GearCast - Is Your Church's Wireless System Ready?

By Chris Regan from RF Venue

As the Easter holiday approaches, preparing your technical teams to setup wireless mics and in-ear systems is a top priority. With the recent increase in liveDefinition:
Live broadcast of an event or program without substantial delay or editing. video streamingDefinition:
A method of sending a continuous flow of digital content over IP (Internet Protocol) networks, and often, tailors itself to the user's receiving capability. for church services, making sure wireless audio has a consistent, clear sound that Doesn't Drop Out, has never been more important.

Here are a few important steps to keeping your church's wireless system working during peak services:

1. Analyze your church’s RFDefinition:
   (Radio Frequency) Electromagnetic radiation through the air, or electrical signals in cable. Typically, RF frequencies are above 100 kHz. spectrum conditions to spot issues
2. Check your antennas and distribution equipment
3. Coordinate frequencies to manage your wireless systems

Analyze the spectrum to spot issues

Avoiding interference is critical for keep wireless systems on the air, avoiding drop outs. To give them a fighting chance, you need to stay at least 20 dBDefinition:
1. A deciBel is a logarithmic ratio between two quantities, and is a nonlinear measurement that mimics human perception.  2. A unit expressing sound levels relative to a nominal level just audible by the average human ear, and equal to 1/10th of a Bel.  3. (slang) Database. above the typical noise floorDefinition:
The unalterable, lowest noise level within a system, measured in dB. For example, microphone preamp hiss might set the noise floor in a recording situation..

Check Antenna Distribution and Antennas

Antenna Distribution for Wireless Microphones is different from AntennaDefinition:
A device for radiating or receiving electromagnetic signals. Combining for In-Ear Monitoring, so pay attention to how your antennas are configured and placed.

Two easy steps to verify proper frequency coordination

1. With wireless mic transmitters turned off, make sure that front of that mic’s receiver has no RF signal present
2. If there is noise, then choose a new frequencyDefinition:
   A value, expressed in Hertz, that indicates how many cycles of a periodic signal occur in one second. and check other mics one by one until all are clear

Lastly, make sure your coaxial cables are up to the task!

1. Check for any bends or bad kinks and replace them before use
2. Make sure the cable is 50 ohmDefinition:
   A unit of measurement for resistance to the flow of electrical current. type
3. Tech Tip for system designers: use RF Venue's easy real time Wireless Performance Calculator tool

Read other GearCast articles featuring RF Venue:

• Top Three Wireless Microphone Problems and How to Solve Them by Don Boomer
• Keeping Wireless Mics On the Air by Don Boomer