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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 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 written to all annual licensees to notify them of the impact switchover will have on the frequencies
they currently use. Switchover in some regions has already
started and will continue to move throughout the UK until
completion at the end of 2012. Visit our
Digital
Switchover & DDR information page to find out
whether the frequencies you currently use will be affected.
The definitive list of frequencies that will be available for wireless microphone use in the future is now virtually finalised. Frequency availability in areas where switchover has been completed and for areas that are shortly due to switchover can be found through use of the post-DSO lookup tool.
Advice when buying new equipmentUnder Ofcom's current proposals 790 - 862 MHz (TV channels 61 - 69) will no longer be available after switchover. We would therefore advise users against buying any new equipment that use these frequencies.For users who currently hold equipment that operates in the above band Ofcom has stated that they will allow continued use until the end of 2012.
Also, 550 - 606 MHz (TV channels 31 - 37) are currently being reviewed by Ofcom. PMSE access will continue until at least 1st April 2013. JFMG will continue to issue 12-month licences but with a condition allowing for revocation with a minimum of 6 months notice.
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.
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.