Audio Technica Wireless vs AKG Wireless

[tommania]

Howdy.

I have been given two wireless systems but I am unsure which is better.

The first is the Audio Technica [b]ATW-201[/b]
ATW-R200 receiver and ATW-T201 transmitter.

The second is the AKG WMS 40 PRO.
SR-40 receiver and the guitar bug.

I'm not sure which is going to be better. The Audio technica looks a lot older than the AKG, but the transmitter looks a lot more reliable - it is a small box type, as opposed to the AKG guitar bug which is just a little clip in the jack.

I have tried them both out and I cannot tell much difference. Perhaps I have an undeveloped ear or something but I was wondering technically which would be better?

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/38820-akg-wms40-pro-guitar-bug-wireless-system.html


http://www.zzounds.com/item--AUTATW201

Thanks.

Tom

[bertbass]

Being UHF, it would be the AKG for me and the AKG transmitter is considerably more convenient. They are both only single channel so are likely to pick up other transmitters using those frequencies but less likely with UHF. Are the frequencies still legal?

[tommania]

I thought the Audio Technica transmitter would have been more reliable etc as the AKG one seems a bit... I'm not sure what I mean but I would have thought the bigger transmitter would have been better than the smaller one!
Legal? I have no idea! They were just given to me! I've never used wireless before.

The AKG frequency on the back says 854.900 Mhz.
The AT says 175.000 Mhz.

[tommania]

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1377772741' post='2191524']
Being UHF, it would be the AKG for me and the AKG transmitter is considerably more convenient. They are both only single channel so are likely to pick up other transmitters using those frequencies but less likely with UHF. Are the frequencies still legal?
[/quote]

After looking at this, does this mean the AKG is in fact illegal? [url="http://www.whatpa.co.uk/Wireless-frequency-allocation.asp"]http://www.whatpa.co...-allocation.asp[/url]

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='tommania' timestamp='1377773368' post='2191539']
After looking at this, does this mean the AKG is in fact illegal? [url="http://www.whatpa.co.uk/Wireless-frequency-allocation.asp"]http://www.whatpa.co...-allocation.asp[/url]
[/quote]

Correct.

Basically, your options for general use are -

[url="http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/equip/Radiomics/exempt.htm"]http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/equip/Radiomics/exempt.htm[/url]

Or Channel 38 for higher end stuff before going into leased frequencies.

[tommania]

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1377773831' post='2191550']
Correct.

Basically, your options for general use are -

[url="http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/equip/Radiomics/exempt.htm"]http://www.jfmg.co.u...mics/exempt.htm[/url]

Or Channel 38 for higher end stuff before going into leased frequencies.
[/quote]

Thanks for that. That sucks! How far is this hypothetically? Am I going to get arrested if I play a gig down at my local pub?

The audio technica system is still legal though?

[bertbass]

When I used a VHF system, I quite often used to get other users on my frequency, a lot of taxi firms as well, believe it or not, so had to go back to a lead on those occasions.

The great digital tv switch over was all about selling analogue frequencies to mobile phone operators for 4G. This has made most wireless musical equipment that also used those frequencies obsolete overnight, however, if it was me, I'd just use it anyway. You're unlikely to be arrested or even noticed, but you might get the odd mobile call out of your amp sometime in the future.

Edited August 29, 2013 by bertbass

[tommania]

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1377775183' post='2191577']
When I used a VHF system, I quite often used to get other users on my frequency, a lot of taxi firms as well, believe it or not, so had to go back to a lead on those occasions.

The great digital tv switch over was all about selling analogue frequencies to mobile phone operators for 4G. This has made most wireless musical equipment that also used those frequencies obsolete overnight, however, if it was me, I'd just use it anyway. You're unlikely to be arrested or even noticed, but you might get the odd mobile call out of your amp sometime in the future.
[/quote]

Thanks for that! So I guess the VHF Audio Technica is the worse out of the two, but the AKG UHF frequency is illegal. Perhaps I will just stick with the AKG for now until something happens, be it arrested or a phone call. Or maybe I will just stick with a lead!

[bertbass]

Use them both. If one plays up, use the other.

[EBS_freak]

[quote name='tommania' timestamp='1377776118' post='2191598']
Thanks for that! So I guess the VHF Audio Technica is the worse out of the two, but the AKG UHF frequency is illegal. Perhaps I will just stick with the AKG for now until something happens, be it arrested or a phone call. Or maybe I will just stick with a lead!
[/quote]

Maybe this page will influence your decision...

[url="http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/Licence/licence.htm"]http://www.jfmg.co.uk/pages/Licence/licence.htm[/url]

[EBS_freak]

PS. In some situations, VHF > UHF. Depends upon how crowded the frequencies are.

If you want to go wireless (highly recommended) and want my advice on what to do, I'd say plump for the new generation digital stuff. Sony DWZB30GB, Shure GLXD, StageClix, Line 6 G30/50/90... More expensive, but sound better than a cable due the lesser capacitance associated with a cable. All these are full range digital systems running on the wi-fi band... so license free. I'm yet to hear of any problems associated running these out in the field.

My band uses channel 38 and 2.4Ghz systems and neither have experienced any problems - and this is band doing 2-4 gigs a week in widely varying environments.

[bertbass]

This is interesting, http://basschat.co.uk/topic/10362-wireless-system-licensing-guide/ and it's at the top of the page with this thread on it.