Nick Wilson
February 3rd, 2009, 07:13 AM
Hi folks
OFCOM have just published their consultation on clearing the 800 MHz band, which includes proposals for radio microphones currently using channels 67 to 69. There is a piece at the Register
Ofcom woos theatricals and delays digital dividend ? The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/03/800mhz/)
and the main points seem to be:
- current frequencies will be usable until after the 2012 Olympics
- their favoured option is to make channel 38 (608-614 MHz) available as soon as possible and to encourage users to migrate to it. This band is used by the Dutch for radio astronomy and so is not available for DTT or anything at higher power.
- They are considering compensating existing users. But this will only apply to equipment owned and covered by a licence on 2 Feb 09, and will be pro-rated for the balance of it's deemed 10 year life.
Channel 70, which contains the current licence-exempt 863-865 MHz band, is mentioned but it does not say whether this will remain available. Channel 38 is not covered by any of the current Sennheiser bands, appearing to fall between A and B. If channel 38 becomes the licensable frequency and 863-865 MHz is licence-exempt, it will mean that it is unlikely that one radiomic will cover both the 'pro' and 'community' frequencies.
The consultation ends 20 April 2009.
OFCOM have just published their consultation on clearing the 800 MHz band, which includes proposals for radio microphones currently using channels 67 to 69. There is a piece at the Register
Ofcom woos theatricals and delays digital dividend ? The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/03/800mhz/)
and the main points seem to be:
- current frequencies will be usable until after the 2012 Olympics
- their favoured option is to make channel 38 (608-614 MHz) available as soon as possible and to encourage users to migrate to it. This band is used by the Dutch for radio astronomy and so is not available for DTT or anything at higher power.
- They are considering compensating existing users. But this will only apply to equipment owned and covered by a licence on 2 Feb 09, and will be pro-rated for the balance of it's deemed 10 year life.
Channel 70, which contains the current licence-exempt 863-865 MHz band, is mentioned but it does not say whether this will remain available. Channel 38 is not covered by any of the current Sennheiser bands, appearing to fall between A and B. If channel 38 becomes the licensable frequency and 863-865 MHz is licence-exempt, it will mean that it is unlikely that one radiomic will cover both the 'pro' and 'community' frequencies.
The consultation ends 20 April 2009.