Crazy Static on Sony UBX-40

[MICA Film Cage]

Hello All,

 

I've got a sound problem that's stumping, not surprising considering I'm a camera guy. I've got a Sony UTX-B40 body pack that has started acting up on me. Whenever a microphone is plugged it sends constant static. With no mic it's totally silent.

 

Here's a list of all the things I've tried without fixing the issue. Changed the mic out for a COS-11D with the Sony TRS. RF setting set to low. Wide range of different channels. Low gain, Auto gain, turned the attenuator all the way up. Linked to different RXs. Swapped out the battery pack. Changed battery type settings. Changed compander setting on TX and RX.

 

At this point I'm at the end of my rope. Any help you have to offer would be much appreciated.

[PMC]

Does the TRS connector have a locking ring? I am unfamiliar with this xmtr.

 

Long shot but if the common denominator is this one xmtr and it has a 3.5mm TRS cconnector, does the noise crackle more if you move the connector side to side before engaging the locking ring? 

 

Do you have a can of Tuner Cleaner you can clean the female connector with? 

 

Can you connect a dynamic mic rather than the electrolytic mics you mentioned and turn off the 3v supply to the connector to hear if the sound is static free? 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

Make sure mic power is enabled.  Also, if PMC is right and it only supplies 3V, you may need a mic that works better with a low voltage.  Some lavs simply won't work without more voltage.  PMC's suggestion of testing with a dynamic mic (if you can find one) is a good one.

Also, there are multiple possible wirings for that connector, and Sony's isn't all the common.  You did mention the COS-11 was wired for Sony, but you want to be 100% sure. 

Also, if it worked before and just started acting up, but now all you get is static, it may simply be broken and need to go for service.  Other than voltage starvation, there's no obvious settings that I can think of that are likely to cause static.  Granted, I'm not familiar with the Sony, but what you describe sounds more like a hardware issue than misconfiguration.