Best RF Carrier frequency for cities, and omni vs. cardioid lav? at DVinfo.net

Marcia Janine Galles · April 14th, 2004, 01:17 PM

Hi all. If I'm using a wireless in San Francisco, does it matter which RF frequency I purchase for the Senn. Evo 100 series? Does one range work better in a city than others when it comes to signal competition? The choices are: 518-550; 630-662; 740-772 MHz

Also, I've read all sorts of pros and cons for omni vs. cadioid lavs. Anybody have any personal preference they want to chime in, re the ME 2 vs. ME 4? It will be used indoors (home and hospital interviews) as well as outdoors, on a speaker doing Q & A in front of an audience of kids.

Thanks in advance (again!),
Marcia

Bryan Beasleigh · April 14th, 2004, 08:18 PM

If you're buying the rig from a full service audio shop, they'll know.
There is a site that lists the frequencies though. hopefully someone will have the link.

Barry Schmetter · April 15th, 2004, 09:42 AM

Marcia--check out the lectrosonics web site to select the best frequency range in your area for your wireless set.

http://www.lectrosonics.com/cgi-bin/tv_form.pl

I highly recommend an omni lav to start with. They're easier to use because the placement of a lav can vary so much (shirt, collar, hair, glasses, etc.). An omni lav can also be used to mic 2 people close to each other and it works nicely as a plant mic on the set.

Marcia Janine Galles · April 15th, 2004, 10:44 AM

Barry, so by way of example, on that site's link, if its TV frequency range for San Francisco stops at 506-512 (for the 500's, that is... there are others listed in the 6 & 700's), and the Sennheiser's Evo frequency is listed at 518-550, then the Evo should be fine to use in that city, correct? How reliable is that measurement? Is all this a guess at best and the only "sure thing" is a wired lav?

Oleg Kaizerman · April 15th, 2004, 11:58 AM

before you buy ,just take the scaner and check the friqwencis in your aria, do it twice and in different sites , you probly will find the windows which good for you, or if you cant do it find someone who dealing with eng in your aria.

Barry Schmetter · April 16th, 2004, 02:54 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Marcia Janine Galles : Barry, so by way of example, on that site's link, if its TV frequency range for San Francisco stops at 506-512 (for the 500's, that is... there are others listed in the 6 & 700's), and the Sennheiser's Evo frequency is listed at 518-550, then the Evo should be fine to use in that city, correct? How reliable is that measurement? Is all this a guess at best and the only "sure thing" is a wired lav? -->>>

As you might expect, the UHF bandwith around SF is crowded. For each channel or frequency, the chart shows the nearest analog or digital transmitter. The digital channels have been reserved, but it doesn't mean they're transmitting anything...yet. Look for a wirelesss set that covers the frequencies that includes analog and digital transmitters that are as far away as possible--like 50 or 60 miles. If a live station is transmitting 10 miles away from you, you can expect intereference on most of that frequency band. The recommendation to talk to some vendors in your area is also good advice.

April 14th, 2004, 01:17 PM	#1
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Best RF Carrier frequency for cities, and omni vs. cardioid lav? Hi all. If I'm using a wireless in San Francisco, does it matter which RF frequency I purchase for the Senn. Evo 100 series? Does one range work better in a city than others when it comes to signal competition? The choices are: 518-550; 630-662; 740-772 MHz Also, I've read all sorts of pros and cons for omni vs. cadioid lavs. Anybody have any personal preference they want to chime in, re the ME 2 vs. ME 4? It will be used indoors (home and hospital interviews) as well as outdoors, on a speaker doing Q & A in front of an audience of kids. Thanks in advance (again!), Marcia

April 14th, 2004, 08:18 PM	#2
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	If you're buying the rig from a full service audio shop, they'll know. There is a site that lists the frequencies though. hopefully someone will have the link.

April 15th, 2004, 09:42 AM	#3
Barry Schmetter Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Washington DC Posts: 38	Marcia--check out the lectrosonics web site to select the best frequency range in your area for your wireless set. http://www.lectrosonics.com/cgi-bin/tv_form.pl I highly recommend an omni lav to start with. They're easier to use because the placement of a lav can vary so much (shirt, collar, hair, glasses, etc.). An omni lav can also be used to mic 2 people close to each other and it works nicely as a plant mic on the set.

April 15th, 2004, 10:44 AM	#4
Marcia Janine Galles Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 340	Barry, so by way of example, on that site's link, if its TV frequency range for San Francisco stops at 506-512 (for the 500's, that is... there are others listed in the 6 & 700's), and the Sennheiser's Evo frequency is listed at 518-550, then the Evo should be fine to use in that city, correct? How reliable is that measurement? Is all this a guess at best and the only "sure thing" is a wired lav?

April 15th, 2004, 11:58 AM	#5
Oleg Kaizerman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: israel Posts: 296	before you buy ,just take the scaner and check the friqwencis in your aria, do it twice and in different sites , you probly will find the windows which good for you, or if you cant do it find someone who dealing with eng in your aria.

April 16th, 2004, 02:54 PM	#6
Barry Schmetter Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Washington DC Posts: 38	<<<-- Originally posted by Marcia Janine Galles : Barry, so by way of example, on that site's link, if its TV frequency range for San Francisco stops at 506-512 (for the 500's, that is... there are others listed in the 6 & 700's), and the Sennheiser's Evo frequency is listed at 518-550, then the Evo should be fine to use in that city, correct? How reliable is that measurement? Is all this a guess at best and the only "sure thing" is a wired lav? -->>> As you might expect, the UHF bandwith around SF is crowded. For each channel or frequency, the chart shows the nearest analog or digital transmitter. The digital channels have been reserved, but it doesn't mean they're transmitting anything...yet. Look for a wirelesss set that covers the frequencies that includes analog and digital transmitters that are as far away as possible--like 50 or 60 miles. If a live station is transmitting 10 miles away from you, you can expect intereference on most of that frequency band. The recommendation to talk to some vendors in your area is also good advice.