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If you think you have more time to replace those 600 MHz-band wireless microphones in the sanctuary, think again.  Your wireless microphones might stop working as soon as tomorrow.  In some cases, it’s already a problem.

Backstory

Originally, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), auctioned airspace in the 600 MHz band.  Users of wireless systems like microphones, in-ear monitors, and intercom systems were to have until the year 2020 to vacate that space.

The auction resulted in frequencies from 614 to 698 MHz being auctioned to companies, including cell phone companies like T-Mobile.

What’s really happening

Dan Daley posted up this article that highlights how the auction winners are already using this space despite the notice sent by the FCC that we’d have a few years to comply.  Check out the below highlights from the article.

Joe Ciaudelli, director of spectrum affairs at Sennheiser, said, “The year 2020 might seem far off, but because spectrum buyers can begin using their new bandwidth as soon as its paid for, wireless microphone users…are going to feel the impact sooner than others.”

And it’s proving true!

According to the article, just before a live event at a theater in Manhattan was to start, all the wireless microphones were disrupted by a 600-MHz cellular-phone signal that turned on in the building. Fortunately, the “on-site RF coordinator identified the source and the operator of the 600-MHz transmission node cooperated and turned off.”

What companies are quick to use their newly purchased airspace?  Cell phone providers.  Before we start throwing stones, we must recognize the growth of wireless technology and our love of checking email, Facebook, Instagram, and even remote mixing comes at a price.

Stop Working?

So will your microphones really stop working if someone starts using the 600-band in your area?  You’ll be subject to either non-stop interference or you’ll be open to the possibility of interference during usage.  In my book, that renders the microphones useless.  If there’s a possibility of interference then I’m replacing the microphone.  Are you willing to risk interference during your church service?  During the sermon?

A Little Relief

As an update from a reader who discovered this on the FCC’s web site:

“Many frequencies in the TV bands that had been available for wireless microphone use prior to the auction will continue to be available after the transition period. These include:

  • VHF and UHF frequencies on TV channels 2-36, which fall below 608 MHz.
  • Certain frequencies in the 600 MHz guard band: 614-616 MHz.
  • Certain frequencies in the 600 MHz duplex gap: 653-657 MHz for licensed use or 657-663 MHz for unlicensed use.“

If your wireless microphones can be set to use frequencies in these small areas, you can get a little relief.  And please note the difference between licensed and unlicensed.  Unless you have a license specific for your location, you’re unlicensed.

Canada and Mexico

While the ruling is specific for the USA, people within 50 miles of the border might want to prepare as well because cell tower coverage can overlap in some areas.

The Good News

A few companies are providing rebates on wireless microphones.  If you have microphones that use the 600 band, the below companies are willing to cut you a break. Links are to their rebate pages.

 

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Comments

  1. Chris,
    My church in Canada is using 1 system from Sennheiser C range : 740-776Mhz. Are you saying that is illegal now? It still working fine.

    Reply

  2. So I just purchased the ew 100 G3 B that runs int he 600+ mhz spectrum last year for $800 at B&H. And then the announcement comes out that this product will be irrelevant and even illegal according to the FCC. And the rebate after buying another $800 unit is $100? Seriously? That just covers the sales tax on the new unit that I just dropped $800 last year? Does anyone else think this is a joke and that Sennheiser should do good by loyal customers espcially people who just dropped a large sum on an outdated product? Or even a exchange program to re-engineer or swap out with older A of G devices. I don’t need a new version and drop another $800 and even trade in an almost new ew 100 unit to offset my sales tax for a new product. So paying $1600 in a matter of a year just seems ludicrous for something that is out of all of our hands. Yes, I understand this is the FCC making this decision. But, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of loyal customers who have spent a lot of money over the years, there seems to be a better program that is fair for people who just bought these products right before the announcement.

    Reply

    • This is not up to Sennheiser, it’s up to B&H. B&H, the resellers, are the ones that should have had a notice on the web page. If I recall, I even contacted them when I saw they were selling mics in that range. If you can show that the FCC ruling was in effect at the time you bought those from B&H and B&H never notified you, you might have a case through the credit card company.

      Reply

  4. In the ‘Little Relief’ section, it mentions about a small window of frequencies that can still be used:
    “Certain frequencies in the 600 MHz duplex gap: 653-657 MHz for licensed use or 657-663 MHz for unlicensed use.“
    My question is, do we know how long that those frequencies can still be used? Or do we also have to stop using those frequencies as of 2020? I have some units that span across the 657-663 range, and I just switched frequencies I was running into that band. Thanks

    Reply

    • Here’s the thing:
      1. If you have equipment that CAN be used in the new auctioned bands, that equipment has to be replaced. So even if you could tune it to the duplex band, the equipment itself is illegal. When in doubt, see #2.
      2. Further findings have found that the duplex band is going to be stuffed with other types of wireless devices so even if you could tune to it, it’s going to be unreliable. When in doubt, see #1.

      Reply

      • Thanks. We now have 4 units in the 482-590Mhz frequencies, and still 3 in the 600Mhz band (now set in the 657-663 band). We just had replaced 2 of our 600 bands to get into the 500 bands, and hopefully next year do the same with the others when the funds are more available. Thanks for the updates and clarification!

        Reply

  5. My church bought 4 Shure wireless mics ($1100) a year ago, and are now going to become obsolete? Anyone we can talk to to get some sort of compensation. The Shure website only offers a $50 per line rebate, which is close to ridiculous. I know $1100 is nothing compared to others, but we are a small church and that was a major purchase for us.

