It may be time to retire the trusty-old wireless microphone you’re currently using in your classrooms or auditorium (or at least budget for new mics in the near future). Many of the mics on campus operate in the 600MHz spectrum and will need to cease operation no later than July 13, 2020. I know what you’re thinking, “2020!!! That’s years away, moving along…” Yes, the hard deadline is years away, but… the 600MHz spectrum is going start seeing new mobile devices added to the 600MHz spectrum as early as December 2017, and testing of these new devices could have already started. What does this mean for your devices? It means that your 600MHz wireless microphones could become considerably less reliable over the next few months or years. While it most likely won’t be the end of the world if you have a few seconds of dropped audio in a regular classroom environment, at a larger event… it’s a show stopper (I know this from personal experience).
On the plus side, most of the major manufacturers of wireless microphone systems have rebate programs that you can apply to new equipment (usually in the $75-$150 range, depending upon the equipment). See the FCC’s notes on the 600MHz spectrum and how it relates to wireless mics, and for links to rebate programs below.
Read More: FCC – Wireless Microphones Overview | Audio-Technica 600MHz Wireless FAQ
Rebate Programs: Sure / Audio-Technica
