Sennheiser EW100 G1 wireless system - first generation, your thoughts

L

leeburnett

Active member
I am soon going to Africa to shoot a documentary for a week, one man band style which I haven't done before so trying to get some audio gear.

Firstly, I want something that I won't need to upgrade real soon if I don't have to.

I have a sennheiser ME2 microphone, I've purchased the new Tascam DR70d, and was going to get a NTG-2 as I might shoot all audio interviews without a camera, and get sound for other shots with a camera mounted shotgun for more direction.

Anyway, I thought I should get a wireless lav system as well, will only need one transmitter for this job, don't have enough money to get two right now.

Anyway, there is a first generation EW100 I have been offered, it is less than half the price of the G2... what are the major differences, other than the 9v battery, that might mean I should go for a g2 instead?

Thanks
 
The G2 offers frequency scanning (to supposedly find an open freq.), can save channel presets, pilot (doesn't output if no corresponding xmitter found). Might be some audio upgrades as well, the sound tends to be a little cleaner from my G2's.

One possible "benefit" of the G1 receiver is that the AF OUT level is set by an external dial vs. menu on the G2/3. I use the G1 with DSLR's as it can be used to adjust audio levels on the fly.
 
You may want to reconsider the NTG2 as it has a low level output compared to other mics... I know paired up with the H4n it delivers poor results because of the recorders preamps, I don't know how it teams up with the DR70d but I'm sure there would be reviews out there somewhere.
The G2 would be better to take away for a couple of reasons 1. the frequency tuneability and 2. the physical size.
 
Thanks guys, I've heard great things about the ntg2 teamed with the dr60d in comparison to the H4n, so assume the 70d will be similar or the same or hopefully better. That's one of the main reasons I went with the dr70d over h6n.

As far as ew100 go, exactly what benefits would frequency tuneability benefit me? I've not used wireless transmitters before, so don't really know how important that would be

Also, I'm running rechargable AA's for the dr70d when I'm away, so using AA's would be a benefit. What's the battery life like on these things? If it's not that bad then saving £200 and getting the G1 might be better, and just buy a few 9v batteries. It seems like a large price difference just to save a little bit of space, but if the tuneable frequency is a big thing then I might be swayed. This should last me a few years so I want to make the right choice.
 
I've still got some of the first gen units and they are perfectly viable. G2 has lots of extra gizmos, but in reality scanning is a pointless tool. G2 has wider band coverage, but although I use G2 and 3 for most work, in my camera bag a G1 transmitter and receiver always hides away, just in case, and they perform perfectly well. There are a number of RF improvements in G2 and onwards, but sonically, If you can get it for a good price - why not. You're also going to a country where weather conditions and security can be an issue, so if somebody steals them, you won't lose much sleep, and the metal case on the G1 is better suited to being dropped and beaten up. The G2/3 can break the flaps off in rough conditions and the bigger display can get cracked. G1 is heavy, bigger and tough.
 
I agree the the G1 can be usable, providing due diligence in set-up is taken (but that applies to all wireless mics). If I recall correctly, the G1 portable systems have 3.5mm in/out but of the non-locking variety, in addition to no pilot tone, but otherwise is compatible with a G2/3 trans/recev. if the frequency is the same and pilot tone disabled.
I also agree with Paul the G2/3 scanning function is a useless feature. IMO, Sennheiser should have spent the money on removable/optional antennas and/or a metal battery door.
 
Re: rechargeable AA's:

The G2/3 receivers have difficulty using rechargeable batteries, unless you spring for the high-dollar rechargeable units designed by Sennheiser for the G2/3... garden variety NiMH rechargeables output a slightly lower voltage than alkalines, different enough that when I've used G2's with rechargeable AA's, range and interference issues abound. Folks have reported best results using higher-end AA rechargeables like Sanyo Eneloops, I haven't tried them. I relegated all my rechargeables to non-mission-critical applications.

FWIW, 28 AA alkaline batteries (enough for 1 week) are less expensive and take up about the same space as 4 rechargeables and a charger... and you don't need to worry about guessing the local current voltage (might vary greatly, depending on where in Africa) or inadvertently frying your charger.


PS: in response to Rick R - The G1 does have locking 3.5mm inputs, and is indeed compatible with the G2/3 xmitter/receiver (just tune them to the same freq.).
 
I am going for the G1... am I right in thinking that it takes 9v?

