Wireless public address systems are a great way to address crowds in locations where it is impractical to run cords. Portable wireless PA systems are even better because you can use them virtually anywhere, even far from a power supply.

If you are purchasing or renting a wireless PA system, you will want to make sure you are making the most of wireless public address systems by getting wireless PA equipment that meets all your needs. Factors you should consider include:

1. The wattage of the wireless public address equipment;

2. The power supply used by the wireless PA loudspeaker system;

3. And optional equipment for the wireless PA system.

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Maximize the wattage for your wireless public address system

There's nothing worse than trying to listen to someone speak through a wireless public address system that is not powerful enough. Consider your setting and crowd size and get a wireless PA system with enough watts to make sure everyone can hear.

I recommend: CSN Supply gives excellent tips on how to determine how many watts you will need for a wireless PA audio system. Kiefer Auction Supply lets you compare systems that range from 22 to 300 watts.

Chose the right power supply for your wireless PA system

Before purchasing or renting a wireless PA system, consider where you will be using it. If you will be using it in indoor locations, a system that can be plugged into the wall should meet your needs. However, if you want to use your wireless public speaking system outdoors or away from a power supply, you should consider a battery-powered unit.

I recommend: NexTag lets you compare various AC- and DC-powered wireless public address systems. Become also allows you to compare power supplies for wireless PA systems.

Consider optional equipment as part of your wireless public address system

To be sure you are truly making the most of wireless public address systems, you should consider optional equipment such as microphones that can clip onto the speaker's clothes and CD or cassette players. This type of equipment can make a wireless public speaking system easier to use and improve the quality of any presentation.

I recommend: AnchorAudioWarehouse.com discusses the pros and cons of various types of wireless microphones for wireless PA systems. An article from Hylex Electronic Company discusses the availability of cassette, CD and even MP3 players as part of wireless PA equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When using portable PA systems, there's nothing more frustrating than having the sound break up, go to static or cut out. This problem can often be traced back to insufficient transmission range between the wireless microphone and the receiver. So figure out how far the microphone will be carried from the receiver, and be sure to get a wireless public address audio system that more than compensates.

Public address systems, once a staple of auditoriums and conference centers, have made inroads with small businesses, churches, schools and entertainment companies thanks to the advent of wireless PA systems. Discarding cords means greater portability, lower repair costs with respect to cords and microphones and reduced liability issues due to accidents when people trip over cords.

The most important factors to consider when selecting a wireless public address system are:

1. Audience size to determine the output needed and, therefore, the cost of the PA system.
2. Whether the PA system will be used indoors or outdoors.
3. Portability for moving the wireless equipment to different venues.

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Look for a wireless PA system within your budget

Prices can vary widely for wireless PA systems, from less than $100 to thousands of dollars. You'll need to determine the number of microphones, speakers and the output needed to reach the estimated size of the crowd. The general rule is to use 10 watts of power per 100 people seated directly in front of the system; thus a system rated at 35 watts will handle an audience of up to 350. For crowds scattered to both sides of the system, increase the wattage by 40 percent. You may see a system rated at 10 watts RMS (root mean square) in product specifications. The RMS number is what's important, rather than PMPO (Peak Music Power Output), because RMS indicates how many watts the system is capable of delivering on a constant basis.

I recommend: Compare prices on different wireless public address systems and components at NexTag. If you're seeking small, portable PA systems, don't overlook DAK Industries, which frequently has interesting finds and bargains in electronics.

Select a wireless PA system based on where you will use it

Buy an AC-powered PA system if the unit will be used exclusively indoors. On the other hand, if the wireless PA system will be used exclusively outdoors or both indoors and outdoors, consider the flexibility of a system that is AC/DC capable.

I recommend: Check DAK for reviews of a VHF AC/DC system that sells for $99 and is suitable for reaching groups of up to 100 people.

Determine which portions of the system should be wireless

A wireless PA system can have wireless microphones but hard-wired speakers. If the primary concern is to increase the presenter's flexibility, incorporating hard-wired speakers will not be a problem. If it is necessary to run speaker wires throughout a venue, however, the cord length will limit speaker placement. This is not a problem if the speakers are in a permanent location with wires covered and protected. If, however, the speakers are mobile, the liability risk should someone trip over an uncovered cord needs to be weighed against the benefit of investing in a fully wireless PA system.

I recommend: Check out Califone for a true wireless system. This wireless public address equipment puts out 90-watts RMS of power, which can handle crowds of up to 500 people.

Check into outdoor wireless PA systems for emergency use

An outdoor wireless public address system can play an important role during emergencies or disasters. Research into variations of equipment to play prerecorded messages is under way, with one promising method developed for the Wireless Internet Information System for Medical Response to Disasters. During a drill in California, the WiFi Bullhorn proved effective for first responders.

