Introduction - Shure ANTENNA SETUP Manual

Wireless Systems Guide for
ANTENNA SETUP

Introduction

The world of professional audio is filled with
transducers. A transducer is a device that converts
one form of energy to another. In the case of
microphones and loudspeakers, sound waves are
converted to electrical impulses, and vice versa.
The proliferation of wireless audio systems has
introduced yet another category of transducer to
professional audio, the antenna. As defined in the
ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Antenna
Book, "The purpose of an antenna is to convert
radio-frequency electric current to electromagnetic
waves, which are then radiated into space."
Attached to a receiving device, antennas can also
work in the reverse fashion, converting the
electromagnetic wave back to an electric current.
This reciprocity is similar to the manner in which
a loudspeaker can also function as a microphone
when attached to an audio input.
As with any transducer, following certain
guidelines helps ensure maximum performance.
When dealing with radio frequencies in particular,
Introduction
4
considerations such as antenna size, orientation,
and proper cable selection, are important
factors not to be overlooked. Without getting too
technical, this guide presents a series of good
practices for most typical wireless audio
applications. Note that these recommendations
only apply to professional wireless systems with
detachable antennas. For entry-level systems
with permanently affixed antennas, antenna
distribution and remote antenna mounting are
simply not possible.
One final note: These recommendations are
useful guidelines to help achieve satisfactory
performance from wireless audio systems, but
not hard-and-fast rules that need to be followed
to the letter. However, if a wireless system fails
to operate as expected, it is often due to the
disregard of several of these guidelines,
compounding the negative effects. Rarely
does a system fail to function if only a single
recommendation is overlooked!