Remote Audio g3 line level cable behaves as mic level?

[Tom Morrow]

I've got a weird situation. I purchased the Remote Audio cable designed for connecting my G3 transmitter to the line level output of my mixpre:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/766162-REG/Remote_Audio_CASENSK100XL24_Remote_Audio_Wireless_Cable.html
and it does not pass a line level signal. I purchased it to use like the Sennheiser CL2 cable, but shorter (I don't need or want the length of the CL2).

The CL2 cable that I have successfully passes a line level signal from the mixpre to my g3 sk100 transmitter; the 0dBu test tone peaks the g3 with a Sensitivity setting of -33 (right in the middle of the 0 to -60 range).

But the RA cable gives a much weaker signal (or none at all for my purposes): the meter on the sk100 only goes up to 60% with the same 0dBu done, with SK100 Sensitivity set to 0 (much higher). I can get the same 60% level on the SK100 with the Sensitivity set to -51. So in other words this cable seems to be effectively reducing the line level signal to weak mic level.

Using an ohmeter, I found that the CL2 connects the tip of the 1/8" (presumably the line level connection) to XLR 1 and 3, whereas the RA cable does not have such a connection.

Here are the connections that I determined with a continuity tester:

RA: XLR 1(-) and 3(Shield) -> 1/8 Sleeve, and XLR 2(+) -> 1/8" Ring

CL2: XLR 1(-) and 3(Shield)-> 1/8 Sleeve and Tip, and XLR 2(+) -> 1/8" Ring

John Willet said what the wiring should be in an older post:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ml#post1707344

A line level input is connected to the ring and sleeve and the tip is shorted to the sleeve

Because the CL2 does short the tip, while the RA cable does not, I think the RA cable is miswired. It neither grounds the ring nor the tip, one of which seems to be required to be grounded to tell the SK100 what type of signal it's getting.

I actually shipped it back to RA under warranty and they verified that it was wired the way they thought it should be wired, and a subsequent phone conversation with RA indicated that they wired it this way because it was somehow better for compatibility with both g2 and g3 systems (I couldn't understand why).

At any rate, I'm about to return this cable to B&H, but before I leave a negative rating for this cable I thought I'd ask if anyone can make sense of this.

[Brian P. Reynolds]

I have Sennheiser G2 systems and this if from the handbook .... it might help your problem.

I tried to load a pic but wouldnt let me as it was used in another thread..... So here is the link to that thread...
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ansmitter.html

[Steve House]

So temporarily put a jumper between tip and sleeve and see if that fixes the issue.

[Tom Morrow]

Thanks Brian. I think the issue is that they left that microphone input (tip) floating while applying signal to the line input (ring); the tip should be grounded. Letting it float might work on g2 but not my g3 depending on the input circuitry.

Steve's idea of just testing with a jumper is good, but the RA cable has shrinkwrap around the 1/8 soldering that I would have to remove, which would make returns problematic. All indications are that it would work. The challenge would be fitting a sleeve-tip jumper into the already crowded 1/8" barrel. Hmm, that turns me off since I'd be worried about shorts.

I think I'm better off just getting another CL2 and accepting the extra length.

[Ty Ford]

or, try Eric Toline in Florida.

He's a soundie and makes custom cables.

audioetc@bellsouth.net

Regards,

Ty Ford

[Tom Morrow]

I did figure out a way to test shorting the sleeve to the tip on the RA cable and indeed that seemed to solve the problem. The levels came up to what the CL2 was doing. Seems pretty clear that the g3 needs that tip grounded to indicate/accept line level.

But I don't want to try to fix this RA cable by adding a jumper... it's hexed for me and is going back, can't look at it anymore.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Tom Morrow

I've got a weird situation. I purchased the Remote Audio cable designed for connecting my G3 transmitter to the line level output of my mixpre:

Remote Audio Remote Audio Wireless Cable CASENSK100XL24 B&H

and it does not pass a line level signal. I purchased it to use like the Sennheiser CL2 cable, but shorter (I don't need or want the length of the CL2).

The CL2 cable that I have successfully passes a line level signal from the mixpre to my g3 sk100 transmitter; the 0dBu test tone peaks the g3 with a Sensitivity setting of -33 (right in the middle of the 0 to -60 range).

But the RA cable gives a much weaker signal (or none at all for my purposes): the meter on the sk100 only goes up to 60% with the same 0dBu done, with SK100 Sensitivity set to 0 (much higher). I can get the same 60% level on the SK100 with the Sensitivity set to -51. So in other words this cable seems to be effectively reducing the line level signal to weak mic level.

Using an ohmeter, I found that the CL2 connects the tip of the 1/8" (presumably the line level connection) to XLR 1 and 3, whereas the RA cable does not have such a connection.

Here are the connections that I determined with a continuity tester:

RA: XLR 1(-) and 3(Shield) -> 1/8 Sleeve, and XLR 2(+) -> 1/8" Ring

CL2: XLR 1(-) and 3(Shield)-> 1/8 Sleeve and Tip, and XLR 2(+) -> 1/8" Ring

John Willet said what the wiring should be in an older post:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-thin...ml#post1707344



Because the CL2 does short the tip, while the RA cable does not, I think the RA cable is miswired. It neither grounds the ring nor the tip, one of which seems to be required to be grounded to tell the SK100 what type of signal it's getting.

I actually shipped it back to RA under warranty and they verified that it was wired the way they thought it should be wired, and a subsequent phone conversation with RA indicated that they wired it this way because it was somehow better for compatibility with both g2 and g3 systems (I couldn't understand why).

At any rate, I'm about to return this cable to B&H, but before I leave a negative rating for this cable I thought I'd ask if anyone can make sense of this.

For a G3 the tip *has* to be shorted to the sleeve for the line input, as this operates the internam switch (and for a mic. the ring has to be shorted to the sleeve).

With the G2 it was not so important - but the G3 requires the short.