Under the slogan Losing Your Voice, Shure Distribution UK (SDUK) is aiming to raise awareness of the importance of RF spectrum availability among pro and semi-pro users of RF technology – from conference audio and systems integrators to live performers and organisers of commercial and non-commercial events.
The goal is to better inform this wide range of users about the growing challenges to the unhindered use of wireless microphone systems as a result of continued UHF spectrum allocation to the mobile communications and data industries: ‘Over the past few years, the user base for wireless microphone technology has expanded far beyond the professional touring, broadcast and theatrical industries, the Program Making and Special Events sector, or PMSE as it’s known, where these systems first became popular,’ says Tuomo Tolonen, Pro Audio Group Manager and RF Specialist at SDUK. ‘Wireless microphones are now used by all kinds of users, such as live bands, church group, and events companies, as well as by specialists and integrators in the conference audio market. All of these applications are potentially under threat as the availability of RF spectrum for wireless mic use in the UK diminishes.’
SDUK is preparing the Guide To Wireless Frequencies in the UK (available for download) and launching a dedicated website to help wireless users discover ‘Why The Single Biggest Threat To Wireless Audio Is In Your Pocket’, and explain how to learn more about the current situation, and to prepare for the next round of changes.
‘Over the past ten years, as the numbers of users of wireless systems has been steadily increasing in all these areas, the spectrum required to make these systems operate without interference has been steadily whittled away,’ says Tolonen. ‘That process hasn’t ended yet.’
Following the 2012 Digital Dividend, UK wireless users lost access to the 800MHz band (790-862MHz), dedicated frequencies that were once set aside for their exclusive use (TV Channel 69), and were granted — after much lobbying — the use of a new band of frequencies. However, the reprieve may only be temporary. In November last year, Ofcom announced its intention to fully clear 694-790MHz as early as 2020 from use by wireless microphone operators, as this portion of spectrum is earmarked for auction to mobile data and telecommunication users.
‘This isn’t about trying to paint mobile technology as some kind of enemy,’ says Tolonen. ‘Almost everyone is a user in some capacity of tablets, mobiles, laptops and broadband, and that’s not going to go away. Instead, what we’re trying to do is raise awareness of the widespread types of pro and semi-pro wireless microphone users in many different markets, so that their ability to work is not compromised by the on-going changes to RF spectrum allocation in the UK. It’s clear that if proper consideration is not made for the use of the RF spectrum by the PMSE sector and other owners of wireless microphone systems, it will cause further disruption to an industry already affected by the changes of the first Digital Dividend.’
‘Over the past few years, we’ve put a lot of effort into informing wireless microphone users about the changes they have had to confront to keep using their systems, and Losing Your Voice is the latest extension of that,’ says Kirsty Lamport, SDUK Head of Marketing. ‘Shure has developed a lot of technology to help users of wireless mics make more efficient use of the shrinking spectrum, and we will continue to inform industry users about the planned changes and what they can do to work with them — so that none of us lose our voice.’
In parallel with the launch of Losing Your Voice, the Shure Academy European Audio Network will be running an extended series of its successful Wireless Mastered RF masterclasses throughout the UK during 2015, which cover all aspects of successfully setting up and running wireless microphone systems, including discussion of the ongoing changes to RF spectrum.
