Looking Into The Future. What Will Happen To 700 MHz Mic Users
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Here is what will happen next. Those who are using these mics will find that the new owners of this spectrum will bring high power devices online that will blow a low powered wireless mic out of the water. Without warning, the unlicensed frequency that your mic is using will be taken over by a televison broadcast, a channel for mobile devices, or a wireless data stream. Your lead singer's mic will simply vanish into the ether. Your minister's mic will drop out of sight at the key moment of his sermon. Your star actor's soliloquy will will be replaced by the talking head at the local televions station.
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Make sure you share your experience with your favorite pro sound forum when it happens. We're all waiting!
Why Is My Lead Singer Doing A Weather Report?
It has been a year and a half since the FCC mandated the end of use of wireless microphones in the 700 mHZ broadcast spectrum. It is fair to assume that any wireless mic user that intends to comply with the law has either replaced their offending mics or retired them.
Lots of owners of these now obsolete devices are apparently thinking that it is highly unlikely that the FCC will devote enforcement resources to chasing down "small fish" and that even if they do get caught, it will probably mean no more than a slap on the wrist. The mics still work, right?
This won't happen during the sound check or rehearsal (that's not when things go wrong), but rather during the peak of your concert or event.
Jeff Harrison
-Jeff Harrison is a sound person and special event producer who lives in works in Chapel Hill, NC. His most recent work includes producing professional school commencement exercises for the University of North Carolina.
He can be contacted at jeff@wirelessmic.net
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