ATTENTION CHAIYO WIRELESS MICROPHONE USERS WIRELESS MICROPHONES IN THE 698 TO 800 MHZ ARE BEING SWITCHED OFF SOMETIME AFTER 11 MARCH 2015 FOR 4 G MOBILE USE These frequencies are changing to 650 mhz to 694 mhz. Please read information below on what is happening. Wireless Digital Dividend and Radio Mics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are often asked about radio microphones, the digital dividend and legal New Zealand radio microphone frequencies- things are changing and there is a lot of confusion around so here is a short summary of the way we see things at Pleare Zone Dj Services Radio mics have been used in NZ for many years and are still a growing industry. Radio mics are used in large numbers every day by a diverse range of users such as Church leaders, school productions, gyms, Universities, bands, local theatre productions, concerts, news crews, location recordings, news gathering, weddings, hire companies for all kinds of events and even in parliament - everyone has a wireless microphone user in the family. Unfortunately there is a lot of mis-information and exaggeration about digital dividend in New Zealand - (lets call it enthusiasm rather than dishonesty) -mostly coming from people who do know better - and aimed at encouraging you to throw out your existing systems and buy new ones. Yes, there are changes under way and, yes it may affect your wireless microphone systems in the future, but at the time of writing (early 2013) you still have 2 years until your General User License expires... so dont worry, and read on... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is the Digital Dividend and what about radio mics? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The “digital dividend” is the radio spectrum made available by implementing digital television broadcasting and ceasing all analogue television broadcasting. The greater technical efficiency allows a greater number of programs using less radio frequency spectrum, and it is in a more compact part of the spectrum than before. Digital dividend is the term that is used to describe the band of frequencies between 698 MHz and 806 MHz and the money the government can make by selling it to telephone companies for future smartphone service expansion now they have thrown out the TV stations and secondary (radio microphone) users. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UHF Radio Microphone bands -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The band allocated for television was originally 518 to 806 MHz. The part of the band we have all been using for wireless radio microphones and in-ear monitors is 646 – 806 MHz (which is shared by both television broadcasters and radio microphones on a low power basis under a General user licence.) Wireless radio microphone users are secondary users under the terms of our licences, working around TV broadcasters. As long as you dont interfere with other users of the allocated airwaves with your radio mic you are good to go. New Zealand and a group of 8 other countries in Region 3 agreed on this frequency range of 698 to 790 MHz - as the digital dividend, so it isnt just us being inconvenienced. However, any wireless microphones you currently use on frequencies between 694MHz and 806 MHz may become un-useable in the future. You wont be officially licensed to use them after 11 March 2015, but they may actually work fine for many more years, depending on where in the country you are. We are Secondary Users and obliged to fit in among TV channels but most Digital TV transmitters are on Channels 27 to 39 (the lower end), leaving frequencies between 622 MHz and 698 MHz mostly clear of TV transmissions by the end of 2013 across all of New Zealand. This means that the best frequencies for new and future wireless radio microphones and In Ear Monitor systems will most likely be between 622 MHz and 698 MHz in New Zealand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is the DSO and how is that involved? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Switch Over The DSO is the name for process of switching off Analogue TV transmitters and switching to Digital transmission which began in 2011 and ends on December 1, 2013 the Upper North Island will switch off analogue TV transmission completing the switch to Digital TV across New Zealand. You can see more details at this on ; goingdigital.co.nz/making-the-switch/coverage-areas-2/coverage-areas.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do I need to know if my radio microphone operates between 698 – 806 MHz? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the long term you will not be able to use this frequency range as radio microphones are not compatible with the new uses intended for the band. However, the Ministry states that use of radio microphones can continue until the end of the current general user licence (11 March 2015). Please note This doesnt mean it will stop working on the 12th of March 2015, just that your license to operate it there has expired. It may still be several years away that you physically cant operate there but it will be interesting to see. A lot of wireless microphone users didnt even know they *HAD* a licence in the first place, did they!? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What frequencies can radio-microphone users operate in in the future? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ministry proposes that long term radio microphone users can still operate in the spectrum bands of 510 – 606MHz and 622 – 698MHz. Notably, for the purposes of the transition period, radio microphone users will still be able to continue using Fitness Audio headset systems and wireless repeaters for the portable PA systems will be deployed on in the future. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What can radio microphone users do with existing radio-microphone equipment if they currently operate in the 698 – 806MHz spectrum band? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These frequencies cannot legally be used after 11 March 2015 but the manufacturers of some world leading brands Fitness Audio, Chiayo Wireless Microphones to name a few, have the technical capability to re-tune your equipment to the new channels. For a very reasonable fee of approx $90 per item -incl Gst and a small amount TO FREIGHT YOUR ITEM TO THE SUPPLIER, your Chaiyo wireless microphone equipment can easily be moved to a new band. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Should radio microphone users purchase new equipment? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Up to you - The need for new equipment will depend on the capability of individual users’ existing equipment. As already mentioned, some world leading manufacturers (e.g. Fitness Audio, Chiayo Wireless) have the facilities to reprogram your old radio microphone systems onto new legal New Zealand frequencies. Radio microphone users need to avoid frequencies in use by television and other equipment and therefore should have a frequency range that is as flexible as possible built into their radio microphones. We would definitely recommend frequency-agile wireless microphone systems, such as the Chiayo and Fitness Audio brands as the frequencies used for television vary from area to area and therefore “clear” frequencies for radio microphones will also vary by area. In addition, it is anticipated that television usage may increase over time as new services are provided, so having your wireless microphone systems straddle 2 or 3 TV channels is also a good idea so you can always move to a clear channel if needed when traveling around New Zealand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For spectrum licenced for radio microphones after 2015, what frequencies will be clear of television transmissions? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spectrum licenced after 2015 for radio microphones is below 698MHz. The frequencies used for television vary from area to area and therefore “clear” frequencies for radio microphones will also vary by area. In addition, it is anticipated that television usage may increase over time as new services are provided. As a secondary user, radio microphones need to have enough flexibility to work around television services and users need to make their own decisions about what frequencies will work best for them in their area. In places like the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand there is no current digital television use whereas the Auckland region has high digital television deployment. For guidance, the Ministry has previously provided a nationwide digital terrestrial television chart to the Wireless Users New Zealand (WUNZ), which is published on their WUNZ website. The Ministry also has an online real-time database (SMART) which allows any public user to find out what is licenced, and where. This is a link to the Radio Spectrum Management page about wireless microphone frequency allocation: rsm.govt.nz/cms/policy-and-planning/consultation/uhf-radiomicrophones-opportunities-for-future-use/uhf-radiomicophones-opportunities-for-future-use This is posted by PLEASURE ZONE DJ SERVICES 0220852106
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 06:32:41 +0000
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