Sudden peaking of Sennheiser G3 Wireless Mic

[KlarkTeknik18]

Dear all,

This is the first time im writing here.Hope im at the right place with a proper question.
For sometimes now,im facing a problem with my 8months old Sennheiser G3 135 series wireless mics.
Where the AF just peaks all of sudden when i off the handheld/transmitter and it makes loud distored noise on the FOH..It also happen when ever the handheld is off or muted.Its just annoying and make me look like a dumbo infront my client.Anyone here encountered the same problem.
If yes,please share the methods of overcoming it.I have send my mics for servicing twice after this problem.But Sennheiser claiming there is no problem with the units and it working fine.Please help.Much appreciated.

[seablade]

Where the AF just peaks all of sudden when i off the handheld/transmitter and it makes loud distored noise on the FOH..

Is this supposed to be, '...when i TURN off...' ?

In which case the answer is simple, mute the input first.

It also happen when ever the handheld is off or muted.

Have you checked to make certain you are not using a frequency that there is already an existing transmission on?

Seablade

[KlarkTeknik18]

Where the AF just peaks all of sudden when i off the handheld/transmitter and it makes loud distored noise on the FOH..

Is this supposed to be, '...when i TURN off...' ?

In which case the answer is simple, mute the input first.

It also happen when ever the handheld is off or muted.

Have you checked to make certain you are not using a frequency that there is already an existing transmission on?

Seablade

KlarkTeknik18
Yup..ofcourse il always mute when im turning off the handheld..But when the handheld completely off,you can see the af peaks and mute and peaks and mute just like that..all this happen when the handheld has been completely off..

Seablade
Yup..have checked the frequencies if its clashing..but there is nothing existing..or maybe they way im checking is wrong..is there any other way to check clashing frequencies..I have 4 units..All my units in the range of 600 to 688.

[John Willett]

Make sure that "Pilot" is ON on both transmitter and receiver.

Also, Male sure you have switched on the squelch at the receiver - LOW is normally the best setting.

The Receiver should mute as soon as the pilot from the transmitter is lost and will switch off silently.

This assumes you have a Genuine G3 system and have not purchased a fake.

[Sam Spoons]

It sounds like the squelch setting is wrong. Regarding frequency, it's not just conflicts from your own gear but you may have radio transmissions from elsewhere affecting the receivers (taxis and such like). Correct squelch setting wil help here. My Sennheiser G series mics have a mute on the mic which mutes the audio. When you say you mute before switching off, do you mean on the mic or on the mixer (or both)?

[geefunk]

I had this happen to my G2 system once - Hugh advised me that sometimes other digital equipment can cause this. The time it happened I had a full band with a lot of pedals, synths, drum machines etc a lot of which were digital. It hasn't happened since, so worth checking what other equipment is in use when it happens.

[KlarkTeknik18]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the replies guys..appreciate it..it seems like it is a frequency problem..just cant find the right solution yet..squelch setting is low..and both pilots on..and at that time i only had a numark dj mixer..dont really ustd which is the clashing frequency..and the venue is a 500 pax ballroom which is quite far away from the main road..

[missvic92]

Hi there,

Look I realise these other posts are from forever ago however I am now having the same issue (December 2019).
Some background, I am posting from a church, so a fair size of a hall. I got a brand new replacement G4 EW300 handheld and receiver from Sennheiser a couple months ago. We have the receiver placed about 15m from where the preacher is stood at the pulpit. Up until a couple weeks ago all was well in our little audio world however all of a sudden having the handheld off creates a terrible frequency crackle over the speakers when it is. We endeavour to have the channel muted prior to the mic being switched off but it really shouldn't need to be and I really want to get to the bottom of the issue rather than just trying to be a step ahead of the problem.
What I have deduced is that the problem for me originates with the antennae- so when i have the antennae off- no noise. As soon as I put the right one on it screeches, left one to a lesser extent but still a little.

Any and all help appreciated!
Thanks in advance,

Victoria

[HairyMunster]

I’m having exactly the same issue with 2 different Sennhieser systems. As soon as you turn off the mic the channel makes a terrible noise. I’ve dropped the AF gain to -24db , pilot is on both but it persists. I have a rack of Shure SLX units and they work perfectly in the same environment. I’ve sent them both back to Sennhieser and they returned with no fault found. Anyone have a solution?

[MarkOne]

...having the handheld off creates a terrible frequency crackle over the speakers when it is....

Hi there. When you say 'Handheld Off' do you mean actually power off on the handheld transmitter?

We've had this sort of thing can happen at our Church where if you power down the transmitter, the receiver stops receiving the carrier signal from the transmitter in the mic or body pack. Basically, If there is interference in the same frequency as the one the receiver is expecting it can pick that up and all kinds of noise can be picked up.

You could try a different frequency perhaps? Or best practice is not to turn the mic transmitter off at all until you shut the rig down, but to use the mute switch instead.

[Hugh Robjohns]

...best practice is not to turn the mic transmitter off at all until you shut the rig down, but to use the mute switch instead.

Repeated for emphasis!

[Mike Stranks]

An old sweat writes...

Over the years I learnt the hard way that having a receiver on and 'live' when the transmitter is off is 'noises off' just waiting to happen. These days with the amount of everyday RF traffic from phones, bluetooth, wifi, whatever, it's even more of an issue.

Check the squelch control. It may need tweaking so that it's 'clamping ' right down when the RF signal falls below the pre-determined level.

IME Sennheiser systems have a mute as well as an off. Always use the mute when 'switching off' at points during the performance/service. The mute works on the audio nor the RF. So the receiver is still getting signal - but no audio.

But as Hugh says... always avoid open channels on the desk when a radio system is live but not in use.