One of the biggest advantages that wireless headphones have is that they give us total freedom of movement, since we will not be -literally- tied to cables to make them work with the PC. Most SimRacers, we race endurance races and when we finish our stint, we want to keep giving notes to our teammates who are still racing on the track even if it’s from another room.
The bad part is that, depending on the wireless technology they use, they have a maximum distance at which they work, and this range is quite limited. In this article we are going to show you how you can maximize this distance so that they reach as far as possible.
As a general rule, wireless headphones use a USB receiver that connects to them via radio frequency at 2.4 GHz; this, also as a general rule, gives them a maximum operating distance of between 5 or 15 meters (they usually say 10 meters on average), but this is reduced depending on whether there are walls in the way or the environmental situation in which we find ourselves.
About distance
The distance your headphones reach from the receiver can vary quite a bit depending on the conditions you’re in, so let’s take a look at them all and give you a series of recommendations so you can make sure you get the best possible range.
As you know, the USB port to which we connect the receiver provides it with the power it needs to receive and transmit the signal to the wireless headphones, and curiously despite the fact that this is a digital signal (and therefore either it works or it doesn’t), the distance the signal reaches is not and depends largely on whether the receiver is being able to get all the power it needs. Therefore, we give you the following recommendations:
- Try to connect it to one of the USB ports on the motherboard, and not to a front USB.
- If this is not possible, use a USB hub with external power supply or a keyboard with USB Passthrough.
- USB extension cables are also suitable as long as they do not have other devices connected and go directly to the motherboard ports.
It is also important that the receiver is located in a position that favors the transmission of the signal; we have told you before that if you connect it to the rear ports of the box it will have better power, but this can be counterproductive depending on where we physically have the box: if it is attached to the wall at the back or if you have it on the floor, forget about connecting it there.
Ideally, the receiver should not be covered anywhere and should not have walls too close (at least not attached), and should also be in a high position, not hidden, and away from other devices that can cause interference, such as the router or other wireless devices.
The less battery in the headset, the shorter the distance.
Another factor that influences the range of wireless headphones also has to do with power, although in this case with the battery of the headphones themselves. While it is true that this does not happen with all models, in many of them it is noticeable that the less battery power they have, the more their range is reduced.
It is advisable to always keep the battery charged and make sure that it is not completely discharged to avoid deterioration. In short, keeping the battery well maintained and not letting it get too low is also good for optimizing the distance the headphones will reach.
Are there headphones with better distance than others?
Definitely yes, and this has a lot to do with several reasons but they all point to the same place: the quality of the materials. If a good receiver is used at both ends (headphones and USB dongle) and if the materials are good, the headphones will have a better distance at which they will continue to work. Couple this with good practices in terms of where to connect the receiver and its location as explained above, and you will get the best possible range.
See you on the track!
