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Frequency restrictions London Olympics 2012


Lynne T

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I'll be travelling from Canada to the UK to shoot a doc at the London Olympics next summer and am wondering if anyone can help me in finding out what wireless frequency blocks will be authorized for media? I've searched the usual suspects-- Sennheiser etc but I know that during these kinds of events there are usually strict regulations around this.

Also, those who have firsthand experience shooting in and around London, if you can give me any insight into what blocks have worked best for you, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

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Technically you are going to need a U.K. wireless license. You should go to www.jfmg.co.uk

I would think that at a huge venue like the Olympics paperwork will be scrutinized more than normal. I freelance out of Toronto and one production company I work with gets a yearly license just in case as they do a lot of shooting in England. They are only around 80 pounds if memory serves.

As for China a carnet might not be quite enough. I remember the production company having to partner with a Chinese company to smooth out the paperwork and permits. I know of 2 CBC crews turned back for lack of such a partnership.

Margus Jukkum

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Thanks for the feedback, Margus. I freelance out of Montreal. I've heard similar issues about travelling to China. The production is looking into these issues. I'll definitely let them know about getting a license for the UK as well. Again, thanks for taking the time to respond!

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" any insight into what blocks have worked best for you, "

where ever you go, adter the legality issue is covered, all the blocks will work. interference issues are more than just TV broadcasters, and interference can, and will vary from place to place and from time to time.

As for The Olympics, IBC will have a lot of pertinent and valuable information

" Did you have to do any paperwork or any official business to get your gear into China? As well, is there anything I should be aware of bringing gear into the UK? "

Traveling internationally with gear always requires paperwork, official business, and lots of things to be aware of.

Both these issues are discussed regularly and recently here on jwsopund. If you find the site search wonky, try doing a Google search of this site.

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Ch 38 and Ch 69 are likely to be as near as unuseable during the Olympics, as there will be so many crews working in the same areas.

If you have a definite booking to work here, then I'd suggest that you phone jfmg, they are really helpful, and get applications in now.

There is, I believe, a sticker system for all radio mic kit to be used on any Olympic site, if you get caught without the correct sticker/paperwork then you'll be kissing goodbye to your radio mics, and anything connected to them, forever!!!

You are wise to be asking these questions now, but defintely persue this right now - its going to be a bit of a cluster***k.

Kindest regards,

sb

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Time to get some hard wire lavs and take a doc soundperson who hasn't forgotten how to swing a boom.

At the Vancouver Olympics, the rumor was that there were 3 roving radio triangulation crews hunting for unlicensed radio emissions. It was expensive to take part in the official frequency allocation. I was working for the largest "unofficial" press group at the Olympics and they opted out of buying the licences. I bought 2 Ambient Eumels for using my Sanken lavs in official venues, and only used my radios (carefully) outside the venues.

I'm sure that the London Olympics, with the country's already strict regulations on wireless, are going to be a potential wireless nightmare.

cheers,

Brent C

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Thanks, Brent & sb. I didn't know of the Ambient Eumel before. Will look into it. I'll definitely be booming my ass off, but we're following boxers and hoped to have their coaches in the corners wired, but not sure how realistic that will be anyhow.

I was working at the secondary media centre in Vancouver but hadn't heard about the roving frequency police! Good to know.

LT

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hadn't heard about the roving frequency police! Good to know.

Generally with any large venue - especially sports - such as the olympics you will be required to register and get clearance on your frequencies. You will receive a sticker to put on your antenna and god help you if you use any frequency that you haven't been cleared.

In my experience the "frequency police" aren't randomly checking - but they will if someone causing interference - especially to a rightsholder.

And for the most part frequencies are so tightly packed there is little or no room for deviation. Events like the olympics can have hundreds if not thousands of coordinated frequencies.

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" Generally with any large venue - especially sports - such as the olympics you will be required to register and get clearance on your frequencies "

For example, and I have mentioned this elsewhere, in a similar discussion here, at all NFL games, there are NFL "Game Day Frequency Coordinators" who are actively coordinating, and constantly scanning. The good news is that if you are coordinated with them and on their list, they will be actively protecting you! The bad news is that if you are not coordinated, they will find you and confiscate your equipment, and have you escorted from the event site.

Now before someone points out the coordinators are not the police or government, I'd suggest you read the fine print on the back of your ticket, or press pass! YES, they can, and YES, they do!!

And, BTW, boxing coaches, in the corners: wired lavs could be possible though inconvenient, or recording transmitters, or just small recorders. It is problem solving!

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" Generally with any large venue - especially sports - such as the olympics you will be required to register and get clearance on your frequencies "

For example, and I have mentioned this elsewhere, in a similar discussion here, at all NFL games, there are NFL "Game Day Frequency Coordinators" who are actively coordinating, and constantly scanning. The good news is that if you are coordinated with them and on their list, they will be actively protecting you! The bad news is that if you are not coordinated, they will find you and confiscate your equipment, and have you escorted from the event site. It is problem solving!

Not only will you be escorted from the stadium, I know if you are working for NFL Network you will also be banned at least for the remainder of the season, perhaps longer. I've worked for NFL Network the last few years at the Tampa Bay Bucs because the previous soundman turned on an uncoordinated transmitter in the locker room after a game. They don't play around. However, if you contact the coordinator before game day, they will generally bend over backwards to accommodate your requests.

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