News :: Change of Frequencies for Radio Microphones
If you use, hire or manufacture radio microphones, in-ear monitors, talk-back or programme link equipment in the television band 470 - 862 MHz then your business is likely to be affected by the Government's plans for digital television. Currently, broadcast and film production, theatre, places of worship, touring shows and conference sectors are all dependent on sharing this band.
Once the criteria set for digital television have been achieved then it is intended to switch-off analogue terrestrial television broadcasts. This could happen imminently and be completed by 2010. Since a large number of digital television services can be accommodated in a smaller amount of spectrum than is needed for current analogue broadcasts, there is an opportunity for Government to release spectrum for other purposes.
It is most unlikely that radio microphones or other equipment could share with new services in the released spectrum and so this represents a serious threat to our sector.
It is not yet clear what the alternatives might be. Further information can be obtained from the Government's Spectrum Management Company - JFMG. The frequencies effected are those that need a licence, for VHF and UHF bands. So VHF users 173.8 - 175.0 Mhz and UHF users 863.100 - 864.900 MHz should not be effected. Much is yet to be discussed and disclosed on this matter.
The latest information can be found on the JFMG update pages.
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November '06 - new VHF shared frequencies announced