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There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this currently legal, dual channel, dual-diversity Digitech wireless microphone system from Jaycar . . . except that using it after December 31 could land you with a fine – all because it operates in what will be a banned frequency range. Jaycar have now replaced this with a legal (520-694MHz) model. By ROSS TESTER Is Your Wireless Microphone soon to be illegal ? A huge proportion of the wireless microphones now being used in Australia will soon lose their licences to operate. If you keep using them after December 31st, you could be liable for a big fine. We return to this rather thorny subject. W e covered the changes to Wireless Microphones in some detail in the June 2013 issue but with the December 31 deadline looming, it is timely to look again at the reasons for the changes in legislation and regulations which could affect a lot of clubs, non-profit organisations and other users of so-called ‘plug and play’ wireless microphones. First, a brief recap: the Labor Government sold off a large chunk of the UHF band, previously occupied by analog TV stations, as part of the Australia-wide move to digital TV. Digital TV doesn’t require anything like the bandwidth of analog, so those stations which used to transmit in the 694820MHz band have all been “restacked” (or the very last are in the process of moving) to the 520-694MHz band. This so-called ‘Digital Dividend’ reaped billions of dollars for the Government as it was sold off to telecommunications organisations for 4G data/voice expansion. The problem was, and is, that a huge number of wireless microphones and other wireless audio devices, particularly 28  Silicon Chip the lower-end models, also shared the 694-820MHz band, slotted in between the old UHF TV transmitters. It is these wireless microphones (and other wireless devices) which will become illegal to use from January 1st, 2015. How many? Quite a few years ago, the industry association put the number of wireless microphones in use in Australia at above 300,000. Just about every club, public and private hall, reception centre, theatre group, place of worship, sporting arena, shopping centre and store, local council, sports coach and fitness/dance instructor, hotel and restaurant and many other venues have one or more (in some cases many more) wireless microphones. One local club I am familiar with has six, used for wedding receptions, functions and sports events. In the main, venues like these use the lower-cost models which, while perhaps not offering the fidelity and flexibility of more siliconchip.com.au professional models, are fine for the intended purpose. They’re convenient, allow freedom of movement without cords to trip over and the better ones provide a quality of signal that’s every bit as good as fixed microphones. Until the last couple of years or so, the vast majority of these wireless microphones used that higher (694820MHz) band and this is still mainly the case for the lower-cost mics which were sold in their tens of thousands by music stores, electronics stores, at markets and, in particular, online. There are many thousands more professional wireless microphones in use which operate at much higher (legal) frequencies – mainly around 1.8GHz – but these are not affected by the changes. To compound this, we knew from experience that huge numbers of wireless microphones weren’t sourced from “professional” suppliers (the ones who knew the new rules) but instead were purchased online from sources like Gumtree, ebay, Trading Post etc. Even as late as last month, you could still buy significant numbers of highUHF band wireless microphones online, without the compulsory warning attached that they would not be usable from January 1 2015 (that warning is an ACMA requirement, part of the LIPD licence under which these things operate. It is that LIPD licence that will be withdrawn on December 31). Some of that equipment is being offered for less than (often much less than) $100. Compare this to the professional gear used by TV studios, entertainment This Okayo portable PA system may Got a Portable PA? venues and the like, which is often many be OK (o!) but more than likely is We’re not just talking about wireless hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. not! It was sold with a wireless mic mic and receiver setups: huge numbers Perhaps just as disturbing is the numfrequency of between 640MHz (just of “portable PA systems” have been ber of “Professional VHF” (whatever OK) and 865MHz (not OK!). sold over the years, many of which that means!) systems still being flogged have an inbuilt wireless microphone receiver. You often see online. Try using one of these in a capital city even