Sennheiser EW100 or Lectrosonics 100 Radio/ UHF Mics

[Sound Sorcerer]

IMO the Lectro UCR100 is superior to the Senn G2's systems. Better range & signal to noise ratio. I only own a single UCR100 which I use to run a scratch track to professional grade HD cameras; but also own a couple of lectrosonics 211's systems, a Lectro venue system with um400 & SM transmitters, and I would say that the Lectro 100 is a great entry level system...

[PlugHead]

Lectrosonics will chew the Senn's up for breakfast. High quality items and GREAT support.

Word of caution - I don't know the outcome, but UHF items might be into problems with the apparent change of "white spaces" - might be worth reading before investing:

PSW Recording Forums: Whatever Works => Attention Wireless Mic Users

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by thebighandster

I purchased some Sennheiser Sk100G2 and Ek100G bodypack radio mics for use in my new ENG package. I am using them with tram TR-50 heads. I can only get about 80 ft. out of them tops. I use the scan feature and make sure that the frequencies are open. I have the "A" channel which is in the 500mhz. range. Is this typical, the manual and on b and h they say they go 475 ft. I have never gotten even close to this.

G2 systems can get about 100m in range and your 80ft is only a quarter of this.

Something is obviously wrong.

What are you doing with the antennae? If the transmitter antenna is touching the body you will have about a 70dB attenuation of transmitter power. Getting the antenna just 1cm off the body gets back a good deal of this loss.

Is the person sweating? or have metal threads in the clothing?

How have you mounted the receiver? Is the antenna in free air?

Is there a powerful TV transmitter close which may restrict range?

I hope this helps.

[memphisindie]

Lectro isn't that much better, your unit is malfunctioning.
You're fine on the FCC thing, only 700mhz range (C range) is affected.

[Sound Sorcerer]

Yep, just as your signature states:
"Normally, just Pretentious Bullcrap"
I've compared both systems during realtime situations on the field for several networks including Sundance Channel, Science Channel & History Channel; and guess what? Producers decided to go with Lectro...

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by Sound Sorcerer

Yep, just as your signature states:
"Normally, just Pretentious Bullcrap"
I've compared both systems during realtime situations on the field for several networks including Sundance Channel, Science Channel & History Channel; and guess what? Producers decided to go with Lectro...

Don't be such a dick in your post, lectro-shill, you tried to allude that Lectro was better because you wanted the poster to believe that there Sennheiser unit was functioning normally at that reduced performance.
Post the range and signal to noise ratio or you're just talking outta your butt.

[Sound Sorcerer]

Come again?

[Sound Sorcerer]

Originally Posted by memphisindie

Don't be such a dick in your post, lectro-shill, you tried to allude that Lectro was better because you wanted the poster to believe that there Sennheiser unit was functioning normally at that reduced performance.
Post the range and signal to noise ratio or you're just talking outta your butt.

Well , I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings but I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that the original posters mic is "broken"... Also, just so you know I've owned both systems & tested them on similar situations and let me tell you that the Lectros 100's series had outperformed the G2 on similar scenarios... Chill Bro!

[memphisindie]

Originally Posted by Sound Sorcerer

Well , I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings but I'm not sure how you came to the conclusion that the original posters mic is "broken"... Also, just so you know I've owned both systems & tested them on similar situations and let me tell you that the Lectros 100's series had outperformed the G2 on similar scenarios... Chill Bro!

Outperformed, how? I'd like really to know. It might help someone out to get the details of that, like the OP.
I think everyone knows that the Lectro's are better to some degree, they have more functionality, but, sonically they aren't that far apart and for the money, if you don't need that functionality, why pay for it?
I own a few Sennheiser G2 mics and they all work better than 80 feet. Sounds like an antenna is not connected properly internally. Could be traffic.

[Sound Sorcerer]

I'm glad your G2's are working charms for you & I respect that... As for me, my Lectros 211's, 411's & venue system are performing as expected...
Good Luck!

[John Willett]

Without getting into the debate of who is "better" than who..................

There are various factors to take into account when you design a radio system as well as the legal constrictions on power and the frequency "mask".

One thing to note is that the USA has a very lax. spec. when it comes to the radiomics and the "mask" is very "loose" - so a system designed specifically for the American market can do things that a system designed for the international market cannot, due to the very tight requirements in ISO specifications. But such a system would have much higher levels of spurious emissions and more limited multi-channel capability.

Even if you design a system to the ISO specs you can optimise for different things. The Sennheiser systems are superb at multi-channel operation, but at the expense of extreme range (ie: you can get 11 IM-free frequencies on a G2 system in a single 8MHz window).

If you design a system for maximum range you compromise on multi-channel operation, so a system that gives excellent range would be able to operate less systems in the same bandwidth.

So - you pays your money and makes the choice which is best for you.

______________________________________________________

However, back to the earlier query............

Turning the transmitter upside down often helps to keep the antenna off the body - or putting about 1cm of foam between the antenna and body helps.

If someone is sweating with an antenna on the body - your range will be seriously attenuated (and this is true for all radiomics).

UHF systems are much more susceptable to body absorbtion than VHF so particular care needs to be taken when attaching.

I hope this helps.

[memphisindie]

I wonder if there could be a flat-ish anteanna sleeve made of foam with a foil insert on one side (making a very small dish) that would be more positionable.
I'll make one and see about that.

[Sound Sorcerer]

Originally Posted by memphisindie

I wonder if there could be a flat-ish anteanna sleeve made of foam with a foil insert on one side (making a very small dish) that would be more positionable.
I'll make one and see about that.

There's this Foam-ish thing called "Hush Lav" originally designed to protect Sanken's COS-11 from rustling noise... Maybe you can use it to "shield" the G2's anntennas...

[memphisindie]

ooh, I was going to make some of those, but, now that I se they're already out there, thanks, Sergio! Where do we get them, bhp?

[Sound Sorcerer]

Right in your back yard:
Trew Audio - Mic Accessories - Lavalier Accessories - PSC Hush Lav

[memphisindie]

Thank you very much, you are a good man.