1. Wireless microphones— Spectrum for ‘plug and play’ users: Melbourne and surrounds

From 1 January 2015, wireless microphones must not be used in the 694–820 MHz frequency range.

Visit www.wirelessmicrophones.gov.au/ for information about this change.

As a ‘plug and play’ user, this fact sheet provides general advice to help you decide which spectrum you can use for your wireless microphone from 1 January 2015. You are responsible for ensuring that you comply with the regulations.

Choose spectrum and your wireless microphone with care There are many different types of wireless microphones available. When choosing a wireless microphone: use spectrum in the frequency range that is permitted for wireless microphones this spectrum may be shared with television and radio services and other users, so you must make sure that you don’t cause interference to these services and users you should understand that you are not protected from interference received from these services and any changes to the regulations—so choose equipment with the widest possible frequency range.

Whether you have an existing device or are buying a new wireless microphone, you need to make sure that it meets Australian requirements and it’s suitable for use after 1 January 2015. You should contact your supplier for technical advice on spectrum and equipment before purchasing new equipment.

Nationally available spectrum The following spectrum is now available nationally for wireless microphones, no matter where you are in Australia: 520–526 MHz (see Note 3) 1790–1800 MHz.

Frequency ranges 915–928 MHz, 2.400–2.4835 GHz and 5.725–5.875 GHz are also available for wireless microphone use, but they are shared with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

The benefit of using the nationally available spectrum is that you will not cause interference to television and radio services in your area.

acma | 1 2 | acma Spectrum for ‘plug and play’ users in your area Due to the high density of television and radio services in the Melbourne area, plug and play users need to be extra careful when choosing spectrum suitable for their needs.

The table over the page identifies spectrum that is considered available for wireless microphone users. However, as spectrum availability varies across Melbourne, in some areas it is only possible to indicate whether spectrum could be available for wireless microphone users. In areas that are marked Likely or Possible, contact your supplier for technical advice about your needs, including what spectrum options you may have in your area.

While the table identifies what spectrum is available for wireless microphone users, you must remember that this spectrum is primarily used by radio and television services. You must not cause interference to these services and you are also not protected from any interference received from these services.

The table identifies spectrum options suitable for plug and play users whose requirements can typically be accommodated within one television channel. Depending on the quality of your equipment, one channel can support between six and eight wireless microphones. If you have greater requirements than this, contact your supplier for advice.

Spectrum in the 520-694 MHz range can be used indoors on the condition that no interference is caused to television and radio services. For more information on indoor use, contact your supplier for advice.

Information on spectrum availability at the suburb level and technical resources are available from www.wirelessmicrophones.gov.au.

Spectrum changes planned for 2014 The table identifies what spectrum could be available for wireless microphone users from 1 January 2015. However, users also need to be aware of the timing of the changes that are planned for Melbourne in 2014.

During 2014, television channels are being relocated (or ‘restacked’) in parts of 526– 694 MHz.

Spectrum in 526–568 MHz (except channel 32: 554–561 MHz) is now available for wireless microphone users in many parts of Melbourne as restack has been completed in this frequency range.

In Melbourne, the remaining television channels are scheduled to be restacked from late September to November 2014. If you currently use 610-694 MHz a television channel may be restacked into this frequency range—this means that your devices may cause interference and you may no longer be able to keep using that spectrum. You are also not protected from any interference received from these services.

Contact your supplier for advice about your equipment, where you are using it and if it will be affected by restack. For more information, use the ACMA’s online channel finder.

Notes: 2. The channels and frequencies provided in the table will be available from 1 January 2015. However, some channels and frequencies may be available before then. For more information, use the ACMA’s online channel finder. 3. Wireless microphones operate on a shared-spectrum basis with radio and television services. These arrangements can change over time. Wireless

acma | 3 microphones users are not protected from such changes and are responsible for ensuring they comply with current regulations. 4. The frequency range 520–526 MHz is unused by television services and is available Australia-wide. However, the use of this spectrum may change as result of future replanning. 5. Resources and technical television planning data, are available on www.wirelessmicrophones.gov.au.

Legend YES Available for wireless microphone use.

LIKELY This frequency is likely to be available for wireless microphone use. However, it is possible that you may receive interference from distant television and radio services in some areas. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs.

POSSIBLE This frequency is possibly available for wireless microphone use. However, many locations will be prone to receiving interference from television and radio services or causing interference especially when using the wireless microphone outdoors. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs.

NO Not available for wireless microphone use.

