The FCC F'ed Wireless Audio Users

adamr316

adamr316

Well-known member
When I heard news that the FCC would be prohibiting usage of the 700mHz frequency band I immediately checked the specs on my newly purchased (in August) Sennheiser G2 wireless system. Phew! 626 to 662mHz....I'm safe.

Then I read the Gear & Now section in the newest issue of Event DV and....whaddaya know....the 700mHz band is TECHNICALLY 614.000mHz-806.000mHz. Okay...now I am a livid.

Why do they get to play judge, jury and executioner with this type of stuff? I thought the radio frequncy bands were PUBLIC AIRWAVES. I was never given the option to vote on this...were you? The commission voted unanimously to prohibit the manufacture, sale, import and shipment on wireless devices in this spectrum. Well...the commission owes me $700.00 .

And I'm sure they can afford it since the reason they are doing this is so they can sell off that part of the spectrum. It's all about greed folks and they are not checked or balanced. U.S.A. = freedom? By the people? Ha! This is a real problem and it's now rearing its ugly head. Janet Jackson...forced Digital TV transmission and now this. Where's my $700 voucher...huh?

I guess the best I can do is contact Sennheiser and see what can be done. If this is not covered under warranty (and I don't personally think Sennheiser or any other wireless device maker should have been forced into this position) I am ready to shove a red white and blue flag up the FCC's collective @sses! Who's with me?
 
P.S. This new "law" takes effect on February 17, 2009. The FCC will more than likely start licensing usage on the aforementioned spectrum and even if you "get away with" using your wireless system for a few months or so you may soon find you'll be locked out of any free channels.
 
I own 4 lectrosonics 411 systems (read: a lot of money)
in the 700mhz range (block 28, 29) and im really not that concerned.

There will be plenty of free slots open in those blocks for a long time to come
and as far as using them "illegally", everyday on sets video transmitters are being used
illegally and its really not a big deal.
 
I'm not too worried about the legalities...really just the interference. As far as I'm concerned Congress and the president make/pass the laws...not the FCC. I hope you're right, Rippie!
 
Technically, the "700MHz band" starts at 698, not 614. (Your source that says 614 is incredibly wrong.)

However, the "700MHz band" issue is the least of our worries ("our" being anybody who uses wireless mics). Go to Sennheiser's website and read about the "white space" debate. And before you go off again about how Sennheiser owes you $700, remember two things: first, the FCC has always had control over these "public" airwaves; and second, Sennheiser (and a lot of other wireless mic manufacturers) has spent the last couple of years (and plenty of money, I'm guessing) trying to protect our ability to use the "white spaces."
 
Did you buy your unit from an authorized dealer? It was my impression that Sennheiser has not been selling in that block for some time.

If you did buy recently from a Sennheiser dealer, they will pro rate you a deal on areplacement in their A and B blocks I believe.

They will not re-tune G2's though.
 
adamr316 said:
When I heard news that the FCC would be prohibiting usage of the 700mHz frequency band I immediately checked the specs on my newly purchased (in August) Sennheiser G2 wireless system. Phew! 626 to 662mHz....I'm safe.
Click to expand...

Adam was right the first time-- this is a "Block B" system, and thus is not affected by the "digital dividend"/"700MHz band" issues as yours unfortunately was, Jim. It's just that he's as vulnerable to the "white spaces" debate as all the rest of us...
 
Thanks for the info Captain. I have a hard time keeping track....

It's funny. I was just cruising the local Craigslist, and a guy is selling a set of 2 C-block G2 packages for 550 bucks. He is telling people that Sennheiser will adjust them.
 
Finally, some fellow outrage over this! Rippie, Lectrosonics will put new boards into your mics for $200.00 to $500.00 per unit, I spoke with them for an article I just finished last month on this entire mess for HD Video Pro Magazine.

We have to face it, together with the relatively tiny and insignificant wireless mic industry, we are no match for the money, power and lobbyists that Google, Microsoft wield in Washington. This is a plain and simple case of money and power riding roughshod over democratic process. It happens every day but this decision will affect a lot more users than the typical unjust, lack of due process decisions that are made by governmental entities like the FCC.

I did the research, Captain Pierce totally has it right, 700 begins at 698.

Here is some more if you want to learn the details...
http://prosoundnews.com/article/18340
http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/PressRoom/WhiteSpaces/us_pro_pr_whitespacespage
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...oup-amnesty-for-illegal-wireless-mic-use.html
http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/1665
http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/2008/06/unused-white-space-spectrum-and.html
http://www.informationweek.com/news/telecom/regulation/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210200250
http://www.wirelessinnovationalliance.org/index.cfm?objectid=9BE0C97D-1D09-317F-BB9DB9011E33450E
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10014456-94.html
http://www.betanews.com/article/Googles_white_spaces_bandwagon_becomes_a_wagon_train/1222972166
http://gain11.wordpress.com/2008/06...eless-microphones-battle-for-air-superiority/
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/news/2008/08/whitespaces

Enjoy!

