700 MHZ issue, Shure Trade-in & and Trade-up Wireless Program

Friday, December 19, 2008 by Joey Vadala

There is a lot of chatter about the “White Spaces” decision by the FCC and the 700 MHz issue with pro audio wireless systems. These are seperate issues and need to be explained in simple terms.  Whether you are a beginner audio engineer, a volunteer at your church, or an over the top informed pro…these two issues will affect everyone who uses wireless audio devices.

First-700 MHz range sale….Essentially the FCC decided to limit the range of space that wireless microphones and in ear monitors might use. The space in the 700 MHz range was sold off to the highest bidder and was purchased by Disney, and some other cell phone providers to use for their own operation. Many churches use wireless microphones and in ear monitor systems in this band.  As of February 17th, 2009 these devices will become illegal to operate…that’s right-illegal. 

The companies that purchased the band width did not spend all of that money to allow you to continue to operate wireless devices in their owned band width–or should I say-in their owned property range.  It is not known yet exactly how the FCC will monitor the use of devices in an area but soon there will be a method either by the FCC or by a third party to enforce compliance.

What can you do? 

1) Read up on this subject to be well educated

2) call Glenn @ CTS Audio 877-977-4377 x15 to help walk you through what your options are with different manufacturers.  We will be your intermediary to make sure you have every advantage in moving into compliance and getting the best deal possible.

3) trade in your wireless system for a new system that will be in the legal range of operation. 

4) we will help fill out all of the paperwork to get a trade in rebate from a manufacturer for you

5) register your wireless mic systems for your church or theater (venue) with the FCC. (Yes, this is vital to keep your stations open for your use.  It is a little known law, but it is a law and still on the books that all wireless be registered with the FCC, yet almost no churches are in compliance with this law.  The advantage to living in compliance with this law is that the FCC will keep traveling shows, additional churches built in your area, or other venues from using the frequencies that you register.

What is the new range of that wireless products can use?

They can now operate between 470 MHz and 698 MHz.  This does cause a dilemma as there are many manufacturer models which have operated beyond this range.  What will now happen to all of those products from Shure and wireless competitors?

In rides Shure to the rescue to offer a generous solution. Right now Shure is offering rebates up to $1000 for the trade-in of Shure 700 MHz frequency band wireless systems purchased prior to Feb. 1, 2007 AND for any other manufacturers’ qualifying systems operating in that 700 MHz frequency band as well.  There is a short rebate form to fill out as linked here www.shure.com/rebate

Depending on the level of your wireless system will dictate the rebate value.  There is even the flexibility of trading in competitor’s in ear monitoring product for wireless product.  That is a plum for Shure to offer as no other manufacturer’s have stepped to the plate to address this looming issue.  We support many brands in the wireless realm of products, but Shure, Inc. stands heads above them all right now.

If you are confused how to trade in please do not hesitate to call me to help facilitate you getting usable wireless in your hands before it is too late. Please contact me toll free @ 877-977-4377.

The second issue is the dreaded “white spaces” issue that is up for a vote in congress as I write this.  All television signals will be moving to digital transmission as of February 17, 2009.  What changes does this create for you?  In the past the MHz graph of what a television station signal looked like was a simple spike, fairly narrow and all other wireless devices could be used between those spikes.  With digital television signals, the pattern looks like a large rectangle and much wider as far as the band width than the traditional spike was.  This leaves less band width between stations to operate wireless microphones.  Now add in wireless phones and portable devices that will also be wanting to use these same narrow spaces.  This is brewing trouble because these wireless phones with GPS operate at 100 milliwatts or more as the strength of their signal is measured.  Consider that Shure wireless operates at approximately 50 milliwatts output and Sennheiser 10 milliwatts of output.  Yes, simple consumer phones will squash your wireless signals.  This is what all of the fear in our industry is about.