Radio microphones i.e. wireless microphones

A radio microphone is a device that is used for wireless transmission of speech or music. Radio microphones include handheld and body-worn radio microphones, as well as in-ear monitors. Radio microphones are used by journalists, at fairs, in studios, theatres, orchestras, film production and karaoke, to name a few.

The technical terms of operation for radio microphones can be found in FICORA Regulation 4. The frequencies technical terms of operation of licence-exempt radio microphones can also be found in FICORA Regulation 15.

In future radio microphones can not use frequencies subject to licence in the 800 MHz band

The current frequencies subject to licence in the 800 MHz band, 790―822 MHz and 854―862 MHz, will be phased out of radio microphone use. In the frequency band licences for radio microphones will only be granted until 31.12.2013. After this date the frequencies will be allocated to wireless broadband networks.

What should users do?

Users should monitor the status of radio microphone licences and frequencies at the FICORA website (www.ficora.fi).

User should also check whether their devices can be tuned into alternative frequency bands. The retailer or importer of devices will also be able to tell weather or not the device can be tuned. If a device cannot be tuned to an alternative frequency band, its use must be discontinued at the point at which the licence can no longer be renewed.

Frequency bands available for radio microphones

The following frequency bands are available for radio microphones:

No radio licence will be needed provided that the user can only choose between the 823―832 MHz and/or 863―865 MHz bands. The user must have no other frequencies available.

The World Radiocommunication Conference of the International Telecommunication Union, ITU, held in February 2012 agreed on allocating the 700 MHz frequency band to wireless broadband systems after 2015. In order to reduce equipment costs FICORA recommends the frequency band 470―694 MHz for radio microphone systems, as far as UHF television frequencies are concerned, until national decisions on future use of the 700 MHz band, and its schedule, has been made.

Radio microphone users select the frequencies to use within the bands 174―230 MHz, 470―694 MHz and 694―789 MHz

Of the frequency bands assigned for radio microphones, 174―230 MHz, 470―694 and 694―789 MHz are common frequencies with digital television networks. The primary use of the bands is for television operations and the secondary use is for radio microphones. This means that the radio microphone use must not cause interference to television reception. The frequency appropriate for radio microphone use is depending on the location. Because of this, radio licences do not assign specific frequencies, but radio microphone users may choose the frequencies themselves. The selection process illustrated below ensures the functionality of radio microphones while protecting the reception of television broadcasts.

Selection of radio microphone frequencies

In order to find a suitable radio microphone frequency, the frequencies allocated to television broadcasting are depicted as channel-specific charts and all the transmitters being used are listed. The television channels 21 and 23 are also used for reporting throughout Finland. Radio microphones may not use the reporter connection frequencies.

As far as UHF television frequencies are concerned FICORA suggests new radio microphone systems to use the band 470―694 MHz.

1. The radio microphone user first uses the document channel maps (in Finnish) to select a frequency that has not been allocated to television broadcasting or reporter connections in the area.
2. After this, the user ensures, using the document list of TV transmitters (in Finnish), that no other television transmitters use the selected frequency in the area.

Two examples of the use of radio microphones

Applying for a radio licence

Use the radio licence application form: lupahakemuslomake [DOT, 85 KB]. (In Finnish)
Radio licence application for short term use [DOT, 88 KB]