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Switchover and you
You may well wonder what digital television switchover has to do with your use of wireless microphones in the future.
If you own wireless microphones that operate in the 470 - 862 MHz band (Co-ordinated Licence) switchover could have a significant impact on your ability to continue using your equipment.
These microphones share frequencies with those currently used to broadcast Analogue Terrestrial Television throughout the UK. But as the UK switches analogue television off and digital television on, fewer of these frequencies will be needed to broadcast television. Therefore Ofcom (as instructed by government) will be auctioning the frequencies that are no longer required to new uses/users. Fewer frequencies used for television broadcasting will therefore result in fewer frequencies for wireless microphones.
Will my microphones be affected?
Ofcom have recently written to all annual licensees to notify them of the impact switchover will have on the frequenices they currently use. Switchover in some regions has already started and will continue to move throughout the UK until completion in 2012. Visit our 2012 mic check to find out whether the frequencies you currently use are likley to be available in your area. Simply type in your location using our location list, postcode or NGR and click refresh availability.
The definitive list of frequencies that will be available for wireless microphone use in the future is not yet finalised, but we hope to provide users with more clarity towards the end of 2008.
Advice when buying new equipmentUnder Ofcom's current proposals the following frequencies will no longer be available after switchover:
- 550 - 630 MHz (TV channels 31 - 40)
- 790 - 854 MHz (TV channels 61 - 68)
We would therefore advise users against buying any new equipment that use these frequencies.
For users who currently hold equipment that operate in the above bands Ofcom have already stated that they will allow continued access to 790 - 854 MHz (TV Channels 61 - 62) in those areas that switchover before 2009 until the spectrum auction in the summer of that year and possibly until the new licensee starts operation. Ofcom have recently proposed to extend this arrangement to 550 - 630 MHz (TV channels 31 - 40).
When does my region switchover?
Digital UK (http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/) have a postcode checker on their website that enables the public to type in their postcode to discover when switchover is coming to their area. This tool could give you a indication of when you can expect your microphone frequencies to be affected.
How do I find out what frequencies my microphones operate on?
You can usually find the frequency your microphone operates on by looking on the label or display on your receiver.