Wireless technology can be a little daunting at first. But don't worry, wireless systems are much easier to understand today than ever before. Most wireless systems set themselves up for you, and once you've set them up, you don't need to touch them again. Here's a simple overview of wireless microphone technology, how you can put it to work in your church, and how to avoid some common pitfalls.
There are two basic types of wireless transmitters: handheld units and bodypacks. Handheld units combine a microphone and a wireless transmitter into one device. They are extremely convenient for worship leaders, and even some pastors prefer them because you can move a handheld microphone away from your mouth if you need to cough. Wireless handheld microphones are also less susceptible to dropout, because the transmitter part of the unit naturally points out toward the receiving antennas.
Bodypack transmitters allow you to plug in a lavalier microphone or a guitar cable, giving you both wireless and hands-free convenience. If you are going to use a lavalier microphone, you'll most likely want to choose one with a cardioid (unidirectional) pickup pattern rather than one with an omnidirectional pattern. Cardioid lavaliers reject sound that doesn't enter them directly, making them less likely to create feedback. Just remember this: no matter how much freedom wireless microphones give you, you still can't walk in front of the loudspeakers without causing feedback.
Dropout is just as bad as feedback. Even intermittent dropout can ruin an otherwise wonderful service. An unbroken line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver's antennas is ideal, but seldom is that possible. More times than not, the wireless signal must rebound off of walls and other surfaces to reach the receiver, and that increases the risk of dropout. If you put a bodypack transmitter in your back pocket, the signal (unable to pass through you) will have to find an alternative path to the receiver. So, to minimize the risk of signal dropout, keep your bodypack in your front jacket pocket.
Another major problem is broadband noise and radio interference. If your church is in a city, chances are that an inexpensive entry-level wireless system simply won't work for you. The same precision technology responsible for the high simultaneous channel count common to most high-end professional wireless systems is responsible for shutting out noise and radio interference. Digital wireless systems, which reject noise and other non-digital signals out of hand, are excellent cost-effective alternatives to traditional wireless systems.
All professional wireless receivers are "true diversity" receivers, which means that they use two independent antennas. That way, if the wireless signal doesn't reach one antenna, it can still reach the other. Quality wireless receivers have antennas that twist off, allowing you to mount them on stands and spread them out. Separating your antennas vastly increases their effectiveness. Even spreading your antennas out just a few feet and moving them away from your other gear will vastly improve your system's performance. Also, if you have a multichannel wireless system, you may also need an antenna distribution system, which will allow you to connect only a single pair of antennas to multiple receivers.
Whether your future wireless system is a single-channel, single-speaker setup or a larger system for the whole worship team, it should effectively and accurately spread the message. Unfortunately, many budget-priced wireless systems may make it difficult and unpleasant for your congregation to hear that message. If the number of quality wireless systems you need is beyond your current budget, practice wise stewardship and save your money until you can afford the system that your house of worship deserves. There are excellent single-channel wireless systems that you can start with and expand later. Your Sweetwater Sales Engineer will be happy to help you find the right system for your church.
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