600 MHz Transition Update: T-Mobile Deployment Schedule

by Brian Grahn

T-Mobile has announced that it intends to commence operations in the 600MHz band beginning in Q4 of 2019 for the Chicagoland market.  This will also coincide with Phase 6 of the FCC plan to repack existing UHF TV stations.  The takeaway is that users of wireless microphone, in-ear monitoring, and intercom systems will likely be affected both within and below the 600MHz region.

T-Mobile Deployment
In the Chicago market, T-Mobile is licensed to use blocks B, C, and D of the new 600MHz “Band 71” for commercial wireless service.  This means that as early as October 2019, operations in 622-637 MHz and 668-683 MHz will become illegal.  These two bands are the immediately affected area, but eventually, all wireless systems that function in 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz will need to cease operation by July 2020.  Small pockets will remain for use in the 600 MHz guard band (614-616 MHz) and the 600 MHz duplex gap (653-663 MHz).

UHF Repack
Phase 6 of the FCC’s plan runs from September 7 to October 18, 2019 and includes the relocation of nine local Chicago TV stations in the UHF spectrum.  Most of this movement involves stations below the 600 MHz threshold moving to make room for channels previously above the cutoff to fit into the newly consolidated lower UHF region (for instance, WMAQ will be moving from channel 29 to 33).  During this short transition, TV stations could be testing in their new channel while still operating in their pre-auction channel.

Being Aware of the Spectrum
Potentially overnight, T-Mobile will fire-up services in the 600 MHz region and TV stations will jump from one channel to another.  For end-users, these changes will almost certainly require a fresh coordination of wireless devices.  As a reminder, these may include wireless handheld and lavalier microphone systems, wireless intercom devices, wireless in-ear monitoring systems, and any other devices that operate in the UHF spectrum.

For more information about the 600MHz Auction and what happened, visit our previous article 600 MHz Update: Wireless Questions Answered.

For additional information or advice on how your wireless systems could be affected, contact our sales team at sales@tcfurlong.com. 

TC Furlong Inc. Presents Digital Console Expo 2018

Thank you to all who joined us for the 8th annual Digital Console Expo, held on November 27th at Moody Church in Chicago. The event featured 15 manufacturers of digital consoles and console peripherals, including:

  • Allen & Heath
  • Ashly
  • Attero Tech
  • AVID
  • Behringer/Midas
  • DiGiCo
  • LINK
  • Luminex
  • PreSonus
  • Radio Design Labs (RDL)
  • Rupert Neve Designs
  • Solid State Logic
  • Soundcraft
  • Waves
  • Yamaha

The 160+ attendees of DCE 2018  included technicians from houses of worship, broadcasters, sound/AV companies, and performing arts facilities, as well as touring engineers, students, integrators, and consultants. People traveled from across Chicagoland and the Midwest to attend this year’s event, allowing for unique networking opportunities that are typically only available at larger tech expos.

In addition to the opportunity to learn about the latest product offerings directly from manufacturer representatives, this free event featured ample amounts of swag giveaways and food; attendees also had the opportunity to enter a raffle for great prizes including microphones and compact mixers.

TC Furlong Inc. is proud to be an authorized dealer for all of the manufacturers featured at this year’s expo. If you’d like more information on any of the featured products, or need to request a quote, please contact our Sales Team at sales@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

We also carry many of the brands featured at DCE 2018 in our rental inventory. For more information about renting a digital console, or anything else from our vast rental inventory, get in touch with our Rental Team at rentals@tcfurlong.com or call 847-367-9588.

600 MHz Update: Wireless Questions Answered

WHAT happened?

In 2017, congress directed the FCC to reallocate a portion of the UHF TV spectrum to be sold for broadband wireless devices, such as smart phones.  On April 13, 2017, the FCC announced the successful sale of 84 MHz of the UHF spectrum and the 39-month plan to repack the existing TV spectrum.

WHO is affected?

One result of the auction is that production wireless devices that operate in the auctioned 600 MHz band (specifically 608 – 698 MHz) will become illegal to use.  This applies to wireless microphone, in-ear monitoring, IFB, and intercom solutions, as well as other equipment.

WHERE are the TV stations moving?

