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Prevention is always
better than the cure, so try and follow these simply rules
to get the best out of your equipment. |
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License your equipment. This in itself
may not guarantee interference free shows but at least
you have the legal high ground and the right to use the
frequencies.
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At large shows or even unfamiliar
venue's make sure everyone who you think needs to be aware
of the frequencies you will be using are made aware. This
could be someone in the production office, or even arrange
that you are the person people come to discuss any frequency
issues. Not having a single point of contact for frequency
issues tends to be the biggest problem when it comes to
wireless equipment.
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Talk to the venue operator, they may
have a list of frequencies used by their internal comm
systems or they may even be able to pass on local information
that may be relevant to you, like the TV sub station transmitter
located 100metres away!
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Be familiar with your equipment, be
familiar to its quirks, its limitations. Follow any frequency
plans specified by the manufacturer, noting any special
limits to the frequency plans they specify. This is extremely
important as the number of systems goes up.
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Following on from point 4 keep handy
the frequency guide/plan for your equipment. You may be
able solve any problems by just using a different frequency
plan.
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Be aware of the coverage area that
you want your equipment to work in. If you are using remote
antenna's make sure the antenna's are placed as close
as possible to the working area, if you have a diversity
system, then place the antenna's so they are on either
side of the working area. If you have your antennas attached
to the receiver then arrange for the receiver to be placed
as close as possible to the working area. All this insures
that the distance between the receiver and transmitter
is kept to a minimum, there by decreasing the chances
of any rogue transmission breaking through on your system.
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Make sure the transmitting aerials
(and aerials on In-ear receiver belt packs) are not covered
or obscured by anything. Watch out for people who hold
Hand held microphones around their base where the aerial
is most likely located. Many belt packs have flexible
wire aerials, make sure they are not obscured by clothing,
if they must be due to costumes then ensure that the aerial
does not come in to contact with the body as this will
have a great effect on the aerials performance.
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Insure you have an adequate supply
of batteries. New batteries should be used for each performance,
the last thing you want is a battery to fail half way
through a live TV show. More importantly as the battery
weakens so does the transmission quality that could have
some bad consequences for your well thought out frequency
plan and interference prevention.
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So you tried the prevention
route and that got you no where, here are some things
for you to try out. |
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Switch off all the Transmitters. Most
receiver's have some sort of RF level meter, watch the
level meter. If there is RF activity on the meter then
you can be sure that this is your source of interference.
Try and locate the rogue transmission, it could be as
innocent as another person using equipment on similar
frequencies as you, unknowingly! If you cannot locate
the rogue transmission, maybe your equipment has the scope
to be adjusted around the problem.
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Make sure all the transmitters are
programmed to a frequency specified in a recommended plan
provided by the manufacturer. On many mid to high range
UHF Equipment, the manufacturer usually has pre-programmed
frequency plans in the form of groups. Make sure each
transmitter is programmed to a different channel within
the same group.
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Check that any RF cables are not running
alongside switched mains cables like lighting rigs, high
power motors, etc.
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Check that any ADA (Antenna Distribution
Amplifier) is switched on and the remote antenna are connected
correctly and working.
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The interference you are facing maybe
due to the interaction of any local transmissions such
as TV repeater transmitters and the number of systems
you are trying to use. You may find that you can get rid
of interference by reducing the number of transmitters
you have switched at any one time. Create a usage chart,
which can be used to reduce the number of transmitters
required at any one time, there by curing your interference
problems.
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Are you expecting too much from the
equipment, are you expecting it work over an unreasonable
distance taking in to account the number of systems you
are running and other local conditions. If you need to
cover a specific distance you may need to use a different
antenna set-up.
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If all else fails, get
in touch we may be able to help! |
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