Wireless mics - your opinion please

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There's nothing inherently wrong with BLX or even PGX mics. They work fine if deployed properly, there's just not a lot of versatility or control available if you are trying to navigate very complex RF situations. The design assumption is that users are unlikely to be using more than 2 these systems at a time, and they will be indoors at relatively close range.

To get a dozen or more of this mic class to work simultaneously requires some serious RF planning and care. One of the most common areas for this problem is school and community theater. Here, the budgets are low but the number of people wearing a mic and the subsequent expectations are high. A parallel situation occurs when there a multiple DJs working within a multi-room event space like large hotels or conference centers. DJs tend to buy similar modest level gear which is also consistent with gear used by restaurants/bars and other hospitality services. The odds of multiple entertainers and hospitality workers stepping on each others RF increases quickly in busy commercial areas.
They serve their purpose... but location and environment as always play a role. Both times I used them were indoors... one was in south jersey by the delaware river near a port, where I couldn't go more than 10ft without losing signal. Never happened to me in my life where it was that bad. No other event, no other microphones, tried multiple channels. Nothing. I'm not the only one. Since then, the venue has installed a professional grade mic system that covers the entire reception room. Just had another dj complain on a local forum with that type of mic in jersey city... constant drop outs. In NJ most top djs use the qlx systems.
 
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I used my Shure BLX 288 system yesterday and no issues. Other times I have had issues. I will keep using it as I don't have the money to upgrade like others have suggested.
 
Yup. Everything above 608 MHz is now pretty much all used for 5G and it is illegal to operate mics in that band except for a small 6 MHz sliver in the duplex gap (657-663 MHz if memory serves me well). 5G will keep proliferating so you are best to get rid of those mics as soon as possible.
Funny enough, the GTD set I have can be set to operate in that range I believe, but I want to upgrade mics to get out of the 600 range and smaller receiver boxes.
 
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Funny enough, the GTD set I have can be set to operate in that range I believe, but I want to upgrade mics to get out of the 600 range and smaller receiver boxes.

I really like (love) this new Sennheiser lav but I'm probably going to order a newer GTD lav/mic combo (outside the offending frequencies), just to have a backup.
 
Update: My trusty old GTD finally died last week. I was going to order a Shure system but there are none to be found anywhere. I'm headed down to Guitar Center tomorrow where they'll hopefully still have a Sennheiser XSW2 in stock.
I was told that there are Shure orders that were placed in May 2021 that won't be filled until June 2023.
 
Just to be clear, using a 600 MHz mic is not "illegal" it's unauthorized . .which is an important legal distinction.

The FCC is a regulatory agency not a branch of law enforcement.
 
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Let me add this. It is suggested to get a unit that has antennas on the outside. The BLX system has built in antennas.
 
Let me add this. It is suggested to get a unit that has antennas on the outside. The BLX system has built in antennas.
The BLX line is available in a rack mount chassis for use with external antennas or system integration. The performance of the system doesn't change It simply allows you other installation options - for example, a church where the equipment rack/receivers are in a different room.

I have not had issues using BLX mics in venues where I find them, including the portable models with internal antennas. There's a dual version in a local theater I work with where the receiver is in the rear FOH booth and the mics are over 100Ft away on stage. No problem.
 
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