Question: What is the 3000 Series backup frequency function and how do I use it?
Answer: The Audio-Technica 3000 Series 4th Generation wireless offers a Function button to activate a range of features. One of these features is the Bkup Freq (backup frequency), which allows the microphone user to change the transmitter and receiver frequency on the fly with a single press of the button. Engaging the backup frequency may be your saving grace if you encounter RF interferences while using the microphone. When the backup frequency function is assigned to the Function button, pressing the button will send a data packet from the transmitter to its matched receiver, resulting, within a few moments (up to 10 seconds), in a change to the designated backup frequency.
To properly set up your backup frequency, you have to first configure your receiver and transmitter. The first step is to properly configure your frequency coordination. This process will allow you to account for the frequencies you need, including backup frequencies to use in case of unexpected interferences. If you have five wireless systems, you may want to coordinate for an additional five backup frequencies if the RF spectrum is available. Remember, for properly coordinated frequencies, you do not just want to randomly choose frequencies, as that can cause a lot of issues of intermodulation between the frequencies being used.
Before you begin, please note the following:
- If the procedure times out after an extended period, you may have to restart the process from the beginning.
- To move one step back in the procedure, press the Back button.
- To cancel and return to the home screen, press and hold the Back button.
1. Determine your backup frequencies via predetermined frequency coordination or you use the receiver’s automatic scan function to view available frequencies.
a. Turn on all of your properly coordinated transmitters and set them aside, roughly 10 feet from the receivers or the remote antenna, and at least one foot apart from each other.
b. On your first receiver, press the control dial to display the menu. The menu bar will appear on the right side of the display.
c. Turn the control dial counterclockwise to scroll down. Move three spaces to display Group Scan. Press the control dial.
d. Note that the cursor is on the Scan Group number selector. Turn the control dial to the same Scan Group you are using with the rest of your systems to avoid intermodulation.
e. Once the desired Scan Group is selected, press the control dial.
f. The cursor will move to Threshold. Turn the control dial to the desired setting (Normal, Low, High).
i. The threshold default is Normal, which is adequate for most applications.
ii. You may select High to increase the channel count at the expense of stable frequency operation.
iii. You may select Low to increase the stability of the coordination of the frequency at the expense of the channel count.
g. Once the desired Threshold is set, press the control dial.
h. The receiver begins scanning and, once completed, will display the number of open channels.
i. Press OK to accept and display the frequency list, or press Retry to rescan.
j. Take note of the open channels (Group # and Channel # or Frequency.)
Now, we can actually begin the setup process for the backup frequency.
2. Power on you transmitter and receiver.
a. For the ATW-T3201 body-pack, open the battery compartment. Above the batteries are the menu controls, IR Sync button, and Power switch.
b. For the ATW-T3202 handheld, open the battery compartment. On the opposite side of the batteries are the menu controls, IR Sync button, IR Sync window, and Power switch.
3. On the receiver, press the control dial to display the menu. The menu bar will appear on the right side of the display.
4. Turn the control dial clockwise to scroll up. Move one space to display Utilities. Press the control dial.
5. Turn the control dial counterclockwise to scroll down. Move three spaces to display Backup Freq. Press the control dial.
6. If the backup frequency is turned off, turn the control dial to highlight On. Press the control dial. If On is already highlighted, press the control dial.
7. Select your backup frequency.
a. To set frequencies manually based on proper frequency coordination (from Step #1):
i. Turn the control dial to highlight Manual, if needed.
ii. Press the control dial to select Manual.
iii. Turn the control dial to set the first three numbers of the backup frequency, then press the control dial. Turn the control dial to set the remaining three numbers of the backup frequency, then press the control dial.
b. To set Gr/Ch (Group/Channel) frequencies based on your previous scan (from Step #1):
i. Turn the control dial to highlight Gr/Ch. Press the control dial.
ii. Turn the control dial to select the appropriate Group. Press the control dial.
iii. Turn the control dial to select the appropriate Channel. Press the control dial.
8. Press the control dial to select Set and display “Stored.”
9. Press and hold the Back button on the receiver to return to the receiver’s default display.
10. “BU” will now appear at the bottom of receiver display, indicating that a backup frequency has been set for that receiver.
11. On your transmitter, press the Set button to enter the menu screen.
12. Press the Down button six times to display Fn Button.
13. Set the Function button.
a. If the Fn Button is already set to Bkup Freq, no additional action is needed.
b. If the Bkup Freq is not listed, press the Set button to edit the Fn Button.
i. Press the Up or Down button to display Bkup Freq.
ii. Press the Set button.
14. Press the Up button six times to display Frequency. Press the Set button.
15. Set the transmitter’s backup frequency as you did in Step #7 above.
a. If you set Manual frequencies in Step #7:
i. Press the Up or Down button on the transmitter to display Manual.
ii. Press the Set button to select Manual.
iii. Press the Up or Down button to set the first three numbers of the backup frequency, then press the Set button. Press the Up or Down button to set the remaining three numbers of the backup frequency, then press the Set button. “Stored” will be displayed.
iv. Press and hold the Back button to return to the transmitter home screen.
b. If you set Gr/Ch (Group/Channel) frequencies in Step #7:
i. Press the Up or Down button on the transmitter to display Gr/Ch.
ii. Press the Set button to select Gr/Ch.
iii. Press the Up or Down button to set the appropriate Group. Press the Set button.
iv. Press the Up or Down button to set the appropriate Channel. Press the Set button. “Stored” will be displayed.
v. Press and hold the Back button to return to the transmitter’s home screen.
If you ever need to activate the backup frequency while using the transmitter, just press and hold the transmitter’s Function button. It may take a few moments to engage, but the transmitter display will show “Switch to Bkup Freq” and change to the new frequency. Once the receiver receives the data packet from the transmitter, the receiver will also display “Switch to Bkup Freq” and change to the new frequency. Once again, note that this may take a few moments to fully switch over, depending on RF congestion in your area. Once the backup frequency has been activated, the “BU” icon on your receiver will flash, indicating the frequency has been engaged. You may cycle the receiver power to stop the icon from flashing.
Hopefully you will never have to use your backup frequency, but in the world of wireless, having backups set in place never hurts. If you have further questions or need assistance setting your backup frequency with your 3000 Series 4th Generation Wireless, please contact us in the Audio Solutions Department.