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Wireless frequencies

wireless frequencies

Available frequency space for wireless microphones

The use of a wireless microphone mainly takes place in the UHF broadcasting band.
The frequency ranges in this band in which use is permitted are listed below.

Licenses the Netherlands

In the Netherlands you can use the following frequencies without a license:

THE NETHERLANDS
Frequency	Max.
195-202 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
470-556 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
558-564 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
566-572 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
574-580 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
582-588 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
590-596 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
598-604 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
614-694 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
736-753 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
821,50 - 826 MHz	20 mW e.i.r.p. (handheld) 100 mW e.i.r.p. (bodypack)
826 - 832 MHz	100 mW e.i.r.p.
863-865 MHz	10 mW e.r.p.	European free band
1785-1805 MHz	20 mW e.i.r.p. (handheld) 100 mW e.i.r.p. (bodypack)	1G8
1880-1905 MHz		1G9
2400-2483 MHz		2,4 GHz, WiFi

However, you cannot fully use the 470 - 694 MHz band in the Netherlands everywhere.
You share that space with digital broadcasting. The use of frequencies for
Digital broadcasting differs per region. This also increases the availability of frequencies
regionally different for wireless microphones. If you want to know which frequencies
you can use it at a specific location within the Netherlands, then you can use the
application Microphonetapes from the Telecom Agency.

Licenses Belgium

In Belgium you can use the following frequencies without a license:

BELGIUM
Frequencies	Max.
29.7-47 MHz
202-209 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.		Radio microphones
518-526 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	Channel 27	Radio microphones
534-542 MHz	50 mW e.r.p. behalve provincie Hainaut	Channel 29	Radio microphones
823 - 826 MHz	20 mW e.i.r.p for hand-held and 100 mW e.i.r.p. for body worn		Radio microphones
826 - 832 MHz	100mW e.i.r.p.		Radio microphones
863-865 MHz	10 mW e.r.p.	ISM	Radio microphones
1785 - 1805 MHz	20 mW e.i.r.p. for hand-held and 50mW e.i.r.p. for body-worn	1G8	Radio microphones
2400-2483 MHz		2.4 GHz

You need to apply for a license for the other frequencies.
You can do this at the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications.
Here you can also download a list of the permitted frequencies per region.

Licenses Germany

In Germany you can use the following frequencies without a license:

GERMANY
Frequency	Max.		Technical requirements	Remarks
174-230 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	VHF	Radio microphone	no registration required
230-250 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	VHF	Radio microphone	no registration required
470-608 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	Kanal 21-37	Radio microphone	no registration required
614-694 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	Kanal 39-48	Radio microphone	no registration required
733-823 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	Kanal 54-60	Duplex Lucke	registration required
823-832 MHz	100 mW e.r.p.	Kanal 65	Duplex Lucke	no registration required
863-865 MHz	10 mW e.r.p.	ISM	Radio microphone	no registration required
1785-1805 MHz	82 mW e.i.r.p.	1G8	Radio microphone	no registration required
1795-1800 MHz	20 mW e.r.p.	1G8	Radio microphone	no registration required
1880-1900 MHz	250 mW e.r.p.	1G9	Radio microphone	no registration required
2400-2483 MHz		2.4 GHz	Radio microphone	no registration required

You can also use the 470 - 694 MHz band, but then you first have to use one
apply for a license by downloading a form from the Bundesnetzagentur .
You can apply for a permit for a specific location and it is valid for a maximum of 30 days.

Licenses France

In France you can use the following frequency bands for wireless microphones and wireless in-ear systems:

FRANCE
Frequency	Max.
174 - 223 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
470 - 694 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
823 - 826 MHz	20 mW e.r.p.	or max. 100 mW e.i.r.p. for body-worn wireless microphones
826 - 832 MHz	100 mW e.i.r.p.
863 - 865 MHz	max. 10 mW ERP
1785 - 1800 MHz	max. 50 mW e.i.r.p. for body-worn wireless microphones, otherwise max. 20 mW e.i.r.p.
2400-2483 MHz		2.4 GHz

Further Information

Link to France administrations homepage where PMSE user can apply for a license, see;

* Audio: Information of ARCEP

* Video: Information of ARCEP

Downloadable application form on the website of ARCEP,
http://www.arcep.fr/fileadmin/reprise/dossiers/licences/EN-17-54.xlsx

As long as you do not exceed the maximum performance, you do not need to apply for approval.
If you have special requests, for example for a large event, you can contact the
French government agency contact ARCEP applies for approval for up to two months.

Licenses Switserland

For Switzerland, the usable frequencies are listed in the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NaFZ).
The exact technical parameters and any restrictions, as well as a possible license requirement
are defined in the technical interface requirements (RIR).
The table below shows the permitted services and the applicable technical interface
Requirements for each frequency band in which wireless microphones can be operated without a license:

