Relay 10S Auto channel selection and other fun stuff

[kylemcfarland80]

I was under the impression the device was supposed to choose the best available channel when I dock the transmitter and the channel selector is set to Auto. It always chooses a channel with interference. I have to take the time to scan the channels with my phone to see what interference there may or may not be every time I use the device. Then manually select a channel 

 

I am on my 2nd unit. The first was already replaced by support. In addition to the auto channel issue I have had more or less all of the same issues that everyone else has posted about this product. In the end support pointed the finger at me and said it was the environment I was using it in or something else that I was doing wrong.

 

I've worked in IT for 20 years. I'm 99.99% sure I know more about radio signals and how they work than everyone at the line 6 support department. At least anyone I talked to. This device is plagued with issues and way overpriced for the performance. I am in no way surprised that the finger was pointed at me in the end but that's ridiculous.

 

Most of the time I use it I can only get it to go for about 30 seconds without the signal cutting out. If I'm lucky 5 or 10 minutes. But only if I scan the Wi-Fi network with my phone and then manually choose a channel. Every single time I use it. 

 

if I'd wanted performance like this I would have spent less than $100. Because that's about how much this device is worth. If that. It should not be marketed as a device to use for live performances that is a joke. Especially being marketed as a device that can be used in conjunction with other similar devices in a live performance. Fat chance. I would love to see that in action. Because there's no way.

 

I've used products from other manufacturers in the environment that I'm using this product in and they worked just fine. I wanted a rechargeable battery so I bought this one. Huge mistake. if I were to guess the rechargeable battery is most likely the number one reason why this happens. It probably cannot produce enough power in a crowded or congested Wi-Fi environment. Rechargeable batteries are notorious for not being as powerful as alkaline batteries.

 

Regardless of whatever the issue is if you have not bought one of these yet don't

 

 

[phil_m]

10 hours ago, kylemcfarland80 said:

if I'd wanted performance like this I would have spent less than $100. Because that's about how much this device is worth. If that. It should not be marketed as a device to use for live performances that is a joke. Especially being marketed as a device that can be used in conjunction with other similar devices in a live performance. Fat chance. I would love to see that in action. Because there's no way.

 

I'm sorry you're having problems with your unit. I don't always understand why some people have them and others don't. I have been using my original G10 live for over three years now, and I've been using my G10S since January of this year. I am being honest when I say I've never had any issue with dropouts with either unit, like ever. That's using it for rehearsals, at large and small clubs, at festivals, at churches, etc. So it really puzzles me.

 

As far as using it in conjunction with other wireless devices, one example I can give of it working fine is a large party I played at the Fillmore Philly this past Spring. It was a big party type of event, and there were like half a dozen or so guitarists that rotated in and out, and there were time when four or more of us were playing. There were multiple wireless systems on stage, and I had no issue with the G10S... It's just always worked for me wherever I've used it. I don't really know what else to say.

[chasingMango]

I believe people who say they are plagued with issues, I however have never had problems with my G10S playing small church events.  Not sure what the discrepancy is.  One small annoying thing however is that I have to use an extension on the receiver in my acoustic guitar and my electric guitar with active humbuckers, in order to eliminate a quite noticeable and annoying hum.  Fortunately the hum goes away with the extension, but it kind of defeats the ultra portability of the unit.  I don't get the same hum when using my friend's much cheaper wireless product on the same guitars.  Weird.

[phil_m]

8 minutes ago, chasingMango said:

I believe people who say they are plagued with issues, I however have never had problems with my G10S playing small church events.  Not sure what the discrepancy is.  One small annoying thing however is that I have to use an extension on the receiver in my acoustic guitar and my electric guitar with active humbuckers, in order to eliminate a quite noticeable and annoying hum.  Fortunately the hum goes away with the extension, but it kind of defeats the ultra portability of the unit.  I don't get the same hum when using my friend's much cheaper wireless product on the same guitars.  Weird.

 

The hum with your acoustic is related to how the ring connection on the TRS plug on the G10 transmitter is wired.

[chasingMango]

13 minutes ago, phil_m said:

 

The hum with your acoustic is related to how the ring connection on the TRS plug on the G10 transmitter is wired.

 

Obviously there is an explanation for why there is a hum - what is the explanation for why this problem could not be avoided through a better/different design?  It doesn't exist on the cheaper transmitter/receiver I tried.

[phil_m]

2 minutes ago, chasingMango said:

 

Obviously there is an explanation for why there is a hum - what is the explanation for why this problem could not be avoided through a better/different design?  It doesn't exist on the cheaper transmitter/receiver I tried.

 

The G10 transmitter uses the ring connection to charge the battery when plugged into the receiver base. Some acoustic guitar preamp systems use their ring connection for phantom power, so I think that causes a nuisance current on the ring connection that's coming back through the common ground connection, and that's being picked up as noise. The other system you're talking about is probably not using a TRS plug. Every design is about compromises at some point. Line 6 probably just thought that most people would be using the G10 with electric guitars and most electric guitars don't have a TRS jack.

[kylemcfarland80]

On 11/6/2019 at 8:36 AM, phil_m said:

 

The G10 transmitter uses the ring connection to charge the battery when plugged into the receiver base. Some acoustic guitar preamp systems use their ring connection for phantom power, so I think that causes a nuisance current on the ring connection that's coming back through the common ground connection, and that's being picked up as noise. The other system you're talking about is probably not using a TRS plug. Every design is about compromises at some point. Line 6 probably just thought that most people would be using the G10 with electric guitars and most electric guitars don't have a TRS jack.

Compromises? While I understand the technical details behind what you're saying. Let's not forget that the device cost between 250 and $300 depending on where you bought it. That's not a compromise. That's getting screwed because it doesn't work. I can't use it at all with my five string bass. It has active pickups and a pre amp with 18V of power. there are words I would like to say to describe what I think about that decision. But then my post will get deleted. Let's just say it's unbelievably idiotic. 

 

I should have kept the Shure I bought. not a single issue ever. But again I wanted the rechargeable battery. Not thinking that it would be an issue.

 

Just a stupid stupid decision on my part and a stupid stupid design flaw. Why in the name of Zeus's A hole does the battery need to last for 8 hours? Even on my proudest days of practicing till my fingers bleed I never played for 8 hours straight.

 

I said it in my original post and I'm still convinced I'm right. All of the issues can be traced to the rechargeable battery not being able to provide enough power to the wireless signal. That and the lack of external antennas.

 

It's gotten to the point for me where I can't even use it anymore. I literally just threw it across my living room. What a joke. I will never ever buy anything that line 6 makes again. Whether anyone gives a crap about that or not so what. They lost a consumer for life

[cruisinon2]

Harrumph! (Insert angry storm-off emoji here)

[kylemcfarland80]

On 12/25/2019 at 10:24 AM, cruisinon2 said:

Harrumph! (Insert angry storm-off emoji here)

That made me laugh. That is exactly what I did.

 

oh wouldn't you know there's a recall now and they're issuing a refund. $16.50 for a $300 device that didn't work. 

 

I really love being right as much as I want to say I hate it I love being right. Don't ever buy this device. Save yourself the trouble.

 

- pats self on back -