Wireless Mics: Trouble in 700 MHz

[stalwani]

Wayne Cole’s column in the January 2009 issue of Government Video on wireless mics in the 700 MHz frequency raised some points of contention.

A lack of specifics in the FCC’s rulemaking process will make virtual criminals of wireless mic users across a wide range of applications, Cole noted.

What’s not clear is what disruptions wireless users will suffer as the FCC moves forward, who’s at fault, and what the wireless mic makers are doing about it.

Any opinions?

[C2V]

Truth is, no one really knows.

The 700MHz band will be restricted... and wireless mic system manufacturers have not made/sold 700MHz systems in a few years because they knew that was coming.

As for systems below 700MHz, it's still up in the air (pun intended). The FCC has been a little scattered on their specs mostly because everything that is supposed to happen is still in the testing phase to see that it can, indeed, be done.

The new "white space" devices (mobile Internet) will be required to search for frequencies in use within a certain radius, and must be able to select a free frequency without interfering with other systems nearby. In addition, wireless system users that are permanently placed (churches, theaters, studios) will be able to register their system frequencies along with their geographic coordinates, and the Internet devices are supposed to be able to check the existing database against their current coordinates, thus avoiding use of the reigstered frequencies.

The problem is that most practical tests of these systems to date have been massive failures. So we're all in a holding pattern.

The wireless manufacturers may or may not offer anything. Some, like Lectro, are offering to upgrade the cards in existing systems to change the frequency set at a reduced cost. Others, like Sennheiser with their Evolution G2 series, are offering trade-in value to purchase new systems. You'll find more and better offers for the higher-end systems. The low-end system users may get hosed.

Right now, most of those offers really have to do with getting folks free from 700MHz. Who knows what will happen with the rest? It's really all wait and see at this point.