Switserland
Frequency	Maximum Transmission power	Technical requirements	Remarks
31.4 - 39.6 MHz	100 mW ERP		use only in the channels specified in RIR 1009-01
174 - 223 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	RIR1009-02
470 - 694 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.	RIR1009-10
477 - 694 MHz	250 mW e.r.p.	RIR1009-11	Use only in the channels specified in RIR1009-11
823 - 826 MHz	20 mW EIRP (ca. 12 mW ERP)	RIR1009-18	100 mW EIRP (approx. 60 mW ERP) for wireless microphones worn on the body
826 - 832 MHz	100 mW EIRP (ca. 60 mW ERP)	RIR1009-13
863 - 865 MHz	10 mW ERP	RIR1009-05
1350 - 1400 MHz	20 mW EIRP	RIR1009-20	Use possible from 01.01.2020. Use only inside buildings. 50 mW EIRP for body-worn wireless microphones or with built-in spectrum scanning procedure (SSP)
1785 - 1804.8 MHz	20 mW EIRP (ca. 12 mW ERP)	RIR1009-09	50 mW EIRP (ca. 30 mW ERP) for wireless microphones worn on the body or with built-in spectrum scanning procedure (SSP)
2400-2483 MHz			2.4 GHz

Licences Austria

In Austria you can use the following frequency bands for wireless microphones and wireless in-ear systems:

AUSTRIA
Frequencies	Maximum Transmission power
174 - 223 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
470 - 694 MHz	50 mW e.r.p.
823 - 826 MHz	max. 10 mW e.r.p.	Duplex Luik
826 - 832 MHz	max. 10 mW e.r.p.	Duplex Luik
863 - 865 MHz	max. 10 mW e.r.p.	ISM Europees vrije band
1785 - 1804 MHz	max. 20 mW e.i.r.p. (handheld) max. 50 mW e.i.r.p. (beltpack)
2400-2483 MHz	250 mw e.i.r.p.	2.4 GHz Wifi

A license must be applied for for other frequencies. This also applies when the transmission power is exceeded.

Fees for license
€ 53 per transmitter

Licenses Luxembourg

APWPT microphone frequency information. License exempt frequencies / no license required

LUXEMBURG
Frequency	Technical conditions	Technical requirements	Remarks
29.7 - 47 MHz	max. 10 mW e.r.p.
174 - 216 MHz	max. 50 mW e.r.p.,
470 - 694 MH	max. 50 mW e.r.p.,		(Interface 470-786 MHz but the band 694-790 MHz no longer applicable for PMSE)
823 - 826 MHz	20 mW e.i.r.p or 100 mW		restricted to body worn microphones see technical conditions for PMSE (including radio microphones) in Annex 3 of Decision ECC/DEC/(09)03 section 3.1
826 - 832 MHz,	max 100 mW e.i.r.p
863 - 865 MHz	max 10 mW e.r.p
1492 – 1518 MHz	max 50 mW e.i.r.p,
1785 – 1795 MHz	max 20 mW e.i.r.p or 50 mW e.i.r.p.		restricted to body worn microphones,
1795 – 1800 MHz	max 20 mW e.i.r.p or 50 mW e.i.r.p.		restricted to body worn microphones,
1800 – 1804.8 MHz	max 20 mW e.i.r.p or 50 mW e.i.r.p.		restricted to body worn microphones,
1880 - 1900 MHz			DECT equipment only
2400 - 2483 MHz			2.4 GHz Wifi

Note: Applications are authorized subject to the conditions as contained in the Radio Interfaces

Fees
No fees are foreseen

Further information
https://web.ilr.lu/FR/Professionnels/Frequences-radioelectriques/Utilisation-de-frequences/Microphones-sans-fil/Pages/default.aspx

National Frequency Allocation Table :
https://web.ilr.lu/FR/Professionnels/Frequences-radioelectriques/Utilisation-de-frequences/Plan-des-frequences/Pages/default.aspx

Where do I register?

Registration takes place at the responsible branch office of the Federal Network Agency. After the proper
Registration receives a written confirmation from the Federal Network Agency. The annual fees for the
The following years of use are also collected by the Federal Network Agency.

License-free frequencies

There are a number of frequency bands that can be used throughout Europe or even around the world without a license. To begin with, there is the so-called band gap or duplex gap (823-832 MHz). This is actually a kind of buffer between the uplink and the downlink frequencies of mobile providers. It's a very narrow piece so you can't use many systems side by side in this band. There is also an increased risk of intermodulation in this band if there are many mobile phones in the area. The same also applies to the 863 - 865 MHz band. This band is just above the frequency range that is reserved for mobile providers and, like the 823-832 MHz band, can be used in virtually all of Europe without a license.

Systems that operate on the 2.4 GHz band (2400 - 2483.5 MHz) have the great advantage that they can operate globally without license. However, this is also the disadvantage because this band is therefore very popular and is used by the most diverse devices. Microwaves, WiFi, Bluetooth ... they all use the 2.4 GHz band. Many of the consumer devices have recently moved to the 5GHz band, so hopefully it will become a bit quieter in the 2.4GHz band in the near future. Another disadvantage is that this band has a very short wavelength. The shorter the wavelength, the smaller the range is. Under ideal circumstances you should be able to reach a meter or 30, but the range will not be much larger. In practice you can use a maximum of 6 wireless microphones or in-ear systems next to each other in the 2.4 GHz band.

Developments

Due to new developments in mobile technology, the frequency landscape is constantly changing. In practice it means that there is less and less room for wireless audio. At the beginning of 2016, the 800 MHz area throughout Europe was taken into use by mobile telephone providers. Microphones in that frequency range no longer work. Of course this was announced well in advance. From January 1, 2020, you can no longer use frequencies in the 700 MHz band between 694 and 790 MHz for wireless microphones due to the introduction of 5G.