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Frequently Asked Questions

(...don't worry, you're not the first to ask)

What is a Radio System?
Put simply a radio or Wireless system takes a signal and puts it in another place. Whatever signal, whether it's a guitar, voice or anything else will be transmitted from your transmitter to your receiver. Think of it in the same way as the BBC who transmit their programmes from Broadcasting House in London and anyone with a receiver can pick it up. It's just the same!

Why do I need one?
Well, at the moment you may be using microphones or guitars that are connected to your PA or amplifier by means of a cable. When you use a Radio system you don't need cable. The Radio frequencies travel invisibly through the air without the need for wires.

As you can imagine this freedom can be a liberating experience. A stage performance becomes altogether different when artists can move around the stage area without thinking about being attached to a cable.

What distance do they cover?
There are many factors that dictate just how far a Radio system can transmit. One of these is building construction. Most modern buildings contain metal support structures that can confuse Radio Frequencies or RF and can sometimes impede RF distance.

This is by no means a regular occurence but is nevertheless something to take into account.

Another factor is whether or not there are other Radio systems being used at the same time in the immediate vacinity. As you can imagine, when a Radio system is operating it could easily get sidetracked if it's being asked to receive the same frequency many times over!

Much of the Trantec range is multi frequency. This means that there are several frequencies built-in to the unit that can be easily selected. In other words, if you are having problems with interference on a certain frequency then it is simple to change to another.

Trantec systems will always give you an operating range that falls well within your requirements. Whether you are playing guitar on stage or installing systems in a Cathedral, our operating distances are some of the best in the industry to ensure drop-outs are relatively unheard of.

Do I need a license for some frequencies?
Yes you do. Commonly available radio systems in the UK are available in 2 wavebands, VHF and UHF. In both of these wavebands there are some frequencies that reqiure licenses and some that you are free to use without a license. Generally speaking most amateur and semi-pro users tend to go for VHF because the products themselves are usually less expensive and there are a good selection of frequencies that can be freely used. Professional users will usually operate in the UHF waveband as there is likely to be less RF traffic and consequently less chance of interference.

Click on this link for further information. Radio Radio Microphone Licensing.

Can I use several together?
Yes of course. Trantec Radio systems are not only designed to enable users to use them individually but also in multiple sytem configurations. Where Trantec have scored massively over the years is through our ability to get lots of systems working together. These days it's becoming more and more neccessary to make sure that many systems can be used together. For example any West-end show will have 15 or even 20 or more systems working at any one time. As you can imagine, this intense operating environment needs careful frequency management.

At Trantec we pride ourselves on having one of the best R&D Teams in the world and these guys have put in a lot of work over the years making sure that our frequency sets work efficiently.