4 | acma Available spectrum for wireless microphones from 1 January 2015 Location Band VHF UHF TV 6, 7, 8, 10, 27 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, channel 11, 12 31, 32, 33 37, 38, 39 43, 44, 45 49, 50, 51 Frequency 174–195 520–526 526–568 568–610 610–652 652–694 (MHz) 209–230 (see Note 3) Melbourne NO YES LIKELY NO NO YES (except ch 32) Surrounding areas Aireys Inlet NO YES NO NO NO YES Anglesea NO YES NO YES NO YES Bacchus Marsh NO YES YES YES YES YES Barwon Heads NO YES YES YES NO NO Beaconsfield NO YES NO NO NO YES Beveridge NO YES NO NO NO YES Blind Bight NO YES NO NO NO YES Bulla NO YES YES YES YES YES Bunyip NO YES NO YES NO YES Cannons Creek NO YES NO NO NO YES Cape Paterson NO YES NO YES YES YES Cape Schanck NO YES NO YES NO NO Clifton Springs NO YES YES YES NO NO Cockatoo NO YES NO NO YES YES Corinella NO YES NO YES NO YES Coronet Bay NO YES NO YES NO YES Cowes NO YES NO NO NO YES Cranbourne South NO YES NO NO NO YES Dalyston NO YES NO YES YES YES Diggers Rest NO YES YES YES NO YES Don Valley NO YES YES YES YES YES Drouin NO YES NO YES NO YES Drysdale NO YES YES YES NO NO Emerald NO YES NO NO NO NO Fairhaven NO YES NO NO NO YES Flinders NO YES NO YES NO YES Garfield NO YES NO YES NO YES Geelong NO YES YES YES NO NO Gembrook NO YES NO NO YES YES Gisborne NO YES NO YES YES YES

acma | 5 Available spectrum for wireless microphones from 1 January 2015 Location Band VHF UHF TV 6, 7, 8, 10, 27 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, channel 11, 12 31, 32, 33 37, 38, 39 43, 44, 45 49, 50, 51 Frequency 174–195 520–526 526–568 568–610 610–652 652–694 (MHz) 209–230 (see Note 3) Grantville NO YES YES NO NO YES Healesville NO YES YES NO NO YES Heathcote Junction NO YES NO YES YES NO Indented Head NO YES YES NO NO YES Kilcunda NO YES NO YES YES YES Kilmore NO YES NO NO YES NO Koo-Wee-Rup NO YES NO NO NO YES Korumburra NO YES NO YES YES YES Lancefield NO YES NO NO YES YES Lang Lang NO YES NO NO NO YES Lara NO YES YES YES YES NO Launching Place NO YES YES YES YES YES Laurimar NO YES YES YES NO YES Leopold NO YES YES YES NO NO Little River NO YES YES YES NO NO Longwarry NO YES NO YES YES YES Macedon NO YES NO YES YES YES Maryknoll NO YES NO YES YES YES Melton NO YES YES YES NO YES Menzies Creek NO YES NO NO NO YES Mernda NO YES YES YES YES YES Millgrove NO YES YES NO YES YES Moriac NO YES YES YES NO YES Mount Macedon NO YES YES YES NO YES Myrniong NO YES YES YES YES YES Nar-Nar-Goon NO YES NO YES NO YES Newhaven NO YES NO YES NO YES Nyora NO YES NO YES YES YES Ocean Grove NO YES YES YES NO NO Officer NO YES NO YES NO YES Pakenham NO YES NO YES NO YES Panton Hill NO YES YES YES NO YES Pearcedale NO YES NO NO NO YES Pioneer Bay NO YES YES NO NO YES

6 | acma Available spectrum for wireless microphones from 1 January 2015 Location Band VHF UHF TV 6, 7, 8, 10, 27 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 42, 46, 47, 48, channel 11, 12 31, 32, 33 37, 38, 39 43, 44, 45 49, 50, 51 Frequency 174–195 520–526 526–568 568–610 610–652 652–694 (MHz) 209–230 (see Note 3) Poowong NO YES NO YES YES YES Portarlington NO YES YES NO NO NO Queenscliff NO YES YES NO NO NO Red Hill South NO YES NO YES NO YES Rhyll NO YES NO NO NO YES Riddells Creek NO YES YES YES NO YES Rockbank NO YES YES NO NO YES Romsey NO YES YES NO NO NO San Remo NO YES NO YES NO YES Seville East NO YES YES NO YES YES Shoreham NO YES NO YES NO YES Smiths Beach NO YES NO YES YES YES St Andrews NO YES YES YES YES YES St Leonards NO YES YES NO NO YES Sunbury NO YES YES YES YES YES Sunderland Bay NO YES NO NO YES YES Sunset Strip NO YES NO NO YES YES Surf Beach NO YES NO NO YES YES Tooradin NO YES NO NO NO YES Torquay NO YES YES YES NO YES Tynong NO YES NO YES NO YES Wallan NO YES YES YES NO YES Wandong NO YES YES YES YES YES Warburton NO YES YES NO YES YES Warneet NO YES NO NO NO YES Waterford Park NO YES YES YES YES YES Werribee South NO YES YES NO NO NO Wesburn NO YES YES NO YES YES Whittlesea NO YES YES YES YES YES Wimbledon Heights NO YES NO NO NO YES Wonthaggi NO YES NO YES YES YES Woori Yallock NO YES YES NO YES YES Yarra Glen NO YES YES NO YES YES Yarra Junction NO YES YES NO YES YES

acma | 7 More information Contact your supplier about your specific device to find out the most suitable frequency range for your location. Visit www.wirelessmicrophones.gov.au or email us at [email protected].

Last updated July 2014. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au

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