FCC Expands Use of Airwaves: 'White Space' To Be Opened To Devices Connected To Web

Washington Pest ^ | 11/5/08 | Cecilia Kang

[steve-b]

Preachers on the pulpit, Guns N' Roses and others who fear their wireless microphones would be disrupted by widespread public access to certain unused airwaves were drowned out by high-tech titans Google and Microsoft in a federal ruling yesterday.

The Federal Communications Commission approved a plan that would allow those airwaves, called white spaces, to be used by gadgets such as cellphones and laptops connected to the Internet once that spectrum becomes available after the national transition from analog to digital television in February.

Opponents of the plan, including preachers and entertainers, say such devices could interfere with broadcast channels on nearby spectrum and with wireless microphones, which are used in live performances and operate on the same frequencies. The plan's proponents, including Google and Microsoft, say it would open more wireless technologies to consumers....

[Thermalseeker]

The "white space" they're referring to will be the portion of the band spectrum left vacant by the Television stations after the conversion to digital television is complete. The reason these frequencies are desireable for high-speed internet for example, is because transmisions in this space are subject to multi-path communications. "Multi-Path" is the reason you'd see ghosting of images on your TV due to the analog nature of transmissions. Multi-path is bad for TV, but great for wireless internet access.

Actually, I was curious about the specific frequencies and had suspected it might be TV spectrum. I hold an MSEE and have done a lot of work in wireless, primarily cellular and terrestrial microwave and, to a lesser extent, certain military applications. Just too lazy to look it up for myself. Thanks just the same, though....

[TheBattman]

Thank you - That is a good company that I have done business with, both when I was a band director, and in my current position as church pastor. They try very hard to explain things in terms that help anyone understand - yet they can “talk the talk” with the biggest professionals as well.

[usconservative]

That is a good company that I have done business with, both when I was a band director, and in my current position as church pastor.

Funny you would mention that. I ran the sound system for our church for the better part of 7 years. Our wireless equipment was all Sennheiser (my recommendation) and it worked flawlessly in both our old and new buildings. The range is fantastic and I don't recall an instance of getting interference in our mics. The selectivity is great, the audio quality is superb. They sure chew through batteries though.

[TheBattman]

No kidding! Sennheiser is great gear - but you are right - it does go through batteries. At my former church, we actually started using rechargeable 9V batteries. As long as you put them back on the charger after every use - they worked great. Forget - and there would be no battery left next time.

Shure use to be the best of the best, but while they are still pretty good, Sennheiser has really topped the market.