REALWORLDGEAR
Wireless Microphone Systems
Where the market now stands. by Andy Wood
As recently outlined by Chris Lyons of
Shure Inc. in January of this year, and
most recently by Mark Frink in February of this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made
its initial recommendations of the use of
wireless microphone and communications systems alongside that of TV Band
Devices and other spectrum users.
The original proposed date of February 17, 2009, still has some implications, albeit put back to June 12, 2009,
if and when, that decision makes its way
from the Senate through the House of
Representatives.
In the meantime, parts of the U.S.
have already “switched off” as it were,
and more are planned in a rolling scale.
Of course, this leaves the whole
subject somewhat in a modicum of
limbo. And, should you be considering
purchasing new wireless product, the
chances are, you might just be hanging
on for a while to see how it all pans
out. There again, you might be forced
to purchase now, and if so, where and
what do you look for?
Certainly the areas around TV Channels 63 (764 - 770 MHz) and 64 (771
- 776 MHz) plus Channels 68 and 69
(794 – 806 MHz) are now out of bounds
and are to be used for Public Safety.
As for the rest of the so-called
“700 MHz” band (698 – 806 MHz),
the situation is somewhat easier from
a new purchase point of view, in that
the majority of manufacturers do now
not support that band. Of course, second hand equipment operating in that
band is available, and as the FCC has
not made a final decision as yet, and
indeed has so far failed in it’s effort to
sell the “Block D” 700 MHz band for
a cool $1.3 billion reserve, the jury is
still out.
To sweeten the pill, many manufacturers are offering attractive deals, trade-ins or retunes for existing product. It’s
worth contacting your manufacturer to
find out what’s on offer.
In the meantime, this month’s Real
World Gear takes a look at what’s available out there at the moment, and to
play the legal game, none of the product listed here operates in the 700 MHz
band, or the Public Safety channels.
There are also a couple of digital
options listed alongside existing analog
equipment.
This is an interesting area in that
these systems incorporate digital audio
transmission and thus claim to remove
the effects normally associated with
analog compander circuitry. Intermodulation issues are also said to be greatly
reduced, hence allowing more users
within the same band.
As always, the following list of
products does not intend to include all
makes and models of wireless systems
available. Instead, the goal is to represent the most likely (generally top-shelf) systems that are currently used
for live sound reinforcement and touring by professionals working today. The
choice, as always, is up to you.
Andy Wood is European Editor for Live
Sound International. He can be reached
at awood@livesoundint.com.
AKG DMS 700 Digital Wireless
System
www.akg-acoustics.com
Carrier Frequency Range: 548.100-697.900 MHz,
up to 155 MHz wide
Systems per Freq Group: up to 100
Signal to Noise Ratio: XLR, 115 dB (A), AES/EBU,
120 dB (A)
Frequency Response: 25-20,000 Hz (± 3 dB)
Audio Sampling: 24-bit/44.1 kHz
RF Power: 50 m W
Battery Type, Life: LR6 AA alkaline/AA rechargeable, 8 hours
Notable Specs: System incorporates digital
audio encryption in a 1U chassis receiver.
Dual-frequency bands, plus infrared link
between receiver and transmitter for system set up and operation. DSR Receiver
incorporates a DSP with low cut, 3-band
EQ, dbx compressor, dbx limiter and
spectrum analyzer with HiQnet networking
capability.
Transmitters include the DHT 700 hand-held with proprietary D5 dynamic or C5
condenser mic capsules; and the DPT 700
bodypack with mic and line level inputs
and automatic input sensitivity adjustment. Both can also be used with the
CU700 charging unit for battery charging.
