Update on 600Mhz wireless band

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steve149

Shine on you crazy diamond
Staff member
Sep 26, 2011
28,175
45,944
Connecticut
Looks like the auction is over and not as much wireless real estate was lost as expected (though there was a lot). Appears that the lost spectrum ended up between 608Mhz and 696Mhz, with 2 small pieces that can still be used by unlicensed wireless mics (614-616Mhz and 657-663Mhz).

The clock will start in the next couple of days and there will be a 39 month changeover period, so any 600Mhz wireless gear you have should be legal to use until summer 2020, though depending on area, there might be more interference before then.

470Mhz-608Mhz is still available to use .. just need to make sure there is clear space from TV transmitters .. and there might be more use in there as they get packed down from the 600Mhz band.

Special Report: Wireless Resolution - ProSoundWeb

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Those are small enough spaces that I can't see them attempting to resell those spaces - however, the result will be cramming.

The uplink must not be as vital as the downlink - as they allowed a 1 MHz cushion on either side of the downlink.
 
Those gap bands are built-in by design, so they won't be sold. Still possible at some point in the future to lose the high 500Mhz-608Mhz space, though this last sale wasn't well shopped, so hopefully that's the last movement for a while.
 
So....If I am reading this correctly, my Shure BLX system will still be legal after Summer of 2020? I also believe my older PGX system will still be safe. However, the GTD Microphones won't be legal in 39 months...I think?

My old Voco Pros I think are like 585 MHz, but I doubt I will even be using those come 2020 anyway...Only 1 mic works, and the replacement mic I bought didn't link with the receiver.
 
Basically, most devices above 608 Mhz will be unusable after summer 2020 unless you can set a frequency either below 608 Mhz or into one of those 2 narrow gap bands (and not the "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" one). If you only run 1 or 2 mics, hopefully you can limp yours along until ready to replace them.

My Audio Technica 3000 series units are all "D" band (and I have 5 units), so I will be stuck into that narrow 657-663 Mhz range .. hopefully enough for 2-3 mics at the same time. My Shure SLX is in the 500 Mhz range.
 
So....If I am reading this correctly, my Shure BLX system will still be legal after Summer of 2020? I also believe my older PGX system will still be safe. However, the GTD Microphones won't be legal in 39 months...I think?

My old Voco Pros I think are like 585 MHz, but I doubt I will even be using those come 2020 anyway...Only 1 mic works, and the replacement mic I bought didn't link with the receiver.
Yeah, The GTD 's are 610-680 range, so we have 39 months to legally use them.
 
My Sennheiser ew 135 g2's and g3's are band b, 626-668, so it sounds like they will be OK, can use that little window 657-663