now, them used in shopping centres by store spruikers; buskers with the VHF band from 181 to 230MHz wall-to-wall with use battery-powered models, they’re used for public meet- digital TV and DAB+ radio. There are also a handful of ings and so on. country areas which have retained VHF TV – the Manning Again, the vast majority of these will become obsolete – Valley (NSW lower north coast) is one such area. the amplifier itself may still be quite OK but the wireless Even if your VHF Wireless Microphone is below 180MHz microphone connecting to it will not. Some of these may be (and a lot of the ones we’ve seen even now for sale are, espeupgradeable but most will not. The only option to stay legal cially around 170MHz or so) you’re still in trouble, because will be to use a corded microphone or to connect a new (ex- with the digital TV restacking the old VHF channels 0 to 5A ternal) wireless mic receiver to the “line in” or “aux” input. (56 to 181MHz) have all gone and the LIPD licences for equipIncidentally, it was one of these systems which twigged us ment using those frequencies have also been withdrawn. to the whole sorry saga early last year, when a relative who By the way, while the Government has made no effort to used a local council portable PA asked us if we’d heard that recompense existing users of soon-to-be-banned equipment, they were soon to be outlawed. At that stage, we hadn’t – so quite a number of suppliers have put together “trade-in” much for the industry-wide consultation! deals. Most of these offer the more expensive “pro” equipBy the way, Bluetooth wireless mics, which are used ment but they could be worth a look if the trade-in makes with quite a few portable systems, are not affected. They the deal sweet enough. will remain legal as they operate in the 2.4GHz band like Local TV translators can still cause problems all other Bluetooth devices. With the move to digital TV and the re-stacking of chanCriticism nels, a lot of areas are not served by the main city, high-power Following our June 2013 report, we were roundly criticised transmitters but by lower-power translators. by the association representing the professional end of the So even if you do buy a legal (520-694MHz) wireless micmarket for saying that most wireless mics were in the upper, rophone you could still be in trouble, because part of the and soon to be withdrawn, UHF band. LIPD licence specifies that you must not use any frequency They claimed that their association had worked closely which a local broadcasting service occupies. with the Government (and ACMA, the regulatory body), to “Local” might cover a lot greater area than you think – for ensure that their members knew the new requirements and example, many TV viewers along Sydney’s northern beaches only sold ‘future proof’ equipment, operating in that 520- receive their TV signals only from Bouddi Head, on the 694MHz band. NSW Central Coast. And we’re sure they did. But as late as last year, when Similarly, many residents in Sydney’s south have to watch our report was written, we found that many retailers were TV programs from the Wollongong area. In both these examstill selling 694-820MHz equipment. But that wasn’t the real ples, terrain prevents signals from the Sydney transmitters problem. It was all those tens (hundreds?) of thousands of from avoiding the ‘digital cliff’. You’ve either got a picture users who had bought, in good faith, lower-cost wireless or you haven’t; with digital TV there’s no ‘in-between’. microphones which would be outlawed – without any form There are several websites which show the areas digital of recompense or subsidy. TV stations are, or very shortly will be, transmitting in along siliconchip.com.au August 2014  29 the NSW coast, and their frequencies. With the exception of the 520-526MHz soon-to-be-packed-out band, you will probably find that there are many areas where finding an unused frequency is almost impossible; you need to choose the best of a bad situation. Country areas aren’t quite so packed. Our experience Legend YES Available for wireless microphone use. LIKELY This frequency is likely to be available for wireless microphone use. However, it is possible that you may receive interference from distant television and radio services in some areas. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs. POSSIBLE This frequency is possibly available for wireless microphone use. However, many locations will be prone to receiving interference from television and radio services or causing interference especially when using the wireless microphone outdoors. