A wireless camera usually includes a video camera and a radio transmitter and is intended for professional use. These days, at least one wireless camera is used at nearly all televised public events. A video link is usually a unidirectional wireless connection that is used for transmitting video from a scene or venue to a broadcast studio. A wireless microphone or a radio microphone is a device used for wireless transmission of speech or music. Examples of radio microphones are hand-held and body-worn wireless microphones, and in-ear monitors.
Wireless cameras and video links
The following frequency bands are available for wireless cameras and video links:
Frequency band | Use |
2320–2400 MHz | This frequency band is subject to licence and intended for common use. The user of a camera or a link can use any frequency in the band, but the user must coordinate the frequency use with the other camera and link users. Radio licences for this band are usually long-term licences with a validity period of several years. |
2200–2290 MHz | This frequency band is intended to be used in events and allocated for cameras and video links. A radio licence for the band is granted case-specifically. The licence is valid only during the event in question. |
Wireless microphones (radio microphones)
The following frequency bands are available for radio microphones:
174–195 MHz (VHF) | No licence required |
216–225 MHz (VHF) | No licence required |
470–694 MHz (TV-UHF) | No licence required |
823–832 MHz (UHF) | No licence required |
863–865 MHz (UHF) | No licence required |
1785–1804.8 MHz (UHF) | No licence required |
As from 31 December 2013, the use of radio microphones is no longer allowed in the 790–822 MHz and 854–862 MHz (UHF) bands. As from 31 December 2016, the use of radio microphones is no longer allowed in the 694–789 MHz (UHF) band.
Use of licence-exempt microphones in the 174–195 MHz, 216–225 MHz, 470–694 MHz, 823–832 MHz, 863–865 MHz and 1785–1804.8 MHz frequency bands
A microphone is exempted from licensing if it only operates on frequencies exempted from licensing. The user of the microphone can choose the operational frequency but the frequency must be between 174–195 MHz, 216–225 MHz, 470–694 MHz, 823–832 MHz, 863–865 MHz or 1785–1804.8 MHz. When choosing a centre frequency, it must be ensured that the microphone's entire channel width remains within the frequency bands specified above.
The frequencies and technical terms of operation of licence-exempt radio microphones can also be found in section 10.5 of Traficom's Regulation 15. Furthermore, there are licence-exempt radio microphones to be used in the frequencies referred to in section 11.5 of Regulation 15 (DECT equipment) as well as in the 2.4 GHz frequency band referred to in section 10.1 (non-specific short range devices) and section 9.1 (wide-band data transmission equipment) of the Regulation. Radio microphones exempted from licensing may only use collective frequencies referred to in Regulation 15.
The frequency band 470–694 MHz is primarily allocated for television operations and only secondarily for radio microphones. Therefore, the use of microphones must not cause interference to television reception. The frequency suitable for microphones within these bands depends on the location of the user. You can search for suitable frequencies by using Traficom's search tool which shows the frequencies released from television operations in a selected location.
Search for microphone frequencies
The search tool is a map-based service. The application shows frequencies available for microphones in a selected location. Such frequencies may be individual microphones' centre frequencies released from television operations or the lowest and highest centre frequencies of an available frequency band in the TV-UHF band.
Make use of the service to search for frequencies available for wireless microphones within the frequency range 470–694 MHz of the terrestrial digital television.