Roughly what sort of record time would I get from one 9v?

Also, I've gone for 16 duracell 2400mah rechargable AA's to use in my tascam dr70d and in the NTG2, I've not heard of any issues with these using rechargables?... I think I'll be able to get AA's in Gambia, it's not really far out, I'm in a big town, so should be ok to find them there if anything goes wrong with my rechargables?
 
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Hi
Sounds like a great trip! I think your remaining questions will get answered when you relentlessly wring out your equipment with testing before you go. Also test your Plan B and Plan C! Have a great trip.
 
Thanks, I stand corrected, the G1 does have a locking connection.
I've always ran my G2/3 on rechargeable AAs w/o issue, generally 10+ hours.. 12+ on the 2700 mA/h variety. However one does have to be more aware of the battery sets, they can get lost and difficult to keep used/unused sets/batteries separate, require extra time to sort, charge, check and usually need A/C powered chargers. They can create a level of uncertainty.. will this be the shot when the battery dies? Of course some of this applies to batteries in general. The lower voltage itself has little impact on G2/3 performance as they have internal regulation, and the trans./recv. will auto-off at the same low voltage.
 
leeburnett said:
I am going for the G1... am I right in thinking that it takes 9v?

Roughly what sort of record time would I get from one 9v?

Also, I've gone for 16 duracell 2400mah rechargable AA's to use in my tascam dr70d and in the NTG2, I've not heard of any issues with these using rechargables?... I think I'll be able to get AA's in Gambia, it's not really far out, I'm in a big town, so should be ok to find them there if anything goes wrong with my rechargables?
Click to expand...

Yep, 9V. Pairs well with a Rode VMP (another reason I use the G1's with DSLR kit). I can generally run the tx/rx set for a day of shooting on one new alkaline 9V battery each, unless there's a lot of long-range transmission (eats batteries faster).
 
Duracell or procell 9V batteries last around 6 hours in mine, which isn't too bad, when you buy them in boxes of 10.
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I should start an untidy working area topic - but I've got G2, G1 and some Trantec kit on the go - and it all works nicely - and for what it's worth, Trance receivers, despite the slightly different spec, work well together - the commander mismatch working for you as slight compression. The Company Office is a bit of a mess - sorry!
 
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And would you always use the 3.5mm to XLR adapter with the dr70d, does that offer better sound than 3.5mm? I guess if it's lockable XLR that's better, but I don't see what sound benefits that would provide?
 
I have always generally avoided AA re-chargeables for radio mics as they tend to only give 1.2 or 1.3 volts and that can make the transmitters and receivers underperform.

We have recently started using Energiser ultimate lithium AA batteries here and have some old sennheiser radio mics for the news studio and they last a very long time.

We tend to change them daily anyway but we still measure 1.6-1.8 volts per cell and I re-use these part used ones for my G2's etc. The Duracells do a reasonable time too but one they measure less than 1.5v they are no good for anything other than LED torches etc.
 
OK I bought the first generation... the savings were worth it if I can get similar functionality considering I'll only use it when I don't have a dedicated sound man working with me.

What are people's advice on 9v batteries? There's some cheap packs of 10 out there, but don't want to cheap out of it causes a problem.
 
Procell/Duracell only for me.

I'm with Gary on rechargeable ones. In fact, they're much better than they used to be, but the biggest snag is you need a charging regime - used ones in one box, charged ones in another that is dated. It's so easy to take a charged one and discover it was charged last week, and the newer ones used first, leaving the old one half charged before you even start. Here in pantoland, we use 24 AA's per show - and that's over 200- batteries - the half used ones go in a big bin and people help themselves - but risking two shows is considered a poor choice - they will 'probably' last, but probably isn't good enough. Think what we would save with rechargeable, but we don't!
 
We just got our expensive sennheiser packs re-celled but have found that they are failing quite quickly, probably need a few more charge cycles to bed them in, the AA adaptors for our packs were over £200 each too so it is not cheap keeping old pro kit in service.

Like Paul we don't risk a loss of TX for the sake of a battery but all the presenters have twin mics on so we put a re-chargeable on one pack and lithiums on the other.
 
Since nobody mentioned it have you checked on the legalities of using wireless where you are going? Laws vary from no restrictions except frequency (some of the bands that used to be OK in the US are not anymore) to needing a license from the government to not allowing wireless transmissions at all.
 
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