Do we need a licence to use it?

It depends on the frequency. UK G3 sets are usually the GB band, 606–648 MHz. Channel 38, which runs 606.5 to 613.5 MHz, is covered by Ofcom's UK-wide shared wireless microphone licence — you buy that direct from Ofcom and it lasts a year or two. Frequencies above 614 MHz sit in the TV channels and need a co-ordinated licence for your site and dates. Tell us where and when you are using it and we will tell you which band the units are in.

Can we run two systems together for eight channels?

Usually yes, but the frequencies have to be planned so the two sets do not fight each other — eight channels is not simply four plus four. The G3 carries 20 banks of up to 12 pre-coordinated channels for exactly this, and the receivers can scan for clear frequencies then sync each transmitter over infrared. Tell us how many channels you need and where, and we will work through a frequency plan with you. If the answer is eight or more on a regular basis, the Trantec S5.3 racks are the better tool and are cheaper per channel.

Handheld or headworn — which do we want?

Handheld if the mic gets passed around: a panel, a compère, speeches, a solo number. Headworn if one person wears it for the whole show and needs both hands, or if they move a lot — a dance teacher, a fitness instructor, a presenter working the room. A headset also holds a steadier level, because the capsule stays the same distance from the mouth, which makes it far more forgiving to mix. They cost the same, so choose on the job rather than the budget.

What does it plug into?

Each receiver is a single rack unit with a balanced XLR output, so it goes into a mixer channel like any wired mic — four receivers, four channels on the desk. They run from 12 V mains supplies. Aerials fit BNC sockets on the rear, so if they are buried in a closed rack the aerials want moving to the front or out into the room.

Home Services Equipment Hire Radio Microphone Hire

Sennheiser G3 radio microphone hire — four-channel systems

Q: How long will the batteries last?

Sennheiser quotes around eight hours from two AA cells, which covers a rehearsal and a show. The receiver shows the transmitter's battery level in four steps, so you can see trouble coming. Fit fresh cells before the performance rather than trusting what is left after the dress run.

Four radio mics that have to work first time, in front of an audience. These are Sennheiser ew 100 G3 systems — four channels set and checked together on Channel 38 before they leave us, so a panel, a small cast or a set of presenters can each take a mic without the channels fighting one another. Handheld or headworn, £80 per day, dry or with one of our technicians.

Sennheiser ew 100 G3, four channels at a time. The G3 is the analogue UHF system that turned up on stages and in school halls for years, and it earned that place: it sounds natural, it holds its signal, and the controls make sense under pressure.

Two builds, one price. The handheld system is four SKM 100 G3 transmitters with four EM 100 G3 rack receivers — the mic you pass along a panel, hand to a compère or hold for a solo number. The headworn system swaps the handhelds for SK 100 G3 bodypacks with ME 3 cardioid headmics, worn at the corner of the mouth so both hands stay free and the level barely moves as the wearer turns. That fixed distance also makes a headset far easier to control from a simple desk than a handheld passed between speakers.

The EM 100 G3 receiver is a single rack unit with two BNC antenna inputs, balanced XLR and unbalanced jack outputs, and a pilot tone squelch that keeps the channel quiet when the mic is switched off. Tuning covers 1,680 frequencies across a 42 MHz band in 25 kHz steps, arranged in 20 preset banks plus a user bank. The receiver scans for a clear frequency and passes it to its transmitter over infrared, which is how four channels get set together quickly rather than fiddled with one at a time. HDX companding keeps the noise floor down.

Each transmitter runs on two AA cells for around eight hours, so a full day of rehearsal and show is realistic on one set. Fit fresh cells before the performance rather than trusting what is left after the dress run — the receiver shows the transmitter’s battery level in four steps, so you can see trouble coming.

UK sets are usually the GB band, 606–648 MHz. Channel 38 falls inside it and is covered by Ofcom’s shared UK wireless microphone licence. Check the band and the licence before the day, and ask us if you are not sure which applies.

