Well here we are well into 2009. For the most part we made it past the "Big TV Change" back on February 17. Guess what? Here comes more change...
Potentially all devises that currently occupy the 700 MHz UHF band (698 MHz - 806 MHz) will be prohibited from operation by the FCC. The exact date is yet to be announced but believed to be the same as the nation-wide DTV transition date of June 12, 2009.
Don't worry...when you first hear of this news...most people think they have to run out and buy all new wireless Mic's, etc... First just go to your wireless transmitter and look on the back for the Freq. Range or look in the owners manual. Once you have discovered the freq. range of your unit...you have options. Most of the manufactures have rebate programs going on now thru as early as May 2009, and as late as December 2009. These rebate programs really only help out folks that have bought wireless units in say the last 2 - 4 years. See your manufactures website for more details. If your units are older and fall in the 700 MHz band....you have to make some choices. If you have units that you can continue to scan for new freq....you might be O.K. to just keep using the units and change the freq. when you start to have audio bleed. The risk in doing this is during that very important word that your pastor is bringing you at church or during that great concert....you may have your friendly local PD or FD start talking right over the top of your program. Of course the other option is to just buy new units.
Personally, I have found that some of my units needed updating and some fall outside of the 700 MHz range. I have opted to bite the bullet and upgrade my units now. In the case of older units...that I could not get any rebate on...I would look at my use of the units. If I'm a traveling sound company...I would make the change now. If the units are installed in a church or school...I might continue to use them...if I have interference I would rescan the unit. If the interference continues on a regular basis (this will vary depending on the size of the city you live)...it might be time to upgrade. Again, the only way I would wait is if the rebate was not good on the unit.
Additional information and detailed FCC action can be accessed by going to their website at
http://www.fcc.gov/ and look for the white spaces information.
Sound, lighting, video...it is always changing. If you have questions or want to look at upgrading your wireless system. Feel free to contact my company...we will help you with upgrades, installs or whatever your needs might be.
Music Express Sound, Stage and Lighting
(574) 533-8998
http://www.musicexpress.org/
