The Wireless Users Group of New Zealand (WUNZ) is a coalition of wireless microphone distributors and professional users in the entertainment and screen production industries. WUNZ was established in 2008 to represent all radio microphone users in ensuring that sufficient frequencies remain available with the changeover analogue to digital television. WUNZ has entered into constructive dialogue with the Radio Spectrum Management division of the Ministry of Economic Development.
What are the challenges...?
1. FACT - Radio mics above 694 MHz will not be able to used beyond 2015 or possibly earlier.
2. FACT - Most radio mics sold and used in New Zealand over the last 10-15 years are in that band
3. It’s uncertain that the proposed frequencies will be viable. Our likely frequency allocation may not be viable because of the number of digital TV stations being proposed. Current DTV allocations won’t allow for even multi-channel radio mic’s to be used throughout the country. Click here to see one proposed outcome once analogue TV is switched off (2015 or sooner)
4. There is limited opportunity for a radio mic to be used nationwide as the DTT blocks vary with location.
5. The current plan doesn’t allow for growth. For example, with one of the proposed plans, you could only run just 8 radio mics on one site, in Auckland.
What do we want...?
WUNZ is proposing to lobby the government for dedicated bandwidth for radio mics to ensure ongoing use throughout the community. WUNZ would like more guaranteed nationwide spectrum access (either dedicated or practically co-existing)
Wireless Users New Zealand was formed following a meeting in May 2008 at which a number of issues were raised highlighting the threat to radio microphone usage.
The meeting focussed largely on the impact that radio mic users and suppliers would face with the arrival of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) in the coming months and years.
Following technical presentations covering a number of aspects of radio microphone usage and the RF spectrum, the assembled group was asked to consider how we all could preserve some of the spectrum for future use.