Heard my first wireless microphone
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cifd64
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I would have to say, growing up we had one of those multi-channel cordless phones in the 46.0 range. Every now and then, the guy living in our basement would be having a conversation with his woman on a similar type of phone. Just by simply forcing a channel change on my phone i could knock him off and take over the conversation. Other times, i would just listen for hours of conversation around the neighborhood. We had some screwed up neighbors.
We use one of the Samson wireless mics in our video production business. There are three bands used by this mic; Lo - 778.125 - 782.00; Mid - 801.125 - 805.00 & Hi - 856.500 - 858.850. According to all of the info I can find, including the site supplied by ND5Y, only the Mid frequency band is effected by the FCC ruling. I would appreciate someone correcting me if I'm wrong and suppling the link where I could double check.
My units are wide band FM +/- 15 kHz and transmit 10 mW of power. They have a range measured in feet, not miles. Add in the fact that the legal users on these frequencies will be digital and I doubt that these units would be capable of generating interference at any reasonable range. The FCC might stumble across a user but they aren't going to search out violators unless they get a complaint. The main effect of this ruling will be obtaining replacement transmitters / receivers if one fails. If your church / business uses them, I wouldn't throw them away until they quit working.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV.
My units are wide band FM +/- 15 kHz and transmit 10 mW of power. They have a range measured in feet, not miles. Add in the fact that the legal users on these frequencies will be digital and I doubt that these units would be capable of generating interference at any reasonable range. The FCC might stumble across a user but they aren't going to search out violators unless they get a complaint. The main effect of this ruling will be obtaining replacement transmitters / receivers if one fails. If your church / business uses them, I wouldn't throw them away until they quit working.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV.
bassman21
Member
I still don't see the average entity knowing about this rule or knowing if their devices will be affected. As jackj said they are not going to search out violators unless they get a complaint. Furthermore as I stated before the chances of them both being on the same frequency for a given area is slim. I guess what I am saying is if I was running a church and had 700 MHz mics I wouldn't change them out for this reason.
W2NJS
Member
Wireless microphones, etc.
Before this goes any further, let's set some things straight, such as:
1. The A/V dealer from whom you buy, or bought, your wireless mics is probably your best local source for information about what is and is not currently permitted. Failing that, the manufacturer of the system can be contacted for up-to-date info on what is allowed where you live, which means what TV channels are active, what PS bands are in use, etc. etc. etc. Shure, Sony, and most other well-known manufacturers are glad to help out users with frequency selection problems and questions.
2. Wireless microphone systems, past and present, are all over the place in the radio spectrum, all the way from old analog TV channels to 900 mHz. Some of the exotic ones (i.e., Sony) can provide automatic setup of many channels for production work but these cost a lot of dough compared to the simple systems you can buy in the local music store. Some of the systems, meaning some made by Telex, are digital rather than analog, and are used in security-conscious applications such as NFL comms. Most others are still analog and wideband FM. Power outputs never should never be more than 50 mW and more common outputs these days are 10 mW units. Most current systems use a CTCSS that is above the hearing range rather than below 300 Hz as is found in the LMR two-way radio systems because those 300 Hz of audio are needed for fidelity in the system.
3. Again, if you're encountering problems with a wireless mic system your first line of inquiry would be the engineering manager of the company that installed the sound system in your venue.
Tom, W2NJS
Before this goes any further, let's set some things straight, such as:
1. The A/V dealer from whom you buy, or bought, your wireless mics is probably your best local source for information about what is and is not currently permitted. Failing that, the manufacturer of the system can be contacted for up-to-date info on what is allowed where you live, which means what TV channels are active, what PS bands are in use, etc. etc. etc. Shure, Sony, and most other well-known manufacturers are glad to help out users with frequency selection problems and questions.
2. Wireless microphone systems, past and present, are all over the place in the radio spectrum, all the way from old analog TV channels to 900 mHz. Some of the exotic ones (i.e., Sony) can provide automatic setup of many channels for production work but these cost a lot of dough compared to the simple systems you can buy in the local music store. Some of the systems, meaning some made by Telex, are digital rather than analog, and are used in security-conscious applications such as NFL comms. Most others are still analog and wideband FM. Power outputs never should never be more than 50 mW and more common outputs these days are 10 mW units. Most current systems use a CTCSS that is above the hearing range rather than below 300 Hz as is found in the LMR two-way radio systems because those 300 Hz of audio are needed for fidelity in the system.
3. Again, if you're encountering problems with a wireless mic system your first line of inquiry would be the engineering manager of the company that installed the sound system in your venue.
Tom, W2NJS
Not true! According to the FCC, the C- block spectrum devices will have to utilize geo-location and query a FCC database as to not interferer with wireless microphones. YMMV..
This database querying idea is something I had several years ago for blocking cell phone usage at establishments that do not want patrons to use their cell phones. Like theaters.
Imagine all the havoc caused to wireless microphones... Yeah, imagine all the havoc if GPS birds stopped working, or the President exercises his/her authority to shut the system down. I think John Deer has their own sats... :wink:
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