The Spectrum Situation Simplified
The current spectrum situation in the UK can be a daunting concept to fully understand. The catalyst for these significant changes is the Digital Switchover (DSO) from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
From Analogue to Digital TV
In the past, our televisions at home have received an analogue signal. In 2003 the UK Government announced that all analogue TV transmitters would be shut off and replaced by new digital transmitters and that the current spectrum used by analogue TV transmitters would be auctioned away to new services.
This announcement created a huge problem for anyone using wireless as literally all wireless microphones and in-ear monitoring systems in the UK have always shared the same spectrum as analogue television!
Channel 69 -
The Old Home of Wireless Mic's and In-Ear Monitors (IEM)
A small chunk of spectrum that sits just above the analogue TV bands known as channel 69 (854-862MHz) was seemingly untouched by the original announcement.
Channel 69 has been historically set aside for wireless microphones and in-ear monitoring systems and offered users nationwide access to this spectrum for a small licence fee.
At the World Radio Conference in 2007, a European wide decision was made to create a pan-European mobile band that spanned 790-862MHz. Soon after this announcement, Ofcom, the independent regulator and authority for the UK communications industries, confirmed that the UK would also clear these bands to match spectrum being released in other European counties for future mobile communications use. With this announcement the future of channel 69 was ended and wireless users were left in a desperate situation with no spectrum at all beyond 2012.
From Channel 69 to Channel 38 -
The New Home of Wireless Mic's and In-Ear Monitors
The good news is that wireless equipment have now been assigned a new home called channel 38 (606-614MHz).
Channel 38 is setup in a similar fashion to channel 69 and is currently the only OfCom recognised and protected home for PMSE equipment (Program Making and Special Events) meaning that we are not sharing spectrum with other harmful un-licensed devices such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc. that occupy other bands such as 2.4GHz.
Channel 38 is available for use now and beyond 2012 when the Digital Switchover is expected to be completed.
Along with channel 38, we have been granted access to the bands that the new digital television transmitters exist in meaning that we can share this spectrum on an interleaved basis much like we used to share the spectrum with analogue TV in the 800MHz band.
Source:
www.shuredistribution.co.uk
Related Links:
www.snellingbiz.com
www.beirg.co.uk
www.ofcom.org.uk
Channel 69 to 38 Switchover Helpline: 01992 703 038