Wireless microphones—Spectrum for ‘plug and play’ users: Brisbane and surrounds, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast

From 1 January 2015, wireless microphones must not be used in the 694–820 MHz frequency range.

Visit for information about this change.

As a ‘plug and play’ user, this fact sheet provides general advice to help you decide which spectrum you can use for your wireless microphone from 1 January 2015. You are responsible for ensuring that you comply with the regulations.

Choose spectrum and your wireless microphone withcare

There are many different types of wireless microphones available. When choosing a wireless microphone:

use spectrum in the frequency range that is permitted for wireless microphones

this spectrum may be shared with television and radio services and other users, so you must make sure that you don’t cause interference to these services and users

you should understand that you are not protected from interference received from these services and any changes to the regulations—so choose equipment with the widest possible frequency range.

Whether you have an existing device or are buying a new wireless microphone, you need to make sure that it meets Australian requirements and it’s suitable for use after 1 January 2015. You should contact your supplier for technical advice on spectrum and equipment before purchasing new equipment.

Nationally available spectrum

The following spectrum is now available nationally for wireless microphones, no matter where you are in Australia:

520–526 MHz (see Note 3)

1790–1800 MHz.

Frequency ranges 915–928 MHz, 2.400–2.4835 GHz and 5.725–5.875 GHz are also available for wireless microphone use, but they are shared with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

The benefit of using the nationally available spectrum is that you will not cause interference to television and radio services in your area.

Spectrum for ‘plug and play’ users in your area

Due to the high density of television and radio services in the Brisbane area, ‘plug and play’ users need to be extra careful when choosing spectrum suitable for their needs.

The table over the page identifies spectrum that is considered available for wireless microphone users. However, as spectrum availability varies across Brisbane, in some areas it is only possible to indicate whether spectrum could be available for wireless microphone users. In areas that are marked Likely or Possible, contact your supplier for technical advice about your needs, including what spectrum options you may have in your area.

While the table identifies what spectrum is available for wireless microphone users, you must remember that this spectrum is primarily used by radio and television services. You must not cause interference to these services and you are also not protected from any interference received from these services.

The table identifies spectrum options suitable for plug and play users whose requirements can typically be accommodated within one television channel. Depending on the quality of your equipment, one channel can support between six and eight wireless microphones. If you have greater requirements than this, contact your supplier for advice.

Spectrum in the 520-694 MHz range can be used indoors on the condition that no interference is caused to television and radio services. For more information on indoor use, contact your supplier for advice.

Information on spectrum availability at the suburb level and technical resources are available from

Spectrum changes planned for 2014

The table identifies what spectrum could be available for wireless microphone users from 1 January 2015. However, users also need to be aware of the timing of the changes that are planned for the Gold Coast in 2014.

During 2014, television channels are being relocated (or ‘restacked’) in parts of
520–694 MHz.

The restack of television channels in theBrisbane and Sunshine Coast areas are complete. However, the restack in the Gold Coast may affect wireless microphones in Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.

In the Gold Coast, the television channels are scheduled to be restacked in October 2014. With this change, a television channel may be relocated into spectrum you are currently using—this means that your devices may cause interference and you may no longer be able to keep using that spectrum. You are also not protected from any interference received from these services.

Contact your supplier for advice about your equipment, where you are using it and if it will be affected by restack.

Notes:

  1. The channels and frequencies provided in the table will be available from 1January 2015. However, some channels and frequencies may be available before then. For more information, use the ACMA’s online channel finder.
  2. Wireless microphones operate on a shared-spectrum basis with radio and television services. These arrangements can change over time. Wireless microphones users are not protected from such changes and are responsible for ensuring they comply with current regulations.
  3. The frequency range 520–526 MHz is unused by television services and is available Australia-wide. However, the use of this spectrum may change as result of future replanning.
  4. Resources and technical television planning data, are available on

Legend
YES / Available for wireless microphone use.
LIKELY / This frequency is likely to be available for wireless microphone use. However, it is possible that you may receive interference from distant television and radio services in some areas. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs.
POSSIBLE / This frequency is possibly available for wireless microphone use. However, many locations will be prone to receiving interference from television and radio services or causing interference especially when using the wireless microphone outdoors. Seek advice from your supplier to determine whether this frequency is suitable for your needs.
NO / Not available for wireless microphone use.

Available spectrum for wireless microphones from 1 January 2015

Location / Band / VHF / UHF
TV channel / 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 / 27 / 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 / 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 / 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 / 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
Frequency (MHz) / 174–195 209–230 / 520–526
(see
Note 3) / 526–568 / 568–610 / 610–652 / 652–694
Brisbane / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / POSSIBLE
Gold Coast / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Sunshine Coast / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Surrounding areas
Amity Point / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Aratula / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Beachmere / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Beaudesert / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Beerburrum / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Beerwah / NO / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO
Bellara / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Belmont / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Bli Bli / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Black Mountain / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / YES
Bongaree / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Boonah / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Boreen Point / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Bribie Island / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Canungra / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Chambers Flat / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Coominya / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / YES
Coochiemudlo Island / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Cooroibah / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO / YES
D'Aguilar / NO / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO
Dayboro / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Diddillibah / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Doonan / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Donnybrook / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Dunwich / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Eagle Heights / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Elimbah / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Esk / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Eumundi / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Fernvale / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Flaxton / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Forest Glen / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Glass House Mountains / NO / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO
Gleneagle / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Godwin Beach / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Guanaba / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Gympie / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Harrisville / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Jacobs Well / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Jimboomba / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Kalbar / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Kilcoy / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Kilkivan / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / YES
Kokoda Barracks / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Kooralbyn / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Landsborough / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Lower Beechmont / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Lowood / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Macleay, Lamb, Karragarra Islands / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Maleny / NO / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO
Mapleton / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Marburg / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Maroon / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO
Minden Village / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Mount Cotton / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Meldale / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Mooloolah Valley / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Mount Glorious / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Mount Alford / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO
Mount Nebo / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Mount Tamborine / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Nambour / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Ningi / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Palmwoods / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Peachester / NO / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO
Peak Crossing / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO
Pimpama / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Point Lookout / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Rathdowney / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Rochedale / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Rosewood / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO
Russell-Macleay Islands / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Samford / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Sandstone Point / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Springbrook / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Steiglitz / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Tamborine North / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Thagoona / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Toogoolawah / NO / YES / YES / YES / NO / YES
Toorbul / NO / YES / YES / NO / NO / NO
Undullah / NO / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Wamuran / NO / YES / NO / NO / NO / NO
Weyba Downs / YES / YES / NO / YES / NO / NO
Willowbank / NO / YES / YES / YES / YES / YES
Wolffdene / NO / YES / NO / YES / YES / YES
Woodford / NO / YES / NO / NO / YES / YES
Yandina / YES / YES / YES / YES / NO / NO

More information

Contact your supplier about your specific device to find out the most suitable frequency range for your location.

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Last updated July 2014.

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We request attribution as: © Commonwealth of Australia (Australian Communications and Media Authority) 2014. All other rights are reserved.

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