LICENCE-EXEMPT
No licence, more company
Ofcom lets anyone use 173.8–175 MHz, 863–865 MHz and 2400–2483.5 MHz without a licence, but other low-power equipment shares them.
Check a bandWHAT OFCOM SAYS
Every mic needs
its own lane.
A wireless microphone is a small radio transmitter.
PLAN IT before soundcheck
£75 UK Wireless Microphone Licence, one year, applied for online
- Licence-exempt bands
- A UK-wide shared licence
- Co-ordinated by site
- More protection as you move up
Before its signal reaches the mixer, it travels on a radio frequency that other mics, cordless headsets, Wi-Fi and TV may also want. Ofcom sets out three legal ways to use radio mics and in-ear monitors in the UK.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Pick the band,
then the frequency.
Wireless mics and in-ear monitors share the airwaves.
The route you choose sets how protected they are.
SHARED LICENCE
Channel 38, anywhere in the UK
The