Lectrosonics LT/LR ranges

[Tom S]

I am looking into getting a Lectrosonics LT/LR kit. I'm not quite sure how to read the spreadsheet on their website city-by-city. In Chicago it looks like there are only 5 possible ranges, all of which are in the B1 range, except 1 in the A1. It looks like the old Block 22 would be the best.

Therefore, it seems like the B1 range would be best to buy for the LT/LR kit. Am I reading this right?

A1 - blocks 470, 19, 20 (470.100 - 537.575 MHz)
B1 - blocks 21, 22, 23 (537.600 - 614.374 MHz)
C1 - blocks 24, 25, 26 (614.400 - 691.175 MHz)



TV Channels FREQ (MHZ) Chicago Assigned TV Stations Available for Mics Lectro Band Lectro Block
2 54-60 NO X X
3 60-66 NO X X
4 66-72 WOCK-CD* NO X X
5 76-82 NO X X
6 82-88 NO X X
7 174-180 YES VHF-IFB X
8 180-186 YES VHF-IFB X
9 186-192 YES VHF-IFB X
10 192-198 YES VHF-IFB X
11 198-204 YES VHF-IFB X
12 204-210 WBBM-TV* NO VHF-IFB X
13 210-216 YES VHF-IFB X
14 470-476 Public Safety NO A1 470
15 476-482 Public Safety NO A1 470
16 482-488 YES A1 470/19
17 488-494 WYIN* NO A1 470/19
18 494-500 WMEU-CD* NO A1 470/19
19 500-506 WGN-TV* NO A1 19
20 506-512 WWME-CD* NO A1 20
21 512-518 WJYS* NO A1 20
22 518-524 WLS-TV* NO A1 20
23 524-530 WCIU-TV* NO A1 20
24 530-536 WFLD* NO A1 20
25 536-542 WTTW* NO A1/B1 21
26 542-548 WPVN-CD* NO B1 21
27 548-554 W40CN-D* NO B1 21
28 554-560 WEDE-CD* NO B1 21
29 560-566 YES B1 21/22
30 566-572 YES B1 22
31 572-578 YES B1 22
32 578-584 WLPD-CD* NO B1 22
33 584-590 WMAQ-TV* NO B1 22/23
34 590-596 WCPX-TV* NO B1 23
35 596-602 WGBO-DT* NO B1 23
36 602-608 YES B1 23
37 608-614 NO X
TOTAL CHANNELS FOR UHF MICS: 11

 

[Patrick Tresch]

Hello,

I used block 22. You could also get more help on Jwsoundgroup.net

http://jwsoundgroup.net/index.php?/topic/15710-the-ultimate-wireless-frequency-list/

See you.

Pat

 

[Marc Wielage]

You can't tell range from a chart. You have to actually go to the location and do a walk test. This will tell you what happens in the real world.

Wearing my sound hat, I have encountered situations where I couldn't get 20 feet without a lot of trouble. We later discovered that we were being bathed in RF interference a block from an AT&T microwave relay station, and there was interference on just about every channel. I have also had occasions where just a 100mw transmitter could go over a block, which is astonishing.

In LA, Blocks 19 & 20 seem pretty good, and I've been able to run upwards of 13-14 channels with no problem. I usually use Block 21 as a hop to camera. Expect different results in different studios. Block 22 is just about dead here.

If I were you, I would talk to a good audio rental company and ask them to provide a set for evaluation and see how it works in your specific location. Pro sound people know all the tricks: sometimes, you have to physically move the receiver closer to the transmitter, just to help improve reception. Directional antennas can help to a point. There are systems (like Zaxcom's) where you can record on the wireless mic itself just in case there's a dropout.

Also: don't ignore the possibility of ADR. Tons of movies & TV shows have to replace dialogue in the studio for very good reasons, and it can be done quickly and affordably if you have experienced people doing it.

You'll find very accurate advice from some top sound people over on the JWSound.net forum.