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What are my options?

There are a number of different wireless microphone options for community users, depending on how they are going to be used, the level of reliability required and budget.

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Identify the option that best fits your requirements and click More info. Or just browse all the tables below to explore their price implications and pros and cons for the user.

Installed system	Portable system	No of mics	Licence required	Cost	Risk of interference	Option
Yes	Yes	Typically low but high possible	No	Nil	High	Licence Exempt	More info
Yes (but not preferred)	Yes	Medium	Yes	Low	Medium	UK Shared	More info
Yes	No	High	Yes	Low to Medium	Low	Coordinated	More info

Licence exempt (VHF band):

Description	For low-cost and consumer applications anywhere in the UK without a licence
Band	174 MHz VHF More info
No for mics	Typically up to 4 microphones
Pro's	No need to buy a licence
Cons	Can be subject to interference from other near-by wireless microphone users
Annual Cost	Nil

Licence exempt (UHF band):

Description	For low-cost and consumer applications anywhere in the UK without a licence
Band	Channel 70 (863 - 865 MHz) More info
No of mics	Typically up to 4 microphones
Pro's	No need to buy a licence. Wide range of low-cost equipment available.
Cons	Can be subject to interference from other near-by wireless microphone users and domestic equipment including baby alarms and wireless loudspeakers
Annual Cost	Nil

Licence exempt (WiFi band):

Description	For low-cost and consumer applications anywhere in the UK without a licence
Band	2.4 GHz WiFi band More info
No of mics	50+
Pro's	No need to buy a licence. Can potentially support many microphones at same location.
Cons	Spectrum is shared and heavily used for numerous short-range applications including wireless networks in the home and in business. Successful use is likely to depend on the density and proximity of other uses.
Annual Cost	Nil

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UK Shared Licence (VHF) :

Description	For professional and semi-professional applications anywhere in the UK
Band	200 MHz VHF. More info
No of mics	Typically up to 8 microphones
Pro's	Inexpensive to buy. Roaming throughout UK permitted. As frequencies are for professional users, there is less risk of interference. Choice of all 15 frequencies provides you with some flexibility to avoid any interference from other nearby users. Some users suggest that the band is less congested than UHF. Band unaffected by DSO.
Cons	A licence is required! Other users such as TV and film production crews share these frequencies so there is a risk of transient interference. There is less choice of equipment than at UHF.
Annual Cost	For all frequencies: £75 (online) or £85 (office). More info

UK Shared Licence (UHF) :

Description	For professional and semi-professional applications anywhere in the UK
Band	14 spot frequencies in the range 854 - 862 MHz (also known as "Channel 69"), 606 - 614 MHz (also known as "Channel 38") and 614 - 622 MHz (also known as "Channel 39") and 622 - 630 MHz (also known as "Channel 40") until completion of DSO in 2012. More info
No of mics	Typically 6 to 14 microphones.
Pro's	Inexpensive to buy. Roaming throughout UK permitted. As frequencies are for professional users, there is less risk of interference. Choice of all 14 frequencies in "Channel 69" and the full range of "Channel 38" provides you with some flexibility to avoid any interference from other nearby users. Less prone than VHF to interference from other equipment such as computers and lighting controllers etc. Equipment that operates in "Channel 69" frequencies is often usable on licence exempt frequencies in Channel 70 (863 - 865 MHz band), providing you with more choice or additional capacity.
Cons	A licence is required! Other users such as TV and film production crews share these frequencies so there is a risk of transient interference. "Channel 69" will be replaced by "Channel 38" during 2012 so equipment that uses "Channel 69" will have a limited lifespan. "Channel 38" is available now but with geographical restrictions so users must check our 'Channel 38 look-up tool' before operating their equipment. Visit our 'Shared' page for more information
Annual Cost	For all frequencies: £75 (online) or £85 for one year (office). A discounted 2-year licence is available. More info

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Co-ordinated Licence (VHF) :

Description	For installed professional applications.
Band	200 MHz VHF. More info
No of mics	Typically up to 8 microphones
Pro's	Provides you with exclusive use of the frequencies at your venue. This reduces the risk of interference significantly. Cost effective for smaller systems of just 1 or 2 microphones. Band unaffected by DSO.
Cons	Not suitable for roaming; the frequency licensed can only be used in the venue specified on the licence. More expensive than ‘Shared’ licence for larger capacity systems, but is prone to interference from other equipment such as computers etc. There is less choice of equipment on the market compared to UHF.
Annual Cost	£28 for each frequency. More info

Co-ordinated Licence (UHF) :

Description	For installed professional applications. Annual indoor assignments, only temporary outdoor assignments.
Band	Between 470 - 862 MHz (UHF TV Band). More info
No of mics	Depends on location
Pro's	Provides you with exclusive use of the frequencies at your location. This reduces the risk of interference to your systems significantly.
Cons	Can be more expensive than a Shared licence. The frequency licensed can only be used at the location specified on the licence. Some of these frequencies will be affected by Digital Switchover and so will not be available after 2012. Visit our 'Switchover and you' page or our Digital Switchover & DDR information page for details.
Annual Cost	Typically £28 for each frequency per annum at an indoor location. More info

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