DEITY BF-1 - Longer Wireless Mic Range with Butterfly Antennas?
· Audio · Wireless systems · 5:34
In this episode we have a look at the DEITY BF-1 butterfly antenna for wireless microphone systems. We describe the differences between this type of antenna and standard whip antennas, discuss the advantages of butterfly or bowtie antennas, and show you how to best use the BF-1 to improve your on-set audio recordings. Let’s take a closer look!
Gear used or mentioned
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- DEITY BF-1 antennas
- DEITY SRD Mini — RF distribution box
- DEITY SPD Mini — power distribution box
- DEITY S-95 — smart battery
- DEITY DQC2 — 2 Bay Smart Battery Charger
- DEITY 140W — USB power adapter
- Orca OR-30 — sound bag
Read the transcript
This episode covers the Deity BF1, a butterfly-style (or “bowtie”) external antenna used with pro-level wireless microphone systems that have SMA antenna ports. Does a butterfly antenna give better range than the stock quarter-wave whip antenna? Potentially yes, but it’s more nuanced than a simple percentage improvement.
Quarter-wave whip antennas are sized in length for a specific frequency range — older prosumer systems had a single fixed antenna covering one narrow band, while newer systems like the Deity Theos ship a series of interchangeable whips, each optimized for a different frequency range. The big advantage of a butterfly antenna like the BF1 is that it covers a very wide range (roughly 470 MHz to 1 GHz) without swapping antennas, since it effectively contains multiple antenna lengths built into its bowtie shape — mostly a convenience win.
The bigger practical advantage is line of sight: reception and range depend heavily on a clear line of sight between transmitter and receiver, and an external antenna on a cable lets you position just the antenna higher (above obstructions) or closer to the action (e.g., running it to the far side of a wall you’re standing behind) without having to relocate your whole receiver rig. If you’re running multiple receivers with an RF distribution system like the Deity SRD Mini, you can also consolidate down to just two antennas shared across up to four receivers, even at different frequencies, since the BF1’s wide coverage handles that. The SRD Mini distribution box also includes a low-pass filter above 1 GHz to reduce RF noise floor.
Bottom line: don’t expect mounting BF1s on your bag to automatically extend your range — the benefit comes from positioning the antenna higher or closer to reduce line-of-sight obstructions, which can meaningfully improve reception and reduce dropouts. This kind of RF knowledge is part of what sets a professional apart. Get out there and make some great sound. We’ll talk to you again soon.