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Wireless airspace management

Talking a while back to my buddy Victor he was updating me on the RFR being used for a NY production.  Turns out it was working great until the audio guys showed up, installed their own personal wireless network and absorbed some of the last few free channels available.

I facetiously asked how many production meetings discussed wireless airspace usage knowing already the answer would be none.  The problem to me seems to be that no one ever manages the airspace as it can't be seen and wireless solutions from Best Buy are cheap and easy to configure.

My guess is that during production meetings there is discussion about backstage space and who will occupy what area with which item.  The same must be true for the fly space, booth space and seating areas.  Why not airspace?

More technology to adapt to I'm sure.  Perhaps we can get people to start planning this invisible resource in the near future.  Out of sight does not mean out of mind.

Published Friday, July 11, 2008 3:42 PM by dnorth

Comments

# re: Wireless airspace management

Not a totally new or foreign concept as the noise boys have been coordinating their wireless mic frequencies for years.

I just had this issue with my the Airport in my MacBook.  The AppleStore Mac Genius told me most off the shelf routers default to channel 6, and hardly anyone ever changes them.  He also told me the MacBookPro has a stronger antenna than the MacBook, which is why I was having problems and my roommate wasn't.

I wonder if 02/17/2009 will have any affect on this?  I know it's already been a pain in my neck with the converter boxes and such.

Friday, July 11, 2008 5:23 PM by derekleffew

# re: Wireless airspace management

This is currently a really big issue in the UK, as the UK analogue television transmissions are turned off.

OFCOM (the Government dept in charge of radio frequencies) wants to sell pretty much all the the airspace thus released to private companies - without really considering the other users that currently exist.

The JFMG (http://www.jfmg.co.uk) has been campaigning for some time to try to ensure that theatres, television studios and other entertainment will still have reasonably-priced access to frequencies.

Thankfully, OFCOM appear to have relaxed their 'sell everything' stance, but it's still important for UK users to keep lobbying to ensure a reasonable amount of space remains at a price such events can afford.

Saturday, July 12, 2008 7:31 AM by Richard
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