SUBJECT: Wireless microphones
DATE: 6/96
I would like to propose the acquisition of a wireless microphone system
to
my department head. I would need to use it in a large lecture hall that
seats approximately 500. What has been your experience with these systems?
Any suggestions for vendor? My thanks in advance. Mary
Mary H. Gray D.V.M.
Department of Biological Sciences
Lilly Hall of Life Science
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(317)-494-8185
FAX (317)-494-0876
Mary,
We have wireless mics in our big lecture halls. When they work
they are great. I can roam about the room and talk to students during group
work and the whole class can hear the conversation. I can wave my hands
and do demonstrations without being tied to a podium or having my hands
full. I don't lose my voice from shouting to be heard in the upper decks.
I don't know the brand -- ours are in such bad shape, I'd only find
out if you wanted to know what NOT to buy. We have the clip on mic with
a
small battery pack. You have to remember to wear pockets or take your lab
coat. Occassionally I have had to balance the battery pack while writing
on the overhead -- the students are amused, I'm not.
If I were king of the campus and could select what I wanted...
-- I'd look for a small mic that clips easily to your clothing. (I don't
think I'd want the sort that fit over your head, but as I haven't used one
like that, there may be advantages I'm unaware of.)
-- I'd want a small battery pack or at least a cord long enough to set the
unit on the overhead while I write.
--I'd make sure the wire connections are as fidget proof as possible.
Multiple faculty pulling on the wires can mess up the connections.
-- I'd also try to find the longest battery life or time between recharges.
Our batteries seem to go dead every couple lectures and sometimes in the
middle of one.
At Radford, people have talked about doing the "Oprah" routine
in
class. You would have a different set of considerations if you wanted a
mic to pass around the room... sturdiness, theftproof, ease of passing,
stationary vs roaming....
Hope this helps. --cmw
Charlene M. Waggoner, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
Bowling Green, State University
Bowling Green, OH 43403
cwaggon@bgnet.bgsu.edu
We also use cordless mics in the lecture hall and I love them. Like
Charlene I roam about the class and find that it keeps the students on
their toes. I do quite a few question and answer sessions using the mics
and the students really get involved in it.
Ours are simple from Radio Shack and work very well. I have two and if one
need repaired (which isn't often) I have a spare. Six faculty use it and
so
far I've had only rav reviews.
The main problem is the batteries - we now use Ultralife Lithium Power
cells which last about 45 lecture hours (50 mins). I did a test of some
of
the batteries available and these are by far the best.
=======================
Alison Morrison-Shetlar
Dept. of Biology
Landrum Box 8042
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro GA 30460
We use similar mics in our community theatre group.
The mic clips to a shirt collar, the battery pack clips to your pants
or slips in your pocket. They seem pretty rugged (I've seen the mics
dropped and dragged around stage for several minutes until the person's
character plot finally allowed them to leave the stage). The quality
of sound is pretty good (we use them to help "weak" singers).
As Charlene notes they do suck up the batteries. We often change them
every show just so we don't get caught with a dead battery in the
middle of a song.
We also use stationary stage mics. Positioned at the front of the stage
they pick up everything in front of them and screen out audiance noises.
They work well for group singing and also for individual non-miced people.
They don't require batteries and would have the added advantage that faculty
don't accidently walk off with them.
I don't have brands handy (nor may the equipment be correct for your
situation - along with mics you obviously need some sort of amp and PA
system). I'd suggest talking with the sound tech from your local theatre
or any instructional resource/AV specialist/etc. on campus.
Jeff
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jeff Lewin, Lab Associate http://www.bio.mtu.edu/perspage/jclewin/home.html
jclewin@mtu.edu Department of Biological Sciences
(906) 487-3435 Michigan Technological University
Fax (906) 487-3167 Houghton, MI 49931
Mary
I use fm microphones in a large lecture at The University of
Calgary (for 400 persons). It is a wonderful aid to moving
around the room as I lecture to engage students in discussion. I
have marked off the room into regions that hold about 50
students, by marking the stairs and placing coloured tabs on the
walls. This allows me to interact with smaller groups as though
I was in a smaller class. Of course, other students "listen in"
and may be asked to respond to comments. Students do, however,
find it intimidating, so it's best to explain how you will moving
in the room. It's also a wonderful tool to control talking in
class....just move your lecturing to their location!
A note on batteries: whatever system you buy will use batteries.
I suggest a system that has two receiving antennas for assurance
that incoming signals from other sources (such as police and fire
companies)are not amplified on your system. You may either buy
one-time use longer lasting alkaline batteries or rechargeable
nickel-cadmium, which last about 1-1 1/2 hours with each charge,
and eventually will go dead. A final note our system is SHURE.
chuck curry, The university of Calgary (clcurry@acs.ucalgary.ca)