Another result of the auction is that TV stations operating in the 600 MHz band were given the option of vacating or being re-assigned to a lower channel.  To fit these additional stations into the remaining, diminished spectrum, some TV stations in the 470 – 600 MHz spectrum have also been affected. 

 

Chicago TV Stations

TV Stations moving in the Chicagoland area.

WHEN do the changes take effect?

Over the 39 month transition period, the FCC is coordinating the delicate dance of relocating lower region TV stations to make room for the re-assigned 600 MHz stations.  This process will directly affect the  Chicagoland area in September 2019.

HOW will I be affected?

As the 600 MHz spectrum clears during the transition period, T-Mobile and other auction winners will begin testing and deploying new technologies making usage of the 600 MHz region increasingly unstable.  Additionally, the remaining UHF spectrum will become denser with TV broadcasters, causing previously open channels to be unusable.

WHAT are my options?

If you own a wireless system that operates in the 600 MHz range, it will need to be replaced.  Manufacturers, including Shure, Sennheiser and Audio-Technica, are offering trade-in rebates for 600 MHz systems with the purchase of new systems.  Many of these new systems feature technologies that are aimed specifically to handle the shrinking spectrum, including spectrally-efficient digital transmissions and alternate operating bands (such as VHF, DECT, or 2.4 GHz).

Click here for a free consultation with our Sales Team.

New In Rentals: Countryman A3

by Aaron Posega, Sales/Marketing

TC Furlong Inc. has recently upgraded our rental inventory of lectern (podium) microphones to the Countryman A3 (18″ hypercardioid version). The A3 represents a step up in tonal quality, frequency response precision, and handling noise rejection.

This change follows an extensive multi-dimensional “blind” test by the TC Furlong Engineering staff between the A3 and our previous lectern mic standard – the Countryman Isomax-4RF. Accompanying this upgrade will be all new packaging and accessories for our lectern mic kits.

The Countryman A3 features a dual capsule design, allowing it to reject vibration and handling noise with a fine-tuned hypercardioid polar pattern, while maintaining a natural frequency response. The microphone’s capsules and circuit are optimized to reject pops and wind noise, mechanically and electronically.

The Countryman A3 is just one of a vast selection of microphones available in our rental inventory; we also feature a wide variety of items for video and presentation support.

If you’re interested in renting the Countryman A3, or anything else from our expansive rental inventory, please contact our Rental Team at 847-367-9588 or rentals@tcfurlong.com.

TC Furlong Inc. is also a longstanding dealer of Countryman microphones, along with most other professional audio manufacturers. If you have questions about purchasing a Countryman A3, or any other item from our line card of over 100 pro audio manufacturers, contact our Sales Team at 847-367-9588 or sales@tcfurlong.com.

Yamaha Releases CL/QL Firmware Version 5.0

Originally posted on yamahaproaudio.com

Regular updates have kept the Yamaha CL and QL series digital mixing consoles moving forward, and now Version 5.0 elevates these industry standard consoles to the next level.

In addition to support for more Dante devices, the V5.0 update adds Individual Fade Time functionality that allows different fade times to be set for each fader, and a new Portico 5045 Primary Source Enhancer by Rupert Neve Designs for use in the Premium Rack. Individual Fade Time is an important feature for users who need complex fader control, especially for musicals and other theatrical applications. The Portico 5045 makes it easy to control background noise from microphone sources while enhancing clarity and increasing feedback margin. The Portico 5045 is a valuable tool for houses of worship, stadiums, performance halls, and any other venue where feedback must be carefully controlled.

Dante devices newly supported by V5.0 are as follows:

・ Rupert Neve Designs RMP-D8 8-Channel Remote Control Dante Mic Pre
・ Sennheiser EM6000 Digital Wireless Receiver
・ Shure AD4D and AD4Q Axient Digital Wireless Receiver
・ Nexo DTD Digital TD Controller

Future updates will provide support for other Dante devices listed in our June news release.

According to Yoshi Tsugawa, general manager of the Yamaha pro audio division, “Continuing updates for the CL and QL series consoles have contributed to their adoption in a wide range of applications such as live music, corporate events, broadcast, theater, and more. The Version 5.0 update not only adds new functionality, but through close collaboration with third parties also provides connectivity with more Dante devices.”

 

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