In less than one month the frequencies that wireless radio microphones and in ear monitors operate on will be changing and many UK hotels and conference venues’ equipment will also have to change.
From 1 January 2013 Ofcom is clearing most of the 800MHz frequency band including Channel 69 (854-862MHz), which has previously been used by radio microphones. Owners or users of microphones that operate within this frequency band will no longer be allowed to use them.
Steven Neave, director of sound engineering company RDC Audio said: “Many hotel and conference centres might be unaware that the equipment they are using may no longer be legal to use after the 1st of January. It is imperative that owners and operators check what frequency their equipment operates on to find out if they will be able to use it after the changes are made.
The frequency that fixed frequency radio equipment operates on can usually be found displayed on the back of belt pack type transmitters or in the battery compartment of hand held transmitters, if the equipment can be tuned to different frequencies then the equipment’s display will normally show what frequency it is operating on.
If the equipment can be tuned to different frequencies is worth trying to tune it into the frequency band 863.000 - 865.000 Mhz, the space between these two frequencies will still be available for use after the changes."
For full details of the frequency change you can visit the website www.jfmg.co.uk. JFMG are the official Ofcom body responsible for issuing licenses.
- Steven Neave is a director of RDC Audio, specialists in audio and sound engineering.