Four channels is the size we hire these as. If one voice is all the show needs, the Shure PG58 handheld kit at £15 a day is the cheaper answer and we would rather sell you that. If you are miking a whole cast, the Trantec S5.3 racks run four, eight or twelve coordinated headsets and are built for it. Spare Ultralight headsets hire at £4 a day, and on a run it is worth taking one.

Hired by the day, dry or with a technician.

What you get

Four transmitters and four EM 100 G3 rack receivers, tuned and frequency-coordinated together on Channel 38

Handheld system: four SKM 100 G3 handhelds. Headworn system: four SK 100 G3 bodypacks with ME 3 cardioid headmics

Mains supplies for the receivers, and rod aerials with BNC connectors

Two AA cells run each transmitter; ask whether batteries are included and carry a spare set either way

You will need four XLR cables from the receivers into your mixer, and a mains socket by the rack

Tell us if the receivers are going into a closed rack, as the aerials may need front-mounting or moving out into the room

Good for

Panels, Q&As and awards evenings where several people speak in turn

Small casts in a play or a concert — a principal each, on their own channel

Speech days, open evenings and presentations with more than one speaker

Dance teachers and fitness instructors who talk while they demonstrate, on the headworn system

Compère, auction and raffle duties at a fundraising night, on the handheld system

Adding four more channels to a radio mic rack you already have

What you need to know

How many: Four channels per system, coordinated together before they leave us. Need more than four? Two systems can run alongside each other if the frequencies are planned first — tell us the count and we will work it through, or look at the Trantec racks, which are built for a full cast.
Handheld or headworn: Handheld for voices that take turns and pass the mic along. Headworn for someone who needs both hands and a level that stays put as they move. Same price either way.
Batteries: About eight hours from two AA cells per transmitter, so a full day of rehearsal and a show on one set. Spares are cheap and we can send some.
Power: Each receiver plugs into a normal 13A socket. They sit on a table next to the desk, or rack up if you have a rack.
Licence: Channel 38 sits inside the band covered by Ofcom’s shared UK wireless microphone licence. Ask us and we will tell you whether you need one.
Who runs it: Take it and go, or we send a technician to set it up, ring it out and mix the show.

Hire rates

Choose the one you need. The photo and price follow your choice, and add-ons are ticked separately below.

Sennheiser G3 Handheld Radio Microphone System (4-Mic, Ch38)Four handhelds on pre-coordinated Channel 38 frequencies, for panels and small casts.£80a day

Sennheiser G3 Headworn Radio Microphone System (4-Mic, Ch38)Four headsets on pre-coordinated Channel 38 frequencies, hands free for presenters and dance.£80a day

Add-ons

Tick anything you want with it. They go on your enquiry list together.

Ultralight Headworn Microphone (Spare, 3.5mm Jack)A spare or replacement headset for the G3 beltpacks.£4a day

Rates are per day and exclude VAT. A longer hire costs less per day — tell us your dates and we will price the period exactly. Ask us about delivery and hiring with a technician.

Alternatives

Shure PG58 handheld kit — a single handheld radio mic at £15 a day, when one voice is all the show needs.

Trantec S5.3 headworn systems — racks of four, eight or twelve coordinated channels — for miking a whole cast rather than a few voices.

Full technical specification (38)

