Cheap UHF wireless systems

[Old Garage-Bander]

Shreveport is about 90 miles to our east. Not too concerned about UHF interference from there.

OK. Then what is your nearest town?

FYI... It's not always about the station causing interference to you. You also don't want to be causing interference to someone trying to receive a TV station. The further away that station is the more likely that you can cause interference.

By law, you must accept any interference to your system. Also, you shall not cause interference to the reception of other licensed users, like TV stations. Without having a license to use these frequencies you have no recourse, or protection. The FCC allows you to operate without a license for 720 hrs/yr per frequency. That quite a bit of time, so most folks don't license UHF wireless gear. However, in an interference complaint the licensed operator always wins.
In the case of UHF wireless gear, and a first complaint, the FCC would likely just ask you to change frequencies. However, if you have multiple complaints, the hammer gets bigger, aka expensive.

All of this is why one should pay attention to where they are, and the frequencies they use. Set it and forget it doesn't always work, especially if you change locations.

 

[Dognorab]

So my experience with a couple of Swiff WS-70s. These look identical to the Lekato and other units I have seen. They are 900MHz and according to the specs, they can run up to 100 units on the same stage (if true, wow)

Battery life - as good as my old, really expensive, analog Audio Technica (I got about 4 hours playing). Tick.
Range - further than I need and actually past the point where you start to hear a delay from the cab. Tick.
Latency - not detectable. Tick
Audio - With passive PUPs, very slightly compressed but totally acceptable. Tick
Audio - With active PUPs, if you don't reduce your output dramatically, it sucks. Fail

For the price, I am yet to use anything better. For several times the price, I am yet to use anything better.

My audio Technica has unfortunately fallen into the, it is now illegal to use those frequencies category, so it has gone to rest in the old electronics scrapyard.

 

[TomB]

I have a WS 70 as well, used primarily with passive basses. No complaints except the need to be cautious about battery life. Mine get just about 4 hours, and when they die, it's all at once. Funny thing is, I've gone back to mostly using a cable. Just don't need one more set of batteries to charge.

 

[DWBass]

I own the Westshell and it's twin by Lekato. Both sets work great. Have had the Westshell for over a year. The Lekato version I bought during the Spring. No problems with either set. I turn them off between sets but I'm sure I could get 6 hours out of them. When I charge them up, I've only used 1 bar of charge out of 5 after a 3 hour gig.

 

[Bill Thorsberg]

I got a 2nd hand Line6 Relay G50 some time ago for $150 and it has worked great for me in everal different setups. I tried the cheaper 2.4 and 5.8ghz but they were noisy in my home music room and at band rehearsals. Recently while shopping on temu.com and just for kicks I ordered some no name uhf wireless guitar setups for around $13. They have rechargeable batteries built in and I have been pleasantly surprised at their performance. They work fine for me when I don't need to use my pedalboard. No hum or buzz, etc. when going directly from my passive Fender Jazz bass to my rumble 40 amp. If I use these cheapos is with my pedal board, my BDI21 and some other.effects - I get some ticking sounds and other noise. But for practice and direct to the amps - They're fantastic! - especially at less than $13 for the set.

Estimated run time on the cheapos is around 4 hrs with the rechargeable batteries. My line 6 is capable of 6 to 8 hrs and its easy to swap in fresh AAs if I suspect they're running low on juice.

For serious work though, I depend on the G50 - its never let me down. I do always have an extra.pair of cables just in case...