IS
But they aren't 'switching off the analogue TV band'.... DTT transmits on what is now the analogue TV band. They might close off part of it but surely radio mics can share the DTT frequencies
Quote:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/PMSEspectrum/
The government is planning to sell off all of the radio frequencies that we currently use for radio mics & communications, when they switch off the analogue TV bands.
The government is planning to sell off all of the radio frequencies that we currently use for radio mics & communications, when they switch off the analogue TV bands.
But they aren't 'switching off the analogue TV band'.... DTT transmits on what is now the analogue TV band. They might close off part of it but surely radio mics can share the DTT frequencies
DO
Yeah, they could, but OFCOM want to sell that space too. There is a full Digital Dividend FAQ on the Ofcom site with all the details.
IS
No they don't:
What is happening to the rest of the spectrum presently used for analogue broadcasting?
Some 32 of the 49 channels have already been reserved by the Government for digital terrestrial broadcasting at digital switchover. This will expand the coverage and capacity of terrestrial broadcasting.
There's no way they would switch everyone over to digital and then shut the UHF TV band down completely! There will still be 32 TV channels, which is less than now but enough and there's the possibility that some of the spare space could be used for radio mics:
14. What are the potential uses of the spectrum that will be released through the DDR?
There are many possible uses – or combinations of uses – of the spectrum. Those currently identified include:
* local digital terrestrial television channels;
* additional national digital terrestrial television channels, in either standard definition or high definition;
* television services for mobile phones and other types of mobile video and multimedia;
* mobile communications, such as voice calls and data;
* broadband wireless applications;
* wireless microphones for theatres, television and radio production and live music events;
* low-power wireless applications, such as wi-fi in the home; and
* public safety services, such as wireless communications for the emergency services.
dosxuk posted:
Yeah, they could, but OFCOM want to sell that space too. There is a full Digital Dividend FAQ on the Ofcom site with all the details.
No they don't:
What is happening to the rest of the spectrum presently used for analogue broadcasting?
Some 32 of the 49 channels have already been reserved by the Government for digital terrestrial broadcasting at digital switchover. This will expand the coverage and capacity of terrestrial broadcasting.
There's no way they would switch everyone over to digital and then shut the UHF TV band down completely! There will still be 32 TV channels, which is less than now but enough and there's the possibility that some of the spare space could be used for radio mics:
14. What are the potential uses of the spectrum that will be released through the DDR?
There are many possible uses – or combinations of uses – of the spectrum. Those currently identified include:
* local digital terrestrial television channels;
* additional national digital terrestrial television channels, in either standard definition or high definition;
* television services for mobile phones and other types of mobile video and multimedia;
* mobile communications, such as voice calls and data;
* broadband wireless applications;
* wireless microphones for theatres, television and radio production and live music events;
* low-power wireless applications, such as wi-fi in the home; and
* public safety services, such as wireless communications for the emergency services.
GS
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
I spend much of my day assisting customers who scrimp and save, apply for grants and perform fundraising for perhaps 4 or 8 ways of radiomics. Many of these companies have only just upgraded from VHF to UHF (meaning they can now avoid "passing taxi syndrome").
Make no mistake - this is all about Gordon Brown squeezing every penny, and it makes me furious at the utter lack of thought.
Anything for a fast buck.
Gavin Scott
Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
There will still be 32 TV channels, which is less than now but enough and there's the possibility that some of the spare space could be used for radio mics:
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
I spend much of my day assisting customers who scrimp and save, apply for grants and perform fundraising for perhaps 4 or 8 ways of radiomics. Many of these companies have only just upgraded from VHF to UHF (meaning they can now avoid "passing taxi syndrome").
Make no mistake - this is all about Gordon Brown squeezing every penny, and it makes me furious at the utter lack of thought.
Anything for a fast buck.
DO
Radio mics currently operate in the interleaved spectrum between transmitters. There will be a reduction in this space with digital switchover, and then Ofcom want to sell the space off when they have identified which areas in the country are sellable.
Also note they want to sell two channels used by airport radar and specifically radio mics.
Quote:
6. Which spectrum bands will be released though the DDR?
The spectrum that will be released by digital switchover is in the UHF band in the frequencies 470-862 MHz. There are three types of spectrum that will be considered in the Review:
Cleared spectrum: 112 MHz of spectrum that will become available as a result of digital switchover. These channels are numbered 31-35, 37, 39-40 and 63-68.
Channel 36 and Channel 69: two blocks of spectrum that fall within the spectrum bands currently used by terrestrial television across Europe. Channel 36 is currently used for airport radar and Channel 69 for wireless microphones. Both channels have the potential to be cleared, and together make up 16 MHz of spectrum.
Interleaved spectrum: the ‘white space’ that exists geographically between television transmitters to prevent interference.
The spectrum that will be released by digital switchover is in the UHF band in the frequencies 470-862 MHz. There are three types of spectrum that will be considered in the Review:
Cleared spectrum: 112 MHz of spectrum that will become available as a result of digital switchover. These channels are numbered 31-35, 37, 39-40 and 63-68.