Dan
 
It is certainly possible to change Sennheiser G2 systems - it involves changing the RF PCB in the transmitter and receiver and re-programming.

In the UK, Sennheiser UK do this for around £200 per channel (ie: one each, TX and RX).
 
From what I heard from Sennheiser, they feel it is not economically viable to do this here and will not offer this service. On a $3,000.00 Lectrosonics system, $500.00 is totally worth it, I think almost everyone who owns one would agree.

The G2 is only $500.00 per channel to purchase new. I wouldn't pay more than about $150.00 to change them, I would rather just eat it and buy newer systems.

Dan
 
Crikey this is the first I've heard about this!

So what actually happens with my Sennheiser G2 unit (for sale in the Marketplace BTW) in the 700 band? Stops working? Seems unlikely. Interference? from what exactly?

Thanks!
 
joemondello said:
Crikey this is the first I've heard about this!

So what actually happens with my Sennheiser G2 unit (for sale in the Marketplace BTW) in the 700 band? Stops working? Seems unlikely. Interference? from what exactly?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
It'll still work but you'll find there will be an increasing chance of being hit with interference from digital TV broadcasting, public safety communications, and other new licensed users of the band.
 
Good info to know. I havent looked into that route yet.
Would be interesting to know which it is. $200 i'll keep my current and get lectro to change them over, $500 and i'll probably sell them off.
Knowing them it'll be $500. Ive never been thrilled with the actual amounts they charge for repair.
Not too too long ago I sent in a reciever to have the power switch changed out.
$1 part which was marked as such. Total bill = over $150
I realize its bench time, but come on.


puredrifting said:
Rippie, Lectrosonics will put new boards into your mics for $200.00 to $500.00 per unit, I spoke with them for an article I just finished last month on this entire mess for HD Video Pro Magazine.
Click to expand...
 
Captain Pierce said:
It may be possible, but at the current time, Sennheiser USA is not doing it.
Click to expand...

Perhaps a little pressure from us owners is called for. Here's hoping a reasonable solution is offered in the near future. If not, I've got four soon-to-become-paperweights I paid over a grand for last year...
 
Ted Spencer said:
Perhaps a little pressure from us owners is called for. Here's hoping a reasonable solution is offered in the near future. If not, I've got four soon-to-become-paperweights I paid over a grand for last year...
Click to expand...

Based on everything I have heard from Sennheiser, G2 owners are SOL.

Dan
 
Captain Pierce said:
Technically, the "700MHz band" starts at 698, not 614. (Your source that says 614 is incredibly wrong.)

However, the "700MHz band" issue is the least of our worries ("our" being anybody who uses wireless mics). Go to Sennheiser's website and read about the "white space" debate. And before you go off again about how Sennheiser owes you $700, remember two things: first, the FCC has always had control over these "public" airwaves; and second, Sennheiser (and a lot of other wireless mic manufacturers) has spent the last couple of years (and plenty of money, I'm guessing) trying to protect our ability to use the "white spaces."
Click to expand...

The FCC shifting things around for the 'benefit' of broadcasters, or rather particular broadcasters has happened a number of times over the years... you don't use 42.1 MHz for general FM broadcasts do you... In the same fell swoop, ever wondered why there was a high VHF TV band... and a disjoint low VHF TV band... both switches benefited the same broadcaster/manufacturer... In the 70's there were other 'switches/reallocations'...

Plain and simple, in any given location outside of dense urban areas, the TV bands from VHF to UHF are 'mostly unoccupied'. In urban areas, with dense coverage by a number of broadcasters, using FM wireless mics is problematic, and it is sort of inconceivable that the mic manufacturers haven't thought, and implemented some form of spectrum sensing to avoid either mutual mic induced interference or avoid channels otherwise occupied. In addition, why they didn't add a pilot with some form of identifiable code sequence to better match up with their own equipment, and reject other devices operating in near by frequency regions.

The band in which a 'white space device' is tentatively targeted to operate is in the 512-698 MHz band. Various FM wireless mics operate in this band at the moment, along with quite a few other 'things'. As it is with a -114 dBm detection requirement, which for FM wireless pretty much means the peak of the pilot, any 'white space' device will be required to detect and mark that region of spectrum as 'unavailable'.

The other issue, is that in many cases mics have been sold without too close a regard for the region and spectrum, with the result there are lots of opportunities for mutual interference, especially on Sunday mornings...
 
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puredrifting said:
Based on everything I have heard from Sennheiser, G2 owners are SOL.

Dan
Click to expand...

I just got an email from Sennheiser today about a rebate program for 700MHz band systems. Don't see it on their website yet, so I won't go too far into the details, but it looks at least a little better than SOL. :)
 
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