Wireless Battery Life: April 2016 Question of the Month
Shure Notes email newsletter subscribers submit their burning audio questions every month, and we pick one to publish in the email and here. This month, we focus on wireless battery life.
Do you have an audio issue that's driving you nuts? Are you wondering which mic, wireless system, headphone, or phono cartridge is best for you? You're not alone.Shure Notes email subscribers are a curious and creative bunch. If you join their ranks, then every month, in our digest of audio how-to tips, product info, artist news, and events listings, you'll see the latest subscriber question followed by the answer from one of our expert support engineers. Plus, you'll get the chance to ask your own question by clicking the "Ask Us" button in the email. We'll pick a question every month and publish it in Shure Notes. A few weeks later, we'll also publish it here on the Shure Blog.
Shure Notes subscriber Maureen, who owns a PGX Wireless system in the H6 frequency band, asked:
Hi! I am a loyal customer and have been using Shure microphones for the last 19 years as a fitness instructor (I am on my 3rd one). This last microphone system often dies on me in the middle of my one-hour Jazzercise class when I least expect it. How long does the red light show on the battery pack before the batteries die? Is there any other way to predict when my battery will die? It's very distracting to me and my students when I have to unexpectedly change my batteries in the middle of the class.
Shure product support answered:
A fresh set of two AA alkaline cells should last for 8 hours. The red LED indicates less than 30 minutes of operation. Turn the pack on 5 minutes before you begin. Batteries "recharge" when the bodypack is off, so the LED will always be green at first. After five minutes, the batteries will return to their "actual" condition. If the red LED lights, change the batteries.
Sorry, there is no battery timer to keep track of how long the body pack has been on. So we suggest changing batteries after you have taught for 7 hours just to be safe.
P.S. From the Shure Notes editor: Fitness instructors, you might want to check out BLX14/SM31, a newer wireless system especially for you with a hydrophobic headset mic and longer battery life (up to 14 hours).
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