I recommend: Go to PubMedCentral to learn more about the hardware and software specifications used in the outdoor wireless public address system WiFi Bullhorn for the Wireless Internet Information System for Medical Response to Disasters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a draft layout for the PA equipment that works best for your situation, then research the cost of components. Fit the equipment to your needs, not the other way around.
• •  Go for the most cost-effective method to reach your audience. While some wireless PA systems offer more bells and whistles, they can needlessly impact your budget when a smaller setup will do.

A wireless public address system can help you deliver a loud message to a large audience. But prices of wireless PA systems vary greatly, and you don't want to overspend by purchasing or renting equipment that you don't need.

So before you start to determine the pricing and costs of wireless public address systems, take a moment to figure out how large your audience will be. Also, consider if the event will be indoors or outdoors. These two factors are essential when deciding how many speakers and microphones you will need. You should also decide if you want to:

1. Find prices for new wireless public address systems;

2. Shop for used wireless PA equipment;

3. Or rent a wireless PA loudspeaker system.

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Compare prices for new wireless PA systems

A new wireless PA system can cost you anywhere from $300 to $5,000. The price is determined by the sound quality and the number of watts of audio output, with more watts costing more money. For a small gathering, a small wireless PA audio system priced less than $1,000 should be sufficient. However, if you need to broadcast sound to a large crowd, you should go with a more powerful, and more expensive, system.

I recommend: NexTag not only lets you compare prices for portable wireless PA systems, but you can also read reviews that are written by users. CNET Networks also allows you to compare prices for wireless PA equipment. Additionally, you can view the product's specs and, on some products, get the CNET editor's rating.

Consider a used wireless public address system

If you can be flexible with what type of wireless public address system you purchase, you can often save more than 50% off the price of a new system by purchasing a used system. Refurbished wireless public address equipment is often available from smaller retailers.

I recommend: Quality Car Audio sells a number of refurbished portable PA systems. You can also check Karaoke123.com for a rotating stock of used wireless PA systems.

Save money with a wireless PA system rental

Of course, the best way to save money on a wireless PA system is by renting a system. A rental is especially useful if you only need the wireless public address audio system once or twice a year. The cost of a rental depends on the exact sound system you are renting, but expect to pay about $50 per day.

I recommend: Despite its name, AA Computer Rental also rents a number of wireless PA systems. Rentals are grouped by crowd size, making it easy for you to determine what equipment you will need. Wise Group is another company you can use to compare rental prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Whether purchasing new or used wireless public address systems, be sure to make sure a warranty is included.

If you're not a technical kind of person, then you may be a bit intimidated when buying a wireless public address system for your business or organization. In order to make sure you make the best purchase for your needs, you should understand terms such as amplifier and box mixer. You'll need to decide if you need a mixing board or a lavalier microphone. And you should know the difference between peek power and root mean square. This guide will help you understand those key terms and make your purchase with confidence.

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Amplifier

At the heart of a wireless public address system is an amplifier. The amplifier takes low-power audio signals and boosts them so they can be played and heard through loudspeakers.

I recommend: All About Circuits gives a description of a basic amplifier, as well as how it works.

Root mean square

Root mean square, also referred to as RMS, is a rating of how much power a wireless public address system can deliver on a consistent basis. Knowing the root mean square helps you select the right system for your crowd size. A larger crowd will need a larger RMS.

I recommend: For a more in-depth definition of root mean square, refer to Geek.com.

Peak power

Peak power is the highest possible power level that an amplifier on a wireless public address system can achieve without distorting the audio. Peak power is useful for knowing the extreme capabilities of a system, but RMS is a more accurate measurement of its practical capabilities.

I recommend: Preston Electronics has much more on peak power, in addition to how it and other power ratings are calculated.

Lavalier microphone

A lavalier microphone is a small microphone that clips onto a speaker's shirt so the person can speak with both hands free. Wireless lavalier microphones give the speaker even more freedom. They are connected to a transmitter box that the speaker can put in a pocket or clip onto a belt. Lavalier microphones are often referred to as 'lav' mics.

I recommend: To view pictures of lavalier microphones, and get more information, check out Calumet Photographic.

Mixing console

If you have a large wireless public address system, or you are going to be using more than one microphone or source of audio, then you may need to hook your system up to a mixing console. A mixing console, or mixing board, allows an audio operator to control the levels of each audio source and control which audio source is broadcast to the crowd.

I recommend: eHow offers advice for several types of mixers, along with more information.

Box mixer

If your wireless public address system has a box mixer, the amplifier and the mixing board are together in a single unit. This makes the system more portable than one with a separate mixing board.

I recommend: Full Compass Systems provides a variety of examples of box mixers.