Sabine Wireless: Application and Troubleshooting Guide 3 of 12
1.4.3.
Antenna placement
It is imperative that you orient the receiver antennas so that
if one has a weak signal, the other will likely have a strong signal. Here is one way
to do it.
Orient the left antenna so that it points to 10:00 and the right antenna
so that it points to 2:00.
Placing the dipole antennas parallel to each other (for
example, both sticking straight up) defeats diversity and causes dropouts.
1.4.4.
Line of Sight
RF signals will not go through metal objects and thick walls. Do not
let the antennas be shielded by the equipment rack or the receiver’s case. Both
receiver antennas should be completely visible (in the line of sight) to the
performer. There should be no obstructions. Use the SWA7000 front to rear
extension cables (shipped with the receiver) if you wish to mount the antennas on
the front of the receiver. Placing one or both antennas out of the line of sight of the
transmitter defeats diversity and causes dropouts.
1.4.5.
Range
The SWM7000 with dipole antennas has a 300 foot range line-of-sight (no
objects between the transmitter and receiver antenna, including hands and bodies).
The range may be shorter if you stand between the transmitter and the receiver.
1.4.6. Grabbing the antenna of any hand-held or belt-pack transmitter dramatically
reduces the radiated power and increase the chance of a dropout.
Keep hands off
of the antennas.
1.4.7.
Antenna Distribution Amp
Receiver antennas in a rack can interfere with each
other. Don’t let them touch each other. If you have more than three adjacent
receivers in the rack, it is recommended that you consolidate the antennas by using
Sabine’s SWA6SS Antenna Distribution Amp (ADA). The ADA will allow you
connect up to six 2-channel receivers to a single pair of antennas. You can daisy-
chain several SWA6SS ADAs together to connect up to 70 receiver channels to
one pair of antennas. If you do not have an ADA, separate the receivers in the
rack.
Terminator caps are included in the distribution amp for unused
connectors. You will probably have dropouts if you do not have terminator
caps
, especially if the plastic sleeves on the antenna connectors are black.
Terminators are not as critical if the plastic sleeve on the insulation antenna
connectors is white, but they are still recommended. (Antennas cannot be
substituted for caps).
1.4.8.
Extension Antennas
We recommend using the SWASS-EXT-2 extension
antennas to maximize reception and minimize the potential for dropouts, especially
if the receivers are out of the line of sight, if you are using multiple receivers, or if
the range is more than 100 feet or so. SWASS-EXT-2 increases gain 22 or
+44 dB. The +44 dB high gain setting should only be used for long cable runs –
cable runs greater than 80 feet. Use the Low Gain setting for shorter runs. Using
the high gain setting on short runs can over-modulate the RF and cause dropouts.
See the operating guide for the SWASS-EXT-2 for more details. Remove the
plastic cover to see the High/Low gain switch, and to see the LED that indicates the
presence of phantom power from either a Sabine receiver or antenna distribution
amplifier.
1.4.9.
Placing Extension Antennas
Extension antennas are sold in pairs. You can use
either one for the left or right antenna. In order for the system to be effective,
both