    Reply

    • You might be able to talk with the place where you purchased the microphones but I doubt they will help. It’s not on Shure as they can sell to other countries where the freqs are legit.

      Reply

  7. Already experienced this. Found I have 1 in-ear monitor system in the 600s. :(
    What are the frequencies we can use?

    Reply

  8. The convenience of wireless microphone is undeniable, however two frequency bans within 5 years (or so), makes them very undesirable – just is replacement costs alone! Soberly thinking about simply turning the switch back to wired systems…
    I know it is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction, but these bans have a way of hitting my budget in the feels!

    Reply

  9. CHRIS, in AUSTRALIA they are saying convert the mics to VHF? can you convert them and move to another frequency?

    Reply

  10. What exactly is considered the 600mhz band. My mics are operating in the 585mhz to 595 mhz. Should I be looking to upgrade? Is it safe to stay in the 500 mhz spectrum?

    Reply

    • It depends on the equipment. if it’s analog gear, you’d hear static. If it’s digital, digital will just drop the signal because it knows there is interference – either works or doesn’t.

      Reply

  12. The FCC statement says that you can use the 600 MHz band until 2020, but you have to stop using it if you cause interference with licensed users. I suspect that the interference will come sooner in metropolitan areas and later in rural areas. From the way I read the statement, after 2020, it will be a violation to use a wireless microphone in the 600MHz band, though there will probably still be areas where no interference occurs. I have recommended that we start looking for a new system now, but replace ours gradually, unless a problem occurs. In a pinch, I have some wireless systems that can still be legally used, but, at 570 MHz, are uncomfortably close to losing their place. I hesitate to move to higher frequencies, especially at 2.5 GHz, since that is where WiFi operates, but that may be the only recourse.

    Reply

  13. Dear Chris,

    I have been putting off buying a new wireless mic and receiver due to the fear that they might have a short USEFUL life.
    In the last decade I utilized a Sony wireless system.
    Plug in XLR device as the transmitter.
    It was not a diversity system, so the cost was less than a grand for the whole thing.
    I sold it off mainly due to the areas it was used in had lots of problems with multi-path reflection due to who knows what.
    Planning on going whole hog with a Lectronics system. Which is in the two thousand dollar range.
    Been putting off buying this due to the shrinking and changing unknown radio frequency availability.
    At trade shows, this is not the type of thing sales people want to guide one around.
    Corporate America’s answer to most problems is generally, just buy a new one.
    Car, computer, video gear.
    Your article is spot on.
    Is the answer for audio companies who make wireless systems to have some sort of replaceable frequency module, such as in the days when crystals were used?
    Too bad we cannot just up the power in our wireless systems to overpower any nearby cell phones.
    The government law enforcement is looking the other way when major crimes (drugs, gangs, immigration, murder) here in California.
    Why should they come after me if I choose to turn my wireless system into a RADIO BLOW-TORCH?
    My new attitude is catch me if you can.

    Thank You,
    Robert

    Reply

    • Robert, I understand your frustration but caution you against the “catch me if you can” attitude. That is to say, I’m writing on a site that revolves around the church market and if you are running these at a church then you should follow the law.

      Reply

    • And worse yet … you may fire up the system an hour or two before an important event and it will. Not work due to interference.

      Reply

    • Air space allocation is on a country-by-country basis. That’s why I mentioned the USA and how people in the two bordering countries might want to be careful depending on their proximity to the border.

      Reply

  15. What is the time window for switching out the 600 mhz gear? I am still seeing on the FCC page as of June 26, 2017 “the FCC allows users to continue operations on the 600 MHz service band under certain conditions until July 13, 2020”.

    Does it matter if you are in an urban or rural area?

    Reply

  16. No mention of rebate price and price of new equipment. Any chance of nailing this down this information so I’ll at least have something to tell our church staff? Just trying to get to the bottom of the questions I know they will ask me.

    Reply

    • On the Sennheiser page, click the link for the form. On the second page of the form are the trade-in values, ranging from $50 to $600. On the Shure page, you have to click the link to the tool, tell it what you have and then it will tell you the rebate amount.

      Reply

  17. Thanks for this update. We have been transitioning out of the 600 MHz frequencies for the last few months not with any urgency for the repurposing, rather for the convenience of putting all three of our receivers and assorted mics on the same frequency range (Shure H8). We can now completely mix and match our handhelds and bodypaks (we have more mics than receiver channels) for each event by selecting different channels within the same frequency band.

    I guess our timing was lucky!

    Reply

    • At this point, not of the major retailers should be selling any equipment in the newly allocated band. You might find stuff on eBay so I can only caution you to be careful if you buy used equipment.

      Reply

      • eBay is selling 600 MHz stuff like “hot cakes” with absolutely NO Warning to buyers. It is almost funny. I wrote a few of the sellers today just to ask if they were selling in the new illegal band. Have not heard from them yet. But I may start flagging to ebay the pages that are clearly selling 600 stuff in the US without warning.

        Reply

        • I am not sure “illegal” is the right characterization. In theory they have 3 years of useful life until the bandwidth can no longer be used for wireless audio.

          Until then, as has been pointed out, it’s buyer beware because cellular can also use that space and render your equipment non-functional.

          I’m not sure where I would draw the line with eBy at this juncture. They facilitate a marketplace – it’s really a buyer/seller thing.

          Cheers!

          Reply

        • It’s not “illegal”, yet. Just not a good long term buy. I agree that eBay should require a statement that the equipment will soon be unusable. I have seen an occasional piece of 700 MHz gear with no notice. I would expect that there are some parts of the US where neither of these bands see much use. I haven’t seen any real drop in prices of the 600 MHz equipment.

          Reply