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs. NO Not available for wireless microphone use. Available spectrum for wireless microphones from 1 January 2015 Location Band VHF TV channel 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 27 UHF Frequency (MHz) 174–195 209–230 520–526 526–568 (see Note 3) 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 568–610 610–652 652–673 673–694 Sydney NO YES NO POSSIBLE NO Central Coast LIKELY LIKELY NO YES LIKELY NO NO NO YES Agnes Banks NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Appin NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Bargo NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Belimbla Park NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Blackheath NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Bowen Mountain NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Brooklyn NO YES YES YES YES NO NO Bundeena NO YES NO NO YES YES YES Buxton NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Catherine Field NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Cobbitty NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Couridjah NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Cowan NO YES NO NO YES YES YES Dangar Island NO YES YES YES YES YES YES Douglas Park NO YES YES NO YES NO Freemans Reach NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Galston NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Surrounding areas NO Glenorie NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Glossodia NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Grasmere NO YES YES NO NO YES YES Hazelbrook NO YES NO NO NO NO POSSIBLE Jilliby NO YES YES NO NO NO NO Katoomba NO YES NO NO NO NO POSSIBLE Kirkham NO YES YES NO NO YES YES Kurmond NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Kurrajong NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Kurrajong Heights NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Lawson NO YES NO NO NO NO POSSIBLE Leppington NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Linden NO YES NO NO NO YES YES Silverdale-Warragamba NO YES NO NO NO YES YES YES NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO This spreadsheetNOon theYESACMA lists Luddenham YESwebsite NO NO towns NO and NO Maianbar NO YES NO NO YES suburbs throughout Australia with the six YES UHF and oneYES Medlow Bath NO YES NO NO YES YES YES Menangle NO YES NO NO NO YES VHF bands listed with a YES/LIKELY/POSSIBLE/NO YES Menangle Park NO YES YES NO NO YES indication of whether wireless mics YES in those bands can YES be Mooney Mooney NO YES YES YES YES YES Mount Vernon NO YES NO NO NO NO NO used in that area. As you can see from the generally yellow Mount Victoria NO YES YES NO YES YES YES (‘NO’) boxes in this areas you’re going toYES Mulgoa NO chart, YES in many NO NO NO YES Oakdale NO YES NO NO NO YES YES be pretty limited NO for choice. The URL for this siteYES is a mile Orchard Hills YES NO NO NO YES long accessYES it by Googling Fact Patonga but you can NO YES YES “ACMA YES NO sheets NO Picton YES YES NO NO YES YES and FAQs” – it’s the first entryNO– click on that, then clickYES on Pitt Town NO YES NO NO YES YES the town want. NO Richmond North or suburb NO youYES NO NO YES YES Tahmoor NO 30  S ilicon Chip The Oaks NO Thirlmere NO YES NO NO NO NO NO Wallacia NO YES NO NO NO YES YES We mentioned earlier that we have considerable experience in audio/PA and, by extension, wireless microphones. Over the past 12 months or so we’ve talked to literally scores of ‘average’ (ie, not professional) wireless microphone users and with just one exception, there was complete ignorance about the forthcoming changes. These users were in the main sporting clubs, reception venues and the like and they simply hadn’t heard ANYTHING about their equipment being outlawed. The reaction was even more disturbing: they couldn’t give a damn. “Let them catch me” was a typical response. “I’ll go on using it until someone tells me to stop” was common. Or the old shrug of the shoulders and “so what?” expression. That one exception was a sporting organisation who does use a professional technician to supply and maintain their equipment. They’d just upgraded their whole PA system and part of that deal was new 500MHz wireless microphones, because their supplier knew the new requirements. But the rest? They can be assured that there will one day be a knock on the door, not necessarily from ACMA but from one of the telcos who’s just forked out a LOT of money (Billion$!) for the right to use clean spectrum. As soon as there is any report of interference by their customers, you can bet your bottom dollar (or billions of dollars!) that they will ‘search and destroy’ all offenders. So what to buy? If you’re in the market for a wireless microphone (and if you currently use one, that description probably fits you!) there are a couple of things you should look for: (a) Naturally, you must choose a wireless microphone in