Wireless Microphones

[Blackswan73]

Does anyone know what the frequency range is for an Audio Technica UHF wireless microphone belt pack? My wife is hearing impaired and can’t hear the preaching in church. The preacher is using a belt pack lapel microphone and a UHF AT receiver at the sound board. My thought was if I could lock on to the transmit frequency of the belt pack with a scanner, I could plug in an earbud and she could listen to the sermon

B.S.

 

[Enjoi19]

Some wireless mic systems can be sold in a variety of frequency blocks. Generally speaking though, somewhere from 470-600Mhz is generally where you'll find UHF systems. If it's digital, you may not be able to receive it - but the analog / FM ones, probably can.

Given it's a church, they probably wouldn't mind you just walking up to see what the receiver is set to.

 

[ofd8001]

And I imagine a conversation with the Church's production person, facilities manager, etc., might be helpful. They may even have something in mind for hearing impaired. I was talking with such a person the other day and he was saying their church has a way to connect smart phones to building sound system, and some hearing aids can connect to smartphones.

 

[MiCon]

The first thing I would do is ask if the church has a hearing impaired set-up. Many churches I've been to have headsets available for just that purpose.

If they don't, then ask if they know the frequency of the belt transmitter. If they don't know it offhand, they should be able to find it either on the belt pack or in the product information that came with it. If no one can help you with that, try a frequency counter or a scanner with close call capability.

Also suggest that they look into initiating a hearing impaired system for the (mostly older) members of the congregation..

 

[mmckenna]

Does anyone know what the frequency range is for an Audio Technica UHF wireless microphone belt pack? My wife is hearing impaired and can’t hear the preaching in church. The preacher is using a belt pack lapel microphone and a UHF AT receiver at the sound board. My thought was if I could lock on to the transmit frequency of the belt pack with a scanner, I could plug in an earbud and she could listen to the sermon

B.S.

The ones we use are in the 600MHz band. Depending on age/brand/model/location, they can be 500MHz up into the 800MHz band.

The challenge you'll likely run into is that they use a -v-e-r-y- wide bandwidth, much wider than what LMR uses. If your scanner covers the frequency, and it's not digital, it going to sound really muffled.
The Shure models we use are 38KHz deviation. Scanners/LMR use 2.5Khz to 5KHz deviation. It's going to sound like poop on your scanner. If your wife is hard of hearing, it's going to be such a low fidelity audio that it's probably not going to be helpful.

We have a set of small belt pack type receiver that we can hand out to people that need them. You might want to ask about that. They should be willing to help you find some solution.

And if not, consider buying one. They may appreciate that gesture as others could benefit from it.

 

[AB5ID]

Ask the sound guy

 

[Blackswan73]

I actually was the sound guy until I retired about 15 years ago, but about 5 years ago they upgraded to a completely new system that is actually controlled with an Ipad. BTW the scanner I had in mind is a Pro-60 which has switchable bandwidth

B.S.

 

[tvengr]

I see some Audio Technica UHF wireless mikes use frequencies in the 470-530 and 530-590 (470-590) range using 38 KHz deviation. Set scanner to WFM. FMB is for FM broadcast band which uses 75 KHz deviation.

 

[mmckenna]

BTW the scanner I had in mind is a Pro-60 which has switchable bandwidth

Yeah, looks like it'll do FM broadcast band. If that's the case, then it may work.

Or...

Skip tithing for a month or so, and instead buy them one of these systems. It'll interface to their sound system directly. It'll also benefit others that may need the same assistnace.

https://www.amazon.com/4-Person-Enersound-Assistive-Listening-US-Based/dp/B0DRPT3F55/ref=sr_1_36?crid=SJ6HR0SVFBLJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ovuhnL6j_E5xqiPP6jDmYEMiXwvvHo3r9JmIdgcGpXMcPswfr2r_biCXZJWCU8HbfFt4sRFqmBu1tpoT7PA3EtVr7BFKja586f59pq98CLpHfWW288EnpwWYeweY10jE-Diea9el4w2YkxCY93gSbF8mM1x66t24_V8JehG9B3dIn5DnSrz43WAdj7qc_GRfQOoGc2N5pd07v5b_0EriIlYw5gwAezZEUQsY6ei8ktfVS6SWu1hc9Oc5reZ6Qd656jCbz5V5UnWz8Tx-IEbPEBLLfqbyKq1odH28RwijGFgnrzcfqMw0gg4KttGhLoFxeolgh6-tdz0q3BcBuVvENb3aDiBIJzZjQKojGqfMGeSrVpYBY42ZpsnxyGslqPzI0JHqKhcA22rX7TfM8CtpaSbmZYcjGklSJWfEPprsPRsnoA-FE2_EG2Kb6WRNUYbH.tgCby8MdHJ5stqt6O2ex-O3QZi2eYownnChbT9AcWIw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Assistive+listening+device+system&qid=1736140558&sprefix=assistive+listening+device+system%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-36

 

[upstatesc]

If the church has WiFi another option would be something like AudioFetch. It would feed the audio over the network and people could access it via their own smartphones, etc. No receivers to hand out, take up, maintain, etc.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

There are products for assisted listening in the 75 MHz range which consist of a fixed transmitter and portable receivers you can use with earbuds. You can probably find a set cheap on the ebay. Then ask your new sound guy to plug in the TX base into the output of his sound board and adjust the modulation level. You could get a few receivers and the church could provide them upon request.

 

[lenk911]

There are products for assisted listening in the 75 MHz range which consist of a fixed transmitter and portable receivers you can use with earbuds.

In the 1990's in western Minnesota, every Sunday morning the troopers could listen to a church service over the local MSP repeater. It seemed the 72/75 MHZ link for the repeater matched the church's wireless mike system. Never could figure how it broke through the link's PL tone decode! "Everyone lay your hands on the dash for the final blessing and rotate your reds for an amen!"

I believe all wireless mikes have been moved to 500-600 MHZ range. The one I use has channel A = 512.0 and channelizes about every 2-3 MHZ upward.

 

[Blackswan73]

I purchased this last night from flea bay. It’s a 2.4Ghz in-ear monitor. Figured I would give it a shot. It was an open box deal for $25. You can add more receivers at $23 ea.

B.S.

 

[ENGINEERCARL1]

The ones we use are in the 600MHz band. Depending on age/brand/model/location, they can be 500MHz up into the 800MHz band.

You may want to check those wireless mics against FCC Notice 15-99 and 15-100 for legality. The Lectrosonics ones we use at work, I had to throw half of them away because they were above 607 MHz. And they (Lectrosonics) won't work on them if they are block B26 or higher (I think).

About a year ago I had Dish Wireless sniffing at my door because one of my mics were sitting right in the middle of their 5G allocation, and they tracked it right down to the window it was coming out of...

EC

 

[Blackswan73]

These are not mics. They are in-ear monitors. Supposed to be 2.4Ghz. Only have a range of about 100 feet. I believe 2.4Ghz is where cordless phones and wi-fi devices run

B.S.

 

[bearcatrp]

Have a scanner with close call? If so, use that to find what frequency is in use.

 

[Blackswan73]

I have four scanners, none are Uniden. I have a Pro-60, Pro-94, Bluetail P25RX, and a Bluetail NanoP25RX.

B.S.