Type	Analogue UHF radio microphone systems, Sennheiser evolution wireless G3 100 series, four channels per system on Channel 38
Handheld transmitter	Sennheiser SKM 100 G3
Receiver	Sennheiser EM 100 G3, true diversity, 1U rack
Frequency band (GB variant)	606–648 MHz — confirm the band of the units you are hiring
Switching bandwidth	42 MHz
Tuneable frequencies	1,680, in 25 kHz steps
Frequency banks	20 banks of up to 12 factory presets, plus 1 user bank of up to 12
Modulation	Wideband FM
Companding	Sennheiser HDX
Transmitter RF output power	typ. 30 mW at 50 ohms
Transmitter AF frequency response	80 Hz – 18 kHz
System AF frequency response	25 Hz – 18 kHz
Signal to noise ratio	≥ 110 dBA (1 mV, peak deviation)
THD	≤ 0.9%
Receiver sensitivity	< 2 µV for 52 dBA rms S/N, HDX engaged
Receiver outputs	Balanced XLR-3M, +18 dBu max; unbalanced 6.3 mm jack, +12 dBu max
Antenna inputs	2 x BNC
Squelch	Off / Low 5 dBµV / Middle 15 dBµV / High 25 dBµV, plus defeatable pilot tone squelch
Receiver EQ presets	Flat / Low Cut (-3 dB at 180 Hz) / Low Cut + High Boost / High Boost (+6 dB at 10 kHz)
Transmitter power	2 x AA 1.5 V cells, 2.4 V nominal, typ. 8 hours
Receiver power supply	12 V DC, 300 mA (mains unit supplied)
Power draw	Receiver approx. 3.6 W DC (12 V x 300 mA, our calculation from Sennheiser's published figures). Handheld is battery powered and draws no mains.
Weight	Handheld transmitter approx. 0.45 kg; receiver approx. 0.98 kg; approx. 1.43 kg for the pair (our addition, excluding power supply, aerials and case)
Dimensions	Receiver approx. 190 x 212 x 43 mm; handheld transmitter 50 mm diameter x 265 mm
Rack space	1U
Operating temperature	-10 °C to +55 °C
Headworn system — System	Sennheiser ew 100 G3: ME 3 headmic on an SK 100 G3 bodypack transmitter, with an EM 100 G3 rack receiver
Headworn system — Microphone	Sennheiser ME 3 headworn mic, pre-polarised condenser, cardioid
Headworn system — Frequency response (mic)	50 to 18,000 Hz
Headworn system — Maximum SPL	150 dB
Headworn system — Sensitivity	1.6 mV/Pa
Headworn system — Mic cable	1.6 m to a 3.5 mm mini-jack at the bodypack
Headworn system — Headmic weight	0.06 kg
Headworn system — Transmitter dimensions	82 x 64 x 24 mm
Headworn system — Transmitter weight	Approx 0.16 kg without batteries
Headworn system — Battery	2 x AA, more than 8 hours on a set
Headworn system — Receiver power	EM 100 G3 rack receiver with its mains supply, runs from a standard UK 230 V socket
Channels per system	Four, frequency-coordinated together before dispatch

Common questions

It depends on the frequency. UK G3 sets are usually the GB band, 606–648 MHz. Channel 38, which runs 606.5 to 613.5 MHz, is covered by Ofcom's UK-wide shared wireless microphone licence — you buy that direct from Ofcom and it lasts a year or two. Frequencies above 614 MHz sit in the TV channels and need a co-ordinated licence for your site and dates. Tell us where and when you are using it and we will tell you which band the units are in.
Sennheiser quotes around eight hours from two AA cells, which covers a rehearsal and a show. The receiver shows the transmitter's battery level in four steps, so you can see trouble coming. Fit fresh cells before the performance rather than trusting what is left after the dress run.
Usually yes, but the frequencies have to be planned so the two sets do not fight each other — eight channels is not simply four plus four. The G3 carries 20 banks of up to 12 pre-coordinated channels for exactly this, and the receivers can scan for clear frequencies then sync each transmitter over infrared. Tell us how many channels you need and where, and we will work through a frequency plan with you. If the answer is eight or more on a regular basis, the Trantec S5.3 racks are the better tool and are cheaper per channel.
Handheld if the mic gets passed around: a panel, a compère, speeches, a solo number. Headworn if one person wears it for the whole show and needs both hands, or if they move a lot — a dance teacher, a fitness instructor, a presenter working the room. A headset also holds a steadier level, because the capsule stays the same distance from the mouth, which makes it far more forgiving to mix. They cost the same, so choose on the job rather than the budget.
Each receiver is a single rack unit with a balanced XLR output, so it goes into a mixer channel like any wired mic — four receivers, four channels on the desk. They run from 12 V mains supplies. Aerials fit BNC sockets on the rear, so if they are buried in a closed rack the aerials want moving to the front or out into the room.