that 520-694MHz band. Don’t be tempted by descriptions which claim “approved frequencies” or some such if they aren’t in that band. They aren’t (approved, that is). (b) Take careful note of the digital TV frequencies being used in your area – and surrounds. Choose a microphone well away from these frequencies. (c) While theoretically within the TV band, 520-526MHz is currently unused by any TV channel, anywhere in Australia – so a wireless microphone in that frequency range should remain usable anywhere for at least the foreseeable future. However, there is no guarantee that this band (TV channel 27) will not be taken up somewhere down the track (after all, they took 694-820MHz away!). And as we mentioned earlier, 520-526MHz is likely to become VERY crowded! (d) If at all possible, choose a wireless microphone that is ‘frequency agile’ – that is, you can adjust its operating frequency (usually by pushing buttons). Of course, the receiver will need to have the same feature but if they are sold as a system, that’s pretty much taken for granted. The better wireless microphone systems are almost always frequency-agile but it is often found on cheaper ones as well. (e) Buy from a reputable source and get a money-back guarantee in case you find it can’t be used in your area. That’s why it is usually preferable to buy from a bricks-and-mortar store than online, even if you do have to pay a little more. siliconchip.com.au If you do buy online, choose an Australian supplier who you can track down! Need more info? There’s a lot more information available on the ACMA website which, if you’re interested in wireless mics and/or digital TV, makes interesting reading. It’s just a pity that so few people know anything about this resource. So to summarise: if you have a wireless microphone which works in the 694-820MHz band, you need to buy a new one before December 31 this year and preferably one which is ‘frequency-agile’ so it can be set to suit your location. Don’t assume that you won’t be affected. At the worst, you could be fined or digital TV interference could simply blot your microphone out. Depending on the situation, that could be even more embarrassing. Operating Wireless Microphones in UHF TV Areas: even now there are traps for young players! Over the past few months, I’ve been using the PA system referred to in the main article, the one which had the new approved wireless microphones, for outdoor sports. It was being used in a ‘portable’ mode; that is, the PA was erected at a specific venue for one or two days, then packed away. The first few times I used it, up and down the NSW coast, it performed flawlessly. The wireless microphones had more than enough range (I estimated 250m line of sight) but the most recent occasion, in the Illawarra region of NSW, the range was woeful – perhaps 10m or so but very intermittent. So what had changed? The first thing I did was ensure that the wireless mic receiver antennas weren’t being shielded – that’s a common problem. Even damp or wet bricks in a building wall can chop the range way down. I elevated the receiver so it had perfect line-of-sight through a window. Nope – no change! Batteries? Most microphones these days operate on one or two “AA” cells, which obviously don’t last forever. I replaced the batteries and . . . scratch that one! Speaking of scratching, I was: my head, that is. I raised my eyes to the heavens for inspiration . . . and the answer stared back at me! I was in the northern suburbs of Wollongong and I was looking straight up at the TV transmitters on Broker’s Nose, a prominent point on the Illawarra escarpment which was probably no more than 3-4km away as the crow flies. “Could it be TV Interference . . .” There was no indication of any interference on the PA system but I wondered if the strong UHF TV signal was simply swamping the wireless mic receiver. Fortunately, the wireless mics were frequency agile, so it was easy enough to prove, especially with a two mic/two receiver system for an A:B comparison. I simply moved one of the mics and its receiver to a frequency as far away as I could from where it currently was, and bingo! The range suddenly increased to what I was accustomed to while the other mic/receiver range stayed stubbornly at about 10m! I adjusted the second mic/receiver pair to another far-distant frequency and was in business immediately. No, I don’t know what frequency I adjusted it to; at the time, I didn’t care – because it worked! I didn’t have any TV channel listing with me nor did I have ’net access. I also knew I wasn’t causing any TV intererence – there was a TV on in the same room showing the World Cup! I might have been lucky but with an event about to commence, that wasn’t my first concern. . . SC siliconchip.com.au August 2014  31