Channel 36 and Channel 69: two blocks of spectrum that fall within the spectrum bands currently used by terrestrial television across Europe. Channel 36 is currently used for airport radar and Channel 69 for wireless microphones. Both channels have the potential to be cleared, and together make up 16 MHz of spectrum.
Interleaved spectrum: the ‘white space’ that exists geographically between television transmitters to prevent interference.
Radio mics currently operate in the interleaved spectrum between transmitters. There will be a reduction in this space with digital switchover, and then Ofcom want to sell the space off when they have identified which areas in the country are sellable.
Also note they want to sell two channels used by airport radar and specifically radio mics.
ST
Good God, the government would ban breathing in a public place if they thought it would either stop terrorism or make money 
I see no problem with radio mikes so why mess with them, just seems like an excuse to interfere.
as for the photography law. you can't photograph kids in case your a perv now you can't photograph buildings in case your a terrorist.
The thousands of 'Joes' and 'Joans' who go out with a camera are building up a massive array of historical documentation of what our towns and villages looked like, look like and will look like in years to come.
We are already enthusing at rare films and photos emerging of the late 1800's when photography was in it's infancy and now they want to kill it off because there are some shady characters about.
if that goes through then what next, maps?, direction signs and telephones because dodgy people also use them to perpetrate crimes.
I see no problem with radio mikes so why mess with them, just seems like an excuse to interfere.
as for the photography law. you can't photograph kids in case your a perv now you can't photograph buildings in case your a terrorist.
The thousands of 'Joes' and 'Joans' who go out with a camera are building up a massive array of historical documentation of what our towns and villages looked like, look like and will look like in years to come.
We are already enthusing at rare films and photos emerging of the late 1800's when photography was in it's infancy and now they want to kill it off because there are some shady characters about.
if that goes through then what next, maps?, direction signs and telephones because dodgy people also use them to perpetrate crimes.
IS
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
And the mic packs/recievers can't be retuned to whatever frequency they end up on?
I've just seen an e-mail on the subject from BECTU, seems it's not just some scare-mongering web thing.
Gavin Scott posted:
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
And the mic packs/recievers can't be retuned to whatever frequency they end up on?
I've just seen an e-mail on the subject from BECTU, seems it's not just some scare-mongering web thing.
IS
A bit OTT.... they aren't banning them, they just haven't gauranteed spectrum for them!
stevek posted:
Good God, the government would ban breathing in a public place if they thought it would either stop terrorism or make money
I see no problem with radio mikes so why mess with them, just seems like an excuse to interfere.
I see no problem with radio mikes so why mess with them, just seems like an excuse to interfere.
A bit OTT.... they aren't banning them, they just haven't gauranteed spectrum for them!
GS
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
And the mic packs/recievers can't be retuned to whatever frequency they end up on?
I've just seen an e-mail on the subject from BECTU, seems it's not just some scare-mongering web thing.
The devices are adjustable to an extremely narrow degree, which in practice is used to maintain separation of the 6 or 8 mics you may use on a performance.
When your requirements for frequency space go beyond that you are required to purchase a licence, directly from Ofcom. You can pay per performance or hold a licence at a site on a long running basis. This is similar practice to the use of walkie-talkie equipment.
Well engineered radiomics are tiny, lightweight and efficient. They won't transmit beyond their footprint because they were designed to stay within it. It may be possible to replace the modulator emitter (or whatever the 'money part' is called), but that would be a grossly uneconomic solution. Expensive, delicate kit tends not to enjoy being taken apart and rebuilt, strangely. It will remind you at random intervals by stopping working, until it is considered unreliable and ultimately replaced.
I really don't want the headache, to be honest, and I am a mere minnow in the great entertainment lake.
The emails I have received, petition link attached, from leading industry manufacturers suggest that only the Government look set to benefit from the exercise.
Gavin Scott
Founding member
Inspector Sands posted:
Gavin Scott posted:
That is really missing the point, Inspector.
Unless the same band of UHF is apportioned, millions of pounds worth of equipment will be rendered useless.
There will be no adapter or convertor which can solve this problem, just hundreds of theatres, theatre companies, production houses, and local organisations who will be forced to start from scratch.
And the mic packs/recievers can't be retuned to whatever frequency they end up on?
I've just seen an e-mail on the subject from BECTU, seems it's not just some scare-mongering web thing.
The devices are adjustable to an extremely narrow degree, which in practice is used to maintain separation of the 6 or 8 mics you may use on a performance.
When your requirements for frequency space go beyond that you are required to purchase a licence, directly from Ofcom. You can pay per performance or hold a licence at a site on a long running basis. This is similar practice to the use of walkie-talkie equipment.
Well engineered radiomics are tiny, lightweight and efficient. They won't transmit beyond their footprint because they were designed to stay within it. It may be possible to replace the modulator emitter (or whatever the 'money part' is called), but that would be a grossly uneconomic solution. Expensive, delicate kit tends not to enjoy being taken apart and rebuilt, strangely. It will remind you at random intervals by stopping working, until it is considered unreliable and ultimately replaced.
I really don't want the headache, to be honest, and I am a mere minnow in the great entertainment lake.
The emails I have received, petition link attached, from leading industry manufacturers suggest that only the Government look set to benefit from the exercise.