PROSOUNDWEB
Want To Know Now?
Sometimes sooner is better than later. by Keith Clark
>>>>>
One OF THe advantages of the Internet is its immediacy in delivering information.
Yet is our desire to know about anything and everything on a “now or sooner
please” basis misplaced? How much does it actually matter that we know instantaneously about, for example, Congress passing a new law that won’t take effect for
months? (Or for that matter, the latest DUI arrest of a developmentally challenged
movie star.)
The short answer is that most of the time it doesn’t matter, but we like to know
about it now anyway. Human nature.
However, the more complete answer is “it depends.” Just as sound system performance can depend upon various factors in play, so too can the value of timely
information.
Case in point: As was well-documented in the April 2009 issue of Live Sound
International, shortly before the long-awaited February deadline for TV stations to
convert to all-digital transmission, Congress voted to extend that deadline to June.
Back in January, and moving forward, ProSound Web.com (PSW) reported this
development as it happened in virtually real time, and I’m fairly sure those paying
attention to our reports are glad they did. Changes on the RF side can have major
implications, in terms of wireless operation, approaches and strategies, as well as
affecting ongoing purchase decisions.
It should also be noted that wireless system manufacturers, Shure in particular, have
done an outstanding job in working tirelessly on behalf of the pro audio industry, and
they have also been generous in providing timely updates for the readers of PSW.
While the final impact of these changes are still ongoing, reasonable conclusions can
be drawn that are instructive. The fact is that wireless systems are a huge factor in the
daily art, science and business of professional audio, and in this particular case,
better to know earlier than late when it
comes to anything significant that could
be (or actually is) happening.
And who knows what challenges the
future will hold? For example, the FCC
has decided that “White Space Devices”
(now known as TV Band Devices or
“TVBD’s”) will co-exist with wireless
microphones in the UHF band between
about 500 and 698 MHz.
The FCC has given wireless mics
priority over TVBD’s, and has even
built some protection into the technical requirements for TVBD’s before
they can be manufactured and sold. If
that direction holds, good and better for
wireless users. But, what if something
happens to alter the situation?
With that in mind, a seasoned RF
professional recently joined the PSW
team to keep a full-time eye on the
ever-evolving wireless and RF situation
and report on it in timely fashion for
the PSW audience. We’ve dubbed this
individual “Mike Wireless,” a nom de
plume he requested in order to avoid the
unnecessary politics that unfortunately
come up all too frequently these days,
particularly when topics of primary concern are in play.
To the point: Mike will be providing
the latest facts as they become available,
and he’ll also be noting possible developments; for example, he’s already spotted an emerging company that appears
to be positioning themselves to be a
marketplace for RF spectrum.
Good to know... And what does it
mean? Stop by PSW on a regular basis
to find out.
Keith Clark is
ProSoundWeb.com’s
Editor, and can be
reached at kclark@
prosoundweb.com.
