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Pete Erskine's RF coordination for Roadies
Frequency coordination is a process. Follow the steps and it’s easy.
The need for coordination is because the wireless mics, ears and guitar transmitters mostly operate in the UHF TV bands – which are currently channel 14 to 51 in the USA and 21 to 59 in Europe. Every location has different channels actually in use and it is imperative to avoid picking frequencies, which are on or near these TV stations.
Often you can get by just setting your systems to any clear frequency which is separated from all your other wireless and the TV stations. Typically a user will just turn on their receiver, see if it’s on a clear channel (no RF showing on the meter) and then set their transmitter on that freq.
However the process listed here will give a better result in the end.
RF OVER Fiber Basics for Entertainment Production Wireless Audio
By Henry Cohen
Senior RF Designs/Project Manager - CP Communications
Presented by RF Venue, Inc.
www.RFvenue.com
Shure Wireless Workbench Videos
Click HERE For ALL the tutorials, check out the WWB6 Playlist on their YouTube Channel:
These are my favorites
This tutorial will discuss how scan data can be used to generate exclusions to get the best compatible frequencies for your coordination within WWB6.
Implement "band planning" by assigning channels to specific frequency ranges within their tunable spectrum. Let's take a look at a case where the frequencies for in-ear monitor transmitters and microphone receivers are intermixed in the spectrum.
Terrific Resource for International RF requirements and licensing.
Frequencies for wireless microphones: This is how it works in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, UAE and United Kingdom…Update February 2017
Here is a video from RF venue. It shows how Vantage, RF Venue’s OS X software for RF Explorer spectrum analyzers, can be used with Shure Wireless Workbench® in a professional live production scenario to do some very useful things.
Alex Milne worked closely with Richard Stockton, a freelancer who at the time was on a corporate gig with FOH Productions, to record Richard’s Macintosh laptop while he was setting up wireless at the show, switching back and forth between Vantage and Wireless Workbench.
The video shows how to:
Import wideband scans from Vantage into Workbench
Perform IMD calculations within Workbench using Vantage scan data
Rapidly zoom into a 2 MHz range to check that a frequency is not near any harmful signals or intermodulation products—a trick Richard uses in conjunction with manual war-gaming.
Equipment used on the show included Shure UHF-R on the main stage, Shure QLX-D in the breakout rooms, and a mix of Radio Active Designs UV-1G and Tempest intercoms for the crew.
Take a closer look and download a free 14 day trial for Vantage at the following link:
http://www.rfvenue.com/vantage
Here is a very nice video from w2aew, on exactly what the resolution settings on your spectrum analyzer really do.
This is a tutorial and demonstration of the basics of the Resolution BW (RBW) and Video BW (VBW) functions in a Spectrum Analyzer. You may wish to review the "Basics of a Spectrum Analyzer" video if you are unfamiliar with the basic functions and block diagram of a swept spectrum analyzer.
Here is an interesting link to the history of Car radio… The science education program for kids class in Albany GA sent it to me… Thanks to their teacher Sophie Brown. http://www.carcovers.com/carresources/the-fascinating-history-of-the-car-radio/
Channel Guide
Fixed a lot of VBA programing.
Added some new ranges and VHF, RAD and Shure ULXD
A basic frequency and channel reference including manufacturers and frequency bands. The display can be shown in 8 mHz European TV bands as well as the USA 6 mHz TV band. Stations can be color coded or hashed when in use.
If you would like a specific band or manufacturer added to the list, please contact Peter. As new bands become available, they are updated on this page. Check back often.
CHANNEL GUIDE works for 6 mHz and 8mHz stations
THIS IS THE PROPOSED FCC REPACK ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE 600 MHZ BAND AS COMPILED BY KEVIN PARISH - click for Planner XLS
Intermodulation Analysis System
NEW Version 5 is released!
Special features:
1. Compatible with RAD UV-1G wireless with AM modulation and UHF/VHF band use.
2. Your scans can be added to a PWS Database for others to use. Here I am importing my scan into a coordination. Note the "share with other users" button at the bottom
3. You can use scans done by others - see them when you use the wizard to find TV stations. Here I have searched on the zip code and gotten the FCC info and then looked for available scans:
4. You can freeze a to prevent recalculation.
5. Save-as Ver 4.8 file to distribute to others who have not upgraded to V5.
A software program by Professional Wireless, along with a database of most wireless equipment and their frequency bands. This software calculates the frequencies based on avoiding intermodulation products. Enter your tour's equipment list and recalculation for the next event is completed within minutes. By far, the best coordination software available. Free 15-day trial download.
This video shows how to load a spreadsheet of frequencies which you need to avoid when you do your frequency calculations. The example shows loading 200+ freqs from the MGM Grand.
Setup files for PSA Spectrum Analyzer and scans around the world
Visit our collection of RF scans from around the world. Some include inside and outside venue scans, DECT and 900 mHz and even successful IAS coordinations.
Interactive map database
Coordination information
PSA series 5
New design - Very usable entry level inexpensive Spectrum analyzer.
Improvements from Series 2:
Wireless Microphone Theory
A basic paper provided by the DJ society.
FCC database
primary site for licensee information. Output format is not clearly documented but data most accurate.
What is Intermodulation Interference?
A good white paper on the basics of intermodulation interference and simple calculations was written by James Web from NASA.
On-Line Intermodulation Calculator
This website shows the results for either 2 or 3 frequencies and the intermodulation products.
Antenna Placement and wiring manual from Shure.
Terrifically complete manual on how antennas work and how they should be positioned.