Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Radio regulations kill 5.8GHz for wireless DMX/RDM
Briefingroom on LiveDesignOnline: LumenRadio has canceled the commercial launch of its dual-band 2.4/5.8 GHz “White” platform as recent ETSI regulations have rendered the 5.8GHz band useless for professional wireless DMX and RDM systems. The regulatory environment for radio technology is a fast changing and complex matter. It requires considerable know-how to understand and significant engineering and test resources to ensure compliance. LumenRadio’s engineering staff has worked with government entities such as OFCOM in the UK and The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) to reach clarity on compliance issues relevant to our industry.
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5 comments:
Although it is tough (and expensive) to make adjustments to sound systems, this change seems to be headed in the right direction. Luckily the 2.4/5.8 GHz LumenRadio platform was canceled before launch as it would be unfortunate to buy it then only have the ability to use it in the 2.4GHz capacity. And at this point a number of large developments are being made in sound so to keep up with this technology is expensive as it, the last thing necessary is to buy new equipment that cannot be used.
It's unfortunate how much wireless communications are regulated when it comes to wireless transmission protocols in the entertainment industry. Also, I know that we have lots of problems with the FCC (the wireless microphone frequency re-allocation) but I hadn't really thought about the same issues occurring in Europe. Hopefully the new Cognitive Coexistence protocol will function as well as LumenRadio expects it to.
It is interesting that they found something like this so late in their development of this new wireless DMX. I have worked with the singe band city theatrical wireless DMX equipment and it is rated for 1000' but after working with it, it is only good for up to 100' to 200' if it does not have line of sight. You always had the risk that the one band could drop out. I hope that this time around when they are developing this version of the DMX wireless that they can get a stable band width. Also imagine if they were to come out with this product that does not work, the company would seem like they don’t know what they are doing. Now since they are taking it off the production line they seem like a more reliable company.
Maybe I am completely old school, but I think that some things just should never be wireless. There is a certain security and trust in a system that comes with wires.
But also, I look forward to seeing the results of the Cognitive Coexistence protocol. Perhaps it will find a solution that is "better" than the one we have here with the FCC.
I remember reading that dual band 2.4/5.8 GHz platform was going to change everything about wireless DMX equipment and that the dual band was going to bring a considerable amount of reliability, but now they are saying that 5.8 GHz range is pretty much useless. I'm left to wonder, like Robert, why they only found this out so late in the game and how this could have been prevented or caught sooner. I hope their new plan has them on the right path because I think there's a lot of potential in the wirelescoming s DMX world and would be happy too see the freedom of wirelessness taken full advantage of.
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