The $500 Wireless Question, or, "What cheap system should I get?"

Alex, Scott, Rippie...You do this forum a great service by answering these same questions over and over again. My hat goes off to you gentlemen as I don't have the patience that you all do. Cheers!
 
I PM'ed a mod for a sticky. They tend not to read every thread, so asking in-thread for a sticky doesn't usually get attention.
 
Having rented Senny G2's several times, i knew they were the standard, they just worked well and were easy to use. I'm excited to say just last week i bought 2 Senny G3's along with the H4N, Rode NTG2, Rode Boompole and Blimp, and a Juiced Link DT454. I have a Canon 60D and a Canon 550D.

Now how do i use all this stuff!
 
C2V said:
the G3 systems added diversity (a second antenna, reducing the likelihood for signal dropouts)

...

Often, the uber-cheap systems run on VHF frequencies and are non-diversity, which means terrible reception and more vulnerability to interference.
-Alex
Click to expand...
two points I'd like to add:

1 There is no second antenna on the G3s, instead the cable serves as second antenna. They look the same as the G2 units, just one visible antenna.

2 Funnily, I have had the best reach/reception with non-diversity VHF units (Lectrosonics) compared to diversity UHF units (Audio Limited).
 
sonidista said:
1 There is no second antenna on the G3s, instead the cable serves as second antenna. They look the same as the G2 units, just one visible antenna.
Click to expand...

And if you'd quoted the entire statement:

C2V said:
the G3 systems added diversity (a second antenna, reducing the likelihood for signal dropouts) by utilizing the audio output cable from the receiver as the second antenna.
Click to expand...

As for VHF, it is a lower band, and as such can bend a little bit better. UHF must be more line-of-sight than VHF (though neither can perform miracles around harsh geography or complex structures).

There are some pro-level VHF units (such as from Lectro) that used to be the standard before the UHF units were introduced. However, in the cheap-o wireless world VHF units are absolute garbage, and that is the context that relates to the original post. If one is convinced that it's fine to go with a $100 VHF system, he or she might as well go buy a nursery monitor and use that.

The UHF Lectro systems also sound, in terms of audio frequency response, much better than the old VHF units.
 
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Thanks C2V, I have that book and love it!

I was just joking, I just need to figure out all this new gear and do all sorts of tests and whatnot.
 
Thanks very handy. Over in the UK you can also get some good prices on quality old vhf units from audio ltd and micron, but you need to make sure they are still legal!
G3 is where I find myself heading, they are also more precise in the bandwidth so apparently you can find your slot more easily if in an RF hostile environment.
 
I saw the title and thought, "Groan.... here we go again. G3 bla bla bla..."

Hopefully C2V has saved us a lot of rewriting of the same thing over and over! Thanks man.
 
I was really interested in these when they came out (1800 series) but heard underwhelming things. I now am so glad I got a G3. Most of the time I only need one person using wireless, so I don't have to carry around the big dual receiver of the 1800, and the G3 stuff just sounds better. I can buy 2 for the same price and use them as needed.
 
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