Two problems this past weekend

[Wynnd]

Friday, my Airport Express expired.  (Replaced under warranty.)  and Saturday my DriveRack PX froze at rehearsal.  (Reboot fixed that.)  So in my life, right now, the DL1608 is one of my system's highlights.  Of course when the WiFi dies, you always think of the mixer as being the problem.  (Bought both at about the same time last Sept.)

[Keyboard Magic]

That sucks. These things do happen at the most unfortunate times, sometimes. At least the router was replaced under warranty and a reboot fixed the DriveRack. Glad you were able to get up and running. 

At the last concert, my wireless SM58 decided to die in the middle of a speech. Of course, I thought that the batteries were still good from the last gig. Should've just put in a new pair, which I forgot to bring.  Should've known better!  And yes, my first thought was the DL.    But I did actually have a cabled SM58 backup just in case.

Of all the things I have ever lost in my lifetime, I miss my mind the most.   

[Wynnd]

A cabled mic is always a good idea for any mission critical wireless mics.  In my wireless mic box, Shure one that came with a wireless system, I have a hand held, a body pack, a headset for the body pack and a guitar cord for the body pack and 5 pairs of NiMH AA batteries.  I rotate the batteries so I'm always using the oldest charged ones, but I use at least one pair every week and usually use two.  At the end of rehearsal or a gig, I leave the mic/bodypack on so it will run the batteries down.   Then I place the discharged batteries in my charger the next day and move all the batteries around for the next use.    Been doing it this way for quite a while, and so far the batteries in my mic case rarely fail.  (And the charger catches any that will no longer charge.)  I'm consistently getting at least 5 hours use on charged NiMH batteries.  (I hate throwing batteries away and this way I don't have to as much.  The fact that it's the cheapest way of using batteries doesn't hurt either.)

[Keyboard Magic]

Rechargeable batteries for the mic are certainly a better way to go and in the long run cheaper than buying regular AA alkaline batteries all the time. Thank you for sharing your experience and tip about the batteries. I am going to invest in some rechargeables before the next gig.   

[WK154]

Here is my experience with NiMH with my wife's daily use at school. I would keep her on a limited 6 batteries (3 cycles) with a Alkaline backup just in case. That worked fairly well as long as she maintained the charging cycle and it ran $.0045 per battery vs. $.25 for Alkaline of the longer charge retention type (lower total power 2100mAh). Of course I got the usual "I was to busy" excuse and we went thru a bunch of Alkaline's over the years. This was with a Sennheiser EW100 series body pack.

[Wynnd]

I don't carry Alkaline AA batteries anymore.  I do keep my charged NiMH in my wireless mic case, so if I forget the batteries, I will have forgotten the wireless mics anyway.

[WK154]

That's fine if you have a rigorous routine for charging batteries in place. Some of us might forget to charge them. There is one other problem with NiMH and that is their discharge curve, it's flat until near the end so low battery circuits have trouble giving you enough warning. The newer gear is better on this, most of the older equipment was set up for Alkaline.

[sam.spoons]

I always use Duracell 'Procell' batteries in wireless mics (and box fresh for every show), the cost of 50 pence per mic per show is well worth the peace of mind.

[WK154]

  Same here Sam for any show. If I know it's going over 6 hrs. I'll go for Lithium's. I've had NiMH's go out on me in 4 hrs. and scrambling to replace them is no fun.

[robbocurry]

I always use Duracell 'Procell' batteries in wireless mics (and box fresh for every show), the cost of 50 pence per mic per show is well worth the peace of mind.

Two Lidl "Aerocell" alkaline AA's do over six hours (or three gigs) in our Sennheiser G3 mics (if you're ever stuck) - around £2.70 for eight batteries Sam.
BTW, where do you get Procells from, I saw them used at an open air gig I was working at last weekend?

[sam.spoons]

Unbranded alkaline batteries are very variable in quality, Lidl will buy from the cheapest source any given week/month and haves their own brand stuck on. Duracell/Procell are likely to be consistent and at 22p each they're cheaper than Lidl  . Buy them here http://www.buyabattery.co.uk/batteries/aa-batteries/procell-aa-batteries-box-of-100-bulk-duracell-procell.html

[Keyboard Magic]

Alkaline, Lithium or Rechargeables? I guess it's a matter of preference, availability and price. I've been using the Duracell Quantum alkaline batteries. As long as I remember to bring them.    A 10 pack at Walmart goes for $12.47 Canadian. Duracell Ion Core NiMH 4 pack is $18.97 minus the charger and to quote Walmart:

"They are guaranteed to last for 5 years and, with Duralock Power Preserve Technology, they’ll hold a charge for up to 1 year when not in use. These powerful NiMH batteries work in any NiMH charger and you can recharge them up to 400 times."

In the real world I guess YMMV? 

[WK154]

Might want to check this comparison out.
http://www.batteryshowdown.com/results-lo.html
Marketing at work again.

[sam.spoons]

Interesting, so it appears that the battery type has more bearing on the life than the brand (but we already knew that Lithium have more capacity than zinc carbon). You may well be right WK but I'd still expect the Duracell/Energiser type branded batteries to be more reliable (i.e. fewer rogue/faulty units) than 'cheap' ones and if you buy Procell in bulk they cost less than cheapies bought retail anyway.

[Keyboard Magic]

"Verrrrry interesting"    I guess just use the ones you are currently (sorry no pun intended) getting the best results from and that are cost effective. As long as the cost of the batteries doesn't surpass the cost of your mics, etc.