelink but am getting this strange interference. I'm thinking it must have to be wifi interference.

https://youtu.be/bsK2Yha7pAU

I've only opened 2 out of the 5 I purchased but they both have the same problem and I'm about ready to return them... the problem doesn't seem to resolve even if I change between any of the Rodelink channels. When I walk around the building, it gets worse and better. I put some different mics on it and the problem got a 'little' better, which makes me think again that it is an interference/shielding issue. But I have the problem with both of the Rodelink lav mics they included. I've tried powering the TX/RX off of USB power, I've tried using different TRS to XLR adapters, I've tried using different audio recorders...

This makes me worried that these Rodelink wireless kits are only going to be trustworthy in areas away from Wireless.
 
The problem I had with mine when I bought it was that the Micon adapter was bad. It took me a bit to figure it out but replacing it completely fixed the problem. I've seen this issue come up in other forums and in comments at online stores. Seems like a very common problem. I think Rode must have shipped a bunch out with bad adapters.
 
But the problem persists even when I use different branded microphones that don't do the same thing with the Sennheiser EW100 G2/G3 units...
 
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When you're testing, do you stay line of sight? Is there a lot of metal in the area? And do you hear the interference in your recordings? Since it's wi-fi, metal seems to diminish the range. Which makes me wonder about rigs and cages and how that would affect reception. I find that I get more reliable performance from my G3 sets in most cases but haven't had too many issues with the Rodelink since I replaced the adapter. I mostly use mine when I occasionally need a fourth wireless mic up so mostly as backup.
 
No, The transmitter and receiver are sitting right there next to each other on the table... did you hear the recording I posted on Youtube? That's the sound I'm hearing, so yes it's in my recording.

It seems like when I move the microphone around it affects the interference. But again it's doing it with different microphones, so... I guess I could keep trying more microphones. I have most lav mics available. Let me see what I can find out.
 
So I tested all of my mics and this is what I came up with.

The problem is the worse when the mic is close to the transmitter body. When I put the transmitter in my pocket and attach the mic to my body, the problem almost goes away entirely. This is great for most situations, but what about if I wanted to use this transmitter for a plant mic?

The Sanken Cos-11D performed the best. I plugged the mic in and couldn't get ANY interference.
The Sennheiser MKE-2 and ME-2 as well as the Countryman B3 performed almost as good as the Sanken but I could hear some slight buzz/hum when poking the mic around the transmitter body.
The Sennheiser ME-4 performed horribly in this test, as does the Aspenmic and the Rode Lav mic.
 
omnikron said:
.

This makes me worried that these Rodelink wireless kits are only going to be trustworthy in areas away from Wireless.
Click to expand...

And where exactly on the planet would that be???

This sounds like a SERIOUS problem. I'm glad I put off ordering a pair pending other priorities.

I have some of those better mics you have, but unless RODE will sell me the kit at a cheaper price WITHOUT their mic then to me this product is dead in the water.
 
After more testing, I'm fairly sure it isn't wifi interference from other units. I'm picking up whatever the transmitter is transmitting with the mic capsule.

I took the unit out of the office and brought it home with the same issue. So I don't know why no-one else seems to be mentioning this issue. Either my units are defective or nobody else is putting the mic capsule up to the transmitter body. I mean, in all honesty, that's not a scenario I would plan to record in, so... perhaps because it seems to work just fine for the most part when the mic capsule is about 2 feet or more from the transmitter. I'd be curious if other users have a similar experience.
 
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It sounds neither "serious" nor "unusual".
It is clearly digital RF leaking into the microphone head (or cable).
All lav microphones are susceptible at some level to RF noise/interference, digital or analog.
Expecting to use a very sensitive microphone right next to a moderately strong digital RF transmitter is just completely unrealistic.
As was demonstrated, simply moving the microphone head a reasonable distance (> 1-2 ft) away from the transmitter/antenna resolves the "problem".

How do you use it as a "plant mic"? By simply putting the transmitter at least half the length of the cable away from the microphone head.

Sorry, this seems like a "tempest in a teacup". I don't see anything unusual or abnormal about this.

I have a pair of Audio-Technica System-10 lav kits (which use virtually identical technology), and I have never heard this.
But then I have never attempted to operate them with the mic head right next to the transmitter, either.
 
Thanks for chiming in Richard. I think you nailed it.

When I first started testing it, I left the mic cable coiled like it came shipped (so incase something was wrong or had to be returned, it would be easy) and that meant the mic capsule was within 6-8 inches of the transmitter. I tried troubleshooting everything I could think of except moving the mic capsule further from the transmitter body... that idea didn't come until much later.

It is appropriate that the most expensive mics out of the bunch have the best shielding... :)
 
This also happened with two different copies of the RodeLink for me. Moving the capsule away from the TX helps to minimize the noise. Besides that, and a terrible noisy XLR adapter, I've been having great results. It seems to be a very quiet system when set up correctly.
 
Richard, I duplicated this problem with System 10 setups I have- in particular with the MT830 lav. I was testing the use of USB batteries as a field solution to keeping the receiver powered all day. The system with the MT830 had a buzz, and when I moved the transmitter a few inches it went away. The system with the MT899 did not have the RF noise, however I was not testing for that and can't say how far away the mic was from the transmitter.

Have you tested the System 10 against Lectros- in close (50 ft or less) proximity? I'm waiting for a Sanken Cos11 to come in, then hope to test against a Lectro with a COS11- just out of curiousity.
 
The System 10 have no problem if you're using the MT 830 paddle mics, but the smaller (b6 sized) BP 896 micro point lavs do pickup the RF.

I alerted Rode last month and AT the month before. AT is working on a better shield for the BP 896 micro point.

Haven't heard back from them or Rode yet.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
I've noticed that people are starting to complain online in forums and the B&H comment section about buzzy interference with the RodeLink and the Senneheiser AVX systems. I recently had to wire up three people in a car and shoot from another vehicle. My two G3 packs had no problems once I found a vacant frequency but the RodeLink, which has been relatively decent up to now, did drop out here and there.
 
DNN said:
I've noticed that people are starting to complain online in forums and the B&H comment section about buzzy interference with the RodeLink and the Senneheiser AVX systems. I recently had to wire up three people in a car and shoot from another vehicle. My two G3 packs had no problems once I found a vacant frequency but the RodeLink, which has been relatively decent up to now, did drop out here and there.
Click to expand...
This is what we were afraid of happening with 2.4GHz band gear. The systems have to compete for the same quite limited number of channels as all the other 2.4GHz gear (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.)
 
Richard, et al,

Nothing to be alarmed at, really. It's simply a matter of shielding the mic properly. Mic makers had to address this about 8 years ago when there was finally enough RFI in the air to get into the back of mics.

Audio Technica's MT830 lav is already OK with their System 10. Other mics may be, but I don't have adapters for every lav in my collection.

Other UHF mics and transmitters have had problems. The problems were solved. These will be as well.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
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I'm not so sure, Ty. DNN said that the Rodelink was "relatively decent" before this experience.
This doesn't sound like an RF leakage problem into the mic heads.
If that were the case, the symptoms wouldn't be just completely cutting out.
And DNN would have seen the problem before.

The VERY significantly reduced number of channels available with 2.4GHz makes them more susceptible to competition.
 
Richard,

I have a RodeLink here. I can cause the problem to happen and it doesn't cut out. It's a leaky mic.

Regards,

Ty Ford
 
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