A rant about Line 6 / Line6 wireless (G50, G30)

[TXLawDawg]

I have a G30 and have been using Energizer rechargeable AA's the entire time I've had it without any problems whatsoever.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by walterw

which one is that?

i wish my G50 pack was 9V, so i could use the same ipower li-ion 9Vs that run my in-ear pack; those things are awesome, in that they last longer than regular alkalines and recharge in like 20 minutes.

lithium-ion is so much better for rechargeable batteries that it's not funny, but unfortunately it just doesn't exist in AA size, apparently because the actual internal lithium cells are 3 or 4 volts each, so way too much for AA applications.

Yeah, I've been really impressed with the Li-Ion rechargeables - they've earned their keep several times over...

I have an XDR-95 and XDS-PLUS receivers, and a total of 3 transmitters between them - although I use 1 transmitter and the XDR-95 most of the time...


- georgestrings

[themacinator]

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

The meter looks like a nice feature, but I'd never use it anyway. The wireless gets a fresh pair before the show, no matter what. Which is another reason they've got to be rechargeable; I hate the idea of tossing alkaline batteries that *might* have enough juice for another show, but I won't risk it.

-jb

^^^^This is me^^^^

And I take the partially used AA's and use them in the Flip video we run at each show. I hit record and let it fly until they die. I always get 100% from each battery and I always know I have a fresh pair in the G50.

[bakerbass]

There's a reply to another post about G30/50 battery life, from Don Boomer - Line 6 microphone/wireless guy, which went up today.

He has said that Nickel Metal Hydrides should fit if they're under 2400 mAh, and that you'll get good service from them, but the battery life indicator won't be accurate.

This is good enough for me.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f203/line-6-g50-wireless-battery-life-945209/

[bumperbass]

I can't get Energizer or Duracell AA rechargeables to fit in my G50. I don't care if the battery meter is accurate or not because I'll change to a new set before every gig. One thing you can do is strip the covering off the battery. Just be VERY CAREFUL and have a dedicated foam or plastic type separation box to transport them. The positive and negative terminals kinda get horny with each other if you put them in a bag or anywhere where they can play with one another. I had 2 sets in a bag and when I got to a job, two of them were too hot to pick up. The other two were warm. All were ruined.
I guess Line6 is just doing a 'cover their butt' thingy, suggesting Duracells, but I think it's MY business about what battery I choose to use. With kids in my house, you'd better believe I've used rechargeable AA's in a LOT of stuff, cameras included, and I've never had a problem.
As a side note, my son and I did a science project where we compared how long a set of AA's would run in a standard bulb-type Mini-Maglite. I used a set of no-name 1800 mAH Nimh and Alkalines....Duracell, Energizer, Ray-O-Vac, and Walmart's generics. The results for longest life were in this order:
1. Nimh (by 2 hours)
2. Duracell
3. Energizer
4. Ray-O-Vac
5. Walmart

I just peel the plastic off the rechargeables and then mark them with a Sharpie to keep the pairs in sync.

[AmpedSilence]

Originally Posted by walterw

the powergenix NiZN AAs from greenbatteries fit my G50 perfectly.

i like 'em because they actually live just above the nominal 1.5V, instead of like 1.2V like most other rechargeables.

i can get a full night out of them, reading above 1.5V the entire time. (the tradeoff is that they stay above 1.5V right up until they die, which they'll do with no warning if you try to squeeze more than two gigs out of a pair on one charge.)

Thanks for the link. I'll be looking into a g50 soon and these seem great

[tbirdsp]

Just got a G30 and played with it at my house. Tone and range seem excellent - however, regardless of battery size issues (I'll probably just use alkalines) there's no excuse for the poor design of the transmitter battery compartment door latch! I put a velcro cable wrap strap around the whole unit, which should hold it in case it ever fails.
I'll be using it at a gig Sat night to check the mix when I run sound from the stage.

It seems to boost the signal level from my passive Squier Jazz - anyone else noticed this?

[walterw]

it wouldn't boost anything, but since it's by definition a buffered output, it might be preventing some loss you were getting from cables or unbuffered effects downstream.

[seanm]

You could also be getting back some highs lost to a longer cable. See if you can dial back the "boost" with the cable emulator.

[tbirdsp]

Don't really mind the "boost" with this passive Jazz - it seems to have pretty low output anyway. Tried the cable sim switch and I noticed the tone change but no real level change.
I don't normally use very long cables at all (usually 10 or 15ft). I think the longest I have is 20.
This might be all in my mind, just seemed like I had to turn my amp down (quite a bit) from where I had it with a cable. I'll try to A-B the G30 and a cable tomorrow and see what I get.

[tbirdsp]

Duh - It seemed louder because I normally only have one of my Genz Benz Focus 115's hooked up - but I forgot I had hooked them both together - so I had double the speakers and was running 4 ohms vs 8

[walterw]

your dope-slap is in the mail

how do you like the dual focus 15s?

[Caca de Kick]

Originally Posted by John Bigboote

The meter looks like a nice feature, but I'd never use it anyway. The wireless gets a fresh pair before the show, no matter what. Which is another reason they've got to be rechargeable; I hate the idea of tossing alkaline batteries that *might* have enough juice for another show, but I won't risk it.

I also put a fresh pair in before a show. But to keep from throwing a way a good battery, I use them up at rehersals or bring them home for the kids' toys.

[tbirdsp]

Originally Posted by walterw

your dope-slap is in the mail

how do you like the dual focus 15s?

Send me two - I forgot I had the cord plugged between the 2 cabs and went to take the top one off the stack - luckily caught myself before I damaged the jacks.

I like them, but haven't played a gig where I needed more than one with my MB200 though.

G30 wireless worked great at my gig last Sat.

[bakerbass]

Got my first gig with my G50 tomorrow night. I've been using it for rehearsals for a couple of months with no problems.

The main reason for getting a G50 is that three of us play bass in my band, (I play organs/electric pianos - they play guitars). The bass gets passed around a few times during a set, and I wanted a good solution to trailing cables and drums in the way etc. This has ticked every box so far.

I've worked out how to secure the transmitter to my strap permanently, and keep the battery door from opening using a couple of Velcro cable ties. Also, my amazing wife sewed on a piece of black strapping so the metal clasp can attach.





Perhaps it's not the prettiest solution, but it works.

[fclefgeoff]

^^ That's pretty awesome. I bought a G-30 a few weeks ago and before I ever even used it, I used the same method with a velcro cable tie around the battery door. It seemed so obvious to me.
I had read all of the horror stories of the battery door opening and so I decided preemptive measures were in order.

[tbirdsp]

I have a pouch to hold the G30 transmitter on my strap - but I do the exact same thing with a velcro cable tie to hold the batt door

[tbirdsp]

I am having a heck of a time finding a 3-foot(ish) 1/4 straight to 1/4" 90 deg cord for my G30. I think I could only find one and it was over 20 bucks This should be simple. Any ideas?

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by tbirdsp

I am having a heck of a time finding a 3-foot(ish) 1/4 straight to 1/4" 90 deg cord for my G30. I think I could only find one and it was over 20 bucks This should be simple. Any ideas?

You should be able to make one for under $10 in components - know anyone that can solder well in your area???


- georgestrings

[walterw]

velcro strap! perfect!