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6 Steps To Setting Up UHF Wireless Microphone Systems

By Bruce Hathaway

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 27Jun2011
Word count: 646
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First let's start with what a wireless system is. Essentially it consists of a radio transmitter and receiver. There are a number of types of transmitter depending on your needs and uses. In this article we'll only be concerned about the higher-quality UHF systems.

1. Transmitters:

The first and most often seen is the transmitter that is built into a hand-held microphone.

The other type of transmitter involves a body-pack where you can plug different devices into it:

A lapel microphone attaches to a piece of clothing and is is very discrete, for actors even unseen.

The next is the headset microphone which is often used in a live performance where the singer is unencumbered and can move around freely.

The third is for an instrument such as guitar or anything else that uses a 1/4" jack.

2. Receivers:

A receiver is much like the radio in your car. It listens to a signal that's sent to it and enables you to listen to what that signal is. in essence the receiver takes the radio waves from the transmitter source receives it and demodulates it (turns it into electronic form) so we can plug whatever device we want into it.

It could be a mixing console, a guitar amplifier or, as mentioned before, a microphone with built in transmitter. The body-pack system can also be used quite effectively on a video cameras.

3. Receiver Antennas:

The true diversity system or UHF (ultra high frequency) will have 2 antennas which connect to two electronic circuits with a switcher in between. Because the antennas are redundant, the automatic switch is used to choose the one that receives the strongest signal.

What you'll need to do is place the two antennas at a 90 degree angle to one another (45 degrees from the ground). this positioning will give you the best performance out of the system that you can get.

It's preferable that nothing will be blocking the signal between the transmitter and the receiver antennas. A system can go through some solid surfaces but will perform better in the open air. It may take some ingenuity to place the receiver in a spot where it will "see" the transmitter, especially with a body-pack system. You can get a remote antenna set, but that's beyond the scope of this article.

4. Scanning Frequencies:

UHF systems generally can operate at different radio frequencies above normal transmissions such as TV or cell-phones. Before using the scanner on your receiver turn off the transmitter. Use the menu on the receiver to select the scan option. It may take a bit of time for the receiver to find the open frequencies but once it does it will hold them in banks.

Next choose the frequency channel that you want. (in the receiver display.) Then turn the transmitter on and set it to the same cannel as the receiver.

5. Setting the Sensitivity on the Transmitter:

This is just another name for volume or gain. On the transmitter there will be options for setting the sensitivity to get the optimal signal level. If it's too high it may distort; too low and it will be difficult to hear.

6. Setting the Receiver Output:

This step will be the last in setting up your system. Much like the sensitivity for your transmitter this step determines the final signal sent to the amplifier or mixer. Communicate with the engineer and he/she will help you get the right output from the receiver. That's pretty much it on this topic. Happy music making!

Bruce has achieved a lifetime of producing and engineering at his recording studio, Excello, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Through his experience on stage, he is also a wireless microphone expert with extensive knowledge of vocal, instrument, USB microphones and more.

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