Top 6 Wireless Microphone Problems & What To Do About Them on Pro Acoustics Tech Talk Episode 82

Today there is a wireless microphone system for almost every application, from school gymnasiums to presentations, to churches and conference rooms. Wireless microphones are a great solution when you need a little bit more freedom and don’t want to be restricted by cables and wires. As with most things though, wireless microphones are not without their own set of problems. Issues like wireless mic dropouts can be a real nightmare.

In this video, we’re going to talk about the most common wireless microphone problems our customers run into and how you can address them.

What are common problems you might face with wireless mics?
Multi-path Interference, Noise Floor and Interference, Intermodulation Distortion and Frequency Coordination, Static, Channels "Mysteriously" Changing, Incompatibility...these are just a few examples. Let’s see if we can’t clarify what some of these actually mean and how you might be able to fix them.

1. Static on a wireless mic is usually caused when the mic is too far away from the receiver, a battery is dying, or when something is interfering with the signal.
2. Loss of range or local interference is caused by competition from localized interference.
3. Multi-path interference occurs when waves from a source travel to an antenna via two or more paths and the two (or more) components of the wave interfere constructively or destructively.
4. Noise Floor or Noisy wireless of a radio receiver is the level of background noise that is present before any wanted signals are received.
5. Intermodulation typically occurs when multiple wireless systems are used together and the receivers are in close proximity (or in the same rack).
6. Incompatibility happens when using multiple wireless transmitters on 1 receiver, and/or if components are not made to be used together.

Know your RF spectrum:
An RF wireless microphone uses Radio Frequencies to send data. You should know what radio frequency bands in your area are high traffic for radio and TV stations, cell phone companies, etc. Consumer-level wireless systems must stay clear of these due to broadcast hierarchies. It is best to identify where these potentially problematic frequencies are to mitigate any conflicting reception, noise, and static that can occur.

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[mtnguyen]

Great info. Thank you! Will try some of these advices.

[andrewfitness]

Great information and straight to the points. I like it! I DJ weddings and typically have my mic TX and RX settings dialed in but need have issues with lapel feedback when I'm indoors. I hate lapels for live sound.

[KTHKUHNKK]

Super super great advice you were just what I was looking for m
Thank you

[bryanrendon]

Sir how about when you speaking to the wireless mic, theres a noice, like ??

[EliteWhiteNinja]

Fantastic video thank you! Can we have audio examples of how these issues would sound?

[franks]

Very nice explanation thank you. I have a shire transmitter with countryman headset and getting an intermittent choppiness on the pastors mic. I will go look at these things this week see if it helps. We are located near the police station.

[nghipham]

Hello dear! Do you know the frequency range for the wireless microphone in Virginia please

[jdstewart]

my band got sick and tired of wireless..we switched back to wired mics..never looked back..

[yvngelmo]

quick question over at my job (sorry for specifics) we have a audia flex for our speakers in two separate locations of the building and we have two separate shure blx4 receivers and one blx2 mic, is there any way to sync those two receivers to pick up sound from the one mic?

[larrycaraballo]

I'm having issues with distortion and dropouts with my Vocopro mics at one of my shows. I think it could be from the stage lights that I used for my shows.

[lindanwaiwu]

Hello Sir. Thank you for this wonderful video.

My wireless microphone is not recording sounds anymore even after turning on the OTG connection. Please what could be the problem?

[GilbertCarrizales]

I have a question. Hopefully, you can provide an explanation. I am using the Debra 4 channel Wireless Microphone set. It includes the 4 headset bundle and the receiver hub. When we ampifly the volume to get more gain, there is a fairly loud white noise/static that is constant. It is for sure coming from the receiver, but we are not sure why. Could this be a channel frequency issue? Note: The 4 mics are not far from the receiver when in use. 15 feet tops.

[HariKrishnan-fecw]

Hi for a Wireless receiver can we use Di box for elemination of noise or change the signal cable to a short one which is better?

[amandahatfield]

When the receiver from an ear mic says signal lost intermittently. What could be the problem? Btw, great video

[zjf_photos]

Hey there! I'm the tech director at a church here in Augusta. We have 3 shure PSM300 receivers for our IEM's two sennheiser XS wireless receivers, one sennheiser UHF receiver, one audio technica UHF receiver, and two Audio technica 2.4GHz receivers. All of this equipment is before my time, I understand it's kind of cobbled together. We're having issues with mics dropping out and feedback problems. All the transmitters are within 15-20 feet of the receivers but are not within line of sight. There is a drum kit and some plexiglass separating everything. I'm curious to know what you think would be the best path forward. I've been thinking of getting a frequency manager to relocate the Shure IEM antennas to be within line of sight. Out of the 6 other receivers we have (4 handheld mics and two body pack countryman's), The AT UHF receiver is the only one with a BNC connector. Would it be worthwhile getting a spectrum analyzer to set up the frequencies with purpose? Relocate the antennas with BNC connectors, relocate the receivers with the hard wired antennas to be line of sight? Trash the mics that weren't even meant for a professional application?

[ClydeneBalkeMusic]

I am using the Sennheiser XSW 1-ME3 Wireless Headworn Microphone System - A Range for singing. I play ukuleles and sing. I just got it and used it for the first time yesterday with no problems. It sounded great! Today I went to use it, and I'm getting static. It seems like it is coming from the body pack wiring. I put it on the waist of my pants, and when I move around, it makes a static noise. How do I fix this? thanks for any input you can provide.

[chikajudith]

Sir what do you suggest I do? My reciever head is bigger than my phone port( the hole on my charging port is small and can't accommodate the reciever😢

[VivianEcclefield]

I just purchased a Sennheiser EW G4 wireless handheld & used it for a live event recently& had some static at times. It was placed about 3 feet from speaker & a bit low angle. When I set the settings I realized I don’t know anything about RF & AF. I kept seeing the MUTE on the LCD screen but the mic wasn’t muted. And I never could make it Mute. Can u address more RF versus AF? I can’t seem to find the manual for this particular model. Thx.

[raphaeldaniel]

Hi I have an akg wms 450 c5, the mic it turns on but output isn't transmitting....please can you let me know what may be the issue

[spiritlediwc]

Hi, we are running a few wireless Shure PG58 mics and continue to experience frequency dropouts. We have tried changing the groups and channels, moved the receivers locations, switched out the XLRs, tried different inputs - and still nothing has worked. What is weird is that Live during service, we hear the repeated dropouts, but after listening to the recording of service, there isn't any dropouts? What could be causing this?