Wireless 600MHz Incentive Auction Update (USA)

Soooo, my mics currently operating between 657-663MHz are fine, because they are within the unlicensed user part of the Guard Band, or NOT ok because they are capable of going beyond that frequency range?
 
The REAL question I have for Sennheiser is: Will you offer to change the RF module (for a reasonable fee), which is a very small part of the transmitter or receiver, or, will you force us to throw our equipment in the trash can like you did before?
Don't want to single them out, as Shure did the same thing, but if you ever had to repair one of their units you would see how easy it would be to do on a massive scale.
 
Soooo, my mics currently operating between 657-663MHz are fine, because they are within the unlicensed user part of the Guard Band, or NOT ok because they are capable of going beyond that frequency range?
Sounds like no. From the article:
" It is important to keep in mind that any wireless microphone with the ability to tune to any frequency within the repurposed spectrum will need to be taken out of service before the end of the transition period"
 
The REAL question I have for Sennheiser is: Will you offer to change the RF module (for a reasonable fee), which is a very small part of the transmitter or receiver, or, will you force us to throw our equipment in the trash can like you did before?
Don't want to single them out, as Shure did the same thing, but if you ever had to repair one of their units you would see how easy it would be to do on a massive scale.

At least last time it seemed like there were a wider range of rebates offered, but because of that, I was stuck with AKG. In my case, this time none of the major brands are offering rebates on my model AKG (<5 years old), so if there is not an update available for those packs, I will have to dump them. The bigger problem will be trying to fit the 5 mics needing replacement into the spectrum available with the other 15 I can keep. Antennas and distro limit that too. I hope I don't have to dump 500's MHz and the antennas to pay more for upgraded frequency-agile equipment.
 
In my case, this time none of the major brands are offering rebates on my model AKG (<5 years old), so if there is not an update available for those packs, I will have to dump them.

I haven't read the details on Sennheisers rebate, but Shure will take anything that operates in the 600mhz range for rebate. The important part is that your new set comes from them.
 
Shure is crediting on *any manufacturer's* old transmitters, you say?

Just the transmitter?

Shure will take ANY 600Mhz systems. and rebate you a certain dollar amount for what Shure equipment you buy to replace the 600Mhz.
In Shure's sense a 'channel' is a paired receiver/transmitter. Meaning if you replace 8 channels of Audio Technica's in the 600Mhz that counts as 8 'systems'
Their rebate is dependent on what equipment you buy to replace the old. If I get 2x ULXD4Q receivers and 8x ULXD-1 Transmitters, the rebate will be $500 per channel for a total of $4000 in rebates.
To get the rebate you must send them your old receiver and transmitter, as well as a part of the box of your new transmitters/receivers.

See their website for more information
https://wirelessrebate.shure.com/

Shure did a webinar explaining some of this, I think this is the right one
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I haven't read the details on Sennheisers rebate, but Shure will take anything that operates in the 600mhz range for rebate. The important part is that your new set comes from them.

Yes, it looks better than I initially thought. Shure is taking most anything, but we don't have any in the district, so I was hoping to stick with Sennheiser or AKG. AKG's website is not functioning properly, so I am not able to access the details regarding their rebate, but that is why I initially thought it might not be good, I didn't realize I was missing a lot of the information. After further investigation, it looks like both Shure and AKG are taking almost anything, but since AKG has not responded to my inquiries, I can't say for sure about them.

Sennheiser has the best equipment for me with regard to frequency, but I would also need to replace my AKG compatible head mics. There are other Sennehiesers in the district, so we are at least keeping within the same pool of stuff. Their rebate will not apply to me, so no help there.

AKG offers compatible equipment, but the bands they offer are extremely limiting to me, and their high-end mics don't seem to offer anything that doesn't infringe on the 600 band, so I'm not sure what their plan is.., again, they haven't responded to my questions.

Shure seems the best fit - rebate for my old stuff, and available frequencies are good, downside is I need to purchase another set of mics that are not interchangeable with anything else in the district.

Trying to navigate all of this is making my head explode, as an administrator already set aside funds to replace, even though there is time. I want to purchase ASAP.
 
@AudJ, Sennheiser doesn't spell it out quite as clearly as Shure but their rebate is also good across multiple manufacturers provided what you're trading operates somewhere within 608-698 MHz.
 
So what happens if i don't switch my receivers and transmitters and continue to use them after 2020?
 
So what happens if i don't switch my receivers and transmitters and continue to use them after 2020?
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So what happens if i don't switch my receivers and transmitters and continue to use them after 2020?

The FCC will fine you, potentially to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. But that's not going to matter because once the new cell towers come online your systems will be relentlessly squashed with interference. T-Mobile is going full-steam ahead though, so you probably won't stick it out unaffected until 2020.
 
The FCC will fine you, potentially to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. But that's not going to matter because once the new cell towers come online your systems will be relentlessly squashed with interference. T-Mobile is going full-steam ahead though, so you probably won't stick it out unaffected until 2020.
Thanks! Someone asked me and thats what I thought would happen.
 
Some AV companies are sending the doom and gloom marketing materials to school administrators, threatening them with - well - doom - and offering to sell them new gear. One more reason I distrust contractors - trying to make money on a not for profits misfortune.
 
Certainly depends on the tone/angle of the letters, but when I worked for a contractor we casually let our regular/current clients know as a courtesy, school or otherwise. Better they saw it coming in advance and could begin budgeting for it and looking out for the rebates rather than getting blind-sided after things stopped working or they started getting notices from Verizon. By which time of course the window for rebates would be closed and the ability to punt this investment forward 1-2 budget cycles would be impossible. In this regard, there's nothing wrong with watching out for your client's needs.

Now if someone is out there cold-calling and saying the FCC is gonna bust down your door the first day after the transition if you haven't done a top to bottom replacement of all wireless, microphones, antennas, and so forth, and here's a price on our cheapest, lowest grade replacements that'll only last you a few years, and while we're at it you could use a whole new sound system -- that's another monkey.
 
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So what happens if i don't switch my receivers and transmitters and continue to use them after 2020?

You don't have until 2020. You have until mid-late 2018,

The consequences depend on whether or not you interfere with the licensed service. If you do and it's in one of the markets where Public Safety radios have been granted licenses you will have an FCC tiger team finding you, seizing your non-compliant hardware and giving you a summons to appear in US District Court. If you mess up T-Mobile, you'll get a NastyGram from their legal department; continued infrigement will bring an visit from the FCC.

Besides confiscation of your wireless systems you can be fined >$10k (IIRC, I think those may have changed) per infraction, per transmitter. Those are administrative fines, not criminal fines....
 
Soooo, my mics currently operating between 657-663MHz are fine, because they are within the unlicensed user part of the Guard Band, or NOT ok because they are capable of going beyond that frequency range?
Just want to circle back around to this. If I'm reading everything correctly. Any microphones operating in the duplex band between 657mhz and 663mhz or the guard band of 614-616 are legal? I'm looking at an Audio Technica Mic that has 10 channel options including: 659.375, 660.00, and 662.125. It appears using it on those frequencies is legal.

This mic can also do 656.125 mhz in the duplex gap but that appears to be illegal as it's reserved for licensed wireless microphone use.

Does that appear to be correct? Or are these devices banned because they have the capability of operating outside of legal range?

The FCC has done a terrible job with this transition. "You have to stop in July of 2020, or sooner if T-mobile feels like it"... is not exactly a recipe for a smooth transition.
 

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