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Wireless - Is the sky falling?


Jeff Wexler

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There is certainly a lot of passionate discussion going on right now regarding the shake-ups in our usable wireless spectrum. I came across an article with the author seeming to think the sky IS falling and probably faster than we previously thought.

A few excerpts:

Karl Voss, chief engineer at noncommercial KAET Phoenix and the SBE/NFL frequency coordinator, was quoted as saying, “Many [equipment] vendors have been telling everybody not to worry about wireless mics. They say: ‘You won’t have to get off your channels till 2020 at the end of the transition.’ But that’s simply not true.”

“I think the wireless mic folks are in for a big challenge because everybody had this idea that there would be this semi-orderly transition based on the phases,” Voss continued. “That’s not the case.”

Wireless systems manufacturers largely agree. Jackie Green, president and CTO of Alteros, the wireless-microphone company spun off by Audio-Technica specifically to develop alternate products for a newly realigned spectrum landscape, tells SVG, “I believe misconception is still strong, and a number of wireless microphone users — and some wireless manufacturers — still think they will have 39 months to use their gear, and this is likely not true in many cases.”

LINK to complete article in SVG News

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While the sky is not falling, some storm clouds are looming. 

If you're doing large venue, frequency-coordinated gigs, you should simply be prepared to operate below 608mHz, as frequency coordinators, such as Mr. Voss, will usually take a pro-active approach to spectrum allocation.

If you're doing small gigs -- run-n-gun, docs, sit-down interviews, and such --  and operate in blocks 24, 25, and 26, you should be prepared with alternatives.  If you don't have any 500mHz rigs, then at least be ready to go direct-wired and swing the boom if the clouds burst where you are.

While I suspect that many on smaller gigs won't encounter issues during the next three years, any of us could do so, at any time -- so being prepared makes you more than just a good Boy Scout.

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Well it seems like the "repacking" of channels has begun.  Article in the LA times today about how KSCI is going off the air due to "the station’s involvement in a profitable auction of its spectrum".  They are 494-500mhz NTSC channel 18.  I'd imagine someone big like KNBC (36) or KCBS (43) is probably taking their spectrum space.

I have 6 SMQV transmitters in the 600mhz range (youch).  To reblock or sell out/upgrade, that is thy question of my sound life lately...

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Yep it it occured here with the move from analogue to digital

I sold 6 radio mike systems and needed to replace them

Bought into Block 26 that looked safe then did a job up north to find a digital

tv channel sitting across all my radios so re-tuning like mad while shooting get life!

Block 24 here still viable so 3 of my waterproofs re-tuned and OK

Using a Block 25 for radio boom or extra lav

It's a fight for survival but that's a small business

mike

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  • 2 weeks later...
1 hour ago, gus harris said:

Does anyone know what this means?

"Additionally, the Order will enable legacy equipment that operates within the 600 MHz band to be modified to comply with the new regulations, saving a significant amount of still operational wireless gear from costly pre-mature obsolescence following the transition period."

 

Thank you

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I saw the same article, and it seemed a little alarmist to me, but with merit.  If T-Mobile is actually on track to deploy and activate there 600mhz purchases this year, it could come as a surprise to some markets, but these rollouts don't happen everywhere all at once.  Admittedly I am not ready for my 7 channels of 600mhz to go offline tomorrow, so I just have to hope that I have enough time to go through with my transition plan before it's a problem.

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On 7/15/2017 at 8:52 PM, Philip Perkins said:

"It's legal for you to pay to have your 600MHz gear refreqed if you can afford it and the manufacturer (or etc) will do it."

I guess I neglected to acknowledge that legal U.S.A. wireless gear is officially licensed and assigned an Emission Designator, which is to say that I had not acknowledged that we are not at liberty to alter the specs of a item that has been previously approved unless the alteration is approved.

I was optimistic and fantasizing that "enable" might be code for "subsidize", but now I realize that fantasy was naive.

Thank you.

 

 

 

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