For the well-known Swiss Ska-Punk Band Rude Tins starts the new year with a scare: There are extraordinary expenditure of 5000 Swiss francs, invested in new equipment, including wireless microphones. Because of the use of the old, about ten years old devices has been prohibited since the beginning of the year. You can disrupt the cell phone network or digital television signals.
“A member of the group has made to this new situation closely. Otherwise we would not have noticed it,” says Markus Baumgartner, saxophonist of the Band, from Brugg in the Canton of Aargau. The band-mate is working for an audio engineering company and knew, therefore, that the regulations for radio microphone-change systems from the current year.
a Large crowd at the national frequencies
trigger the fifth-generation mobile technology 5G, which allows super-fast transfer speeds. The Federal government has auctioned off the beginning of February, the frequencies corresponding to 380 million Swiss francs on Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt. Sunrise has until the end of March, approximately 150 towns with 5G to tap into. Market leader, Swisscom announced as the target 60 communities by the end of the year.
The launch of the new mobile radio standards, however, leads to a crowd at the national frequencies. This has to do with the attractive frequency band of 5G in the range of 700 Megahertz. Sought after it is because of its physical properties. It allows a high coverage and good coverage, especially inside buildings.
by the end of last year, the frequencies in the range of 700 Megahertz for signals for digital television were occupied. To make room for 5G, assigned by the Federal Council this range since the beginning of this year, the new mobile radio standard. The radio services for digital television are slipped into the underlying frequency band.
“Wireless microphones may cause interference.”Francis Meier, Bakom
The effects of concession-free audio technology, the radio signals in the mentioned frequency ranges “Wireless microphones may cause the so-called primary frequency applications, no interference,” says Francis Meier by the competent Federal office of communications. These include priority services, broadcasting, air traffic, and mobile .
for example, cellular: Does an old radio microphone on the same frequencies, such as 5G, can hinder the connection of Smartphones to the mobile radio cells. The users can result in such a case, no more calls. It takes longer to send a photo. And the range of the cell is limited. This is the reason why, as yet, rule-compliant music equipment suddenly are prohibited.
The mobile phone providers to monitor their antennas, and to report impairments to the Federal office for communication. The authority detects the fault signals and try to make the ‘polluter pays’. Who uses non-compliant devices, must be expected in the worst case, with a management procedure and a fine met.
private users affected
the extent of the cost for new appliances is difficult to estimate. May be affected, especially home users. The Swiss village Association and the Swiss Association of cities have not received any feedback from your members, that in the multi-purpose halls and community halls extraordinary investments for new equipment are pending.
Also industry organizations such as the Association of professional Swiss concert organiser and the Association of technical stage professions the changes, see left. “Our members have adjusted in time, because the Confederation has informed in 2010 on a regular basis the Changes in the frequency band,” says Jörg Gantenbein, President of the Association of technical trades of the Stage.
in fact, the Federal office of communications has, since 2006, in mailings and on its Website, to the frequency change and the resulting consequences for radio microphones. Dealer and seller of such equipment have been agreed in writing on the developments in the frequencies informed.
be careful when buying new audio technology
The Federal office could understand that the Situation for users of wireless microphones will become increasingly difficult, says its spokesman Meier. The authority recommends the laity to inform themselves on the Internet and to use devices which run in the lower frequency band from 470 to 694 MHz.
the Anger over the high level of new investment is gone with the Rude Tins now. You will enjoy this year’s concert tour, which leads them in the March through Europe. They appear as the support of the Mad Caddies, a Ska-Punk-scene Band from California. Until then, the Rude Tins practice their performances with the legal systems.
(Sunday newspaper)
Created: 02.03.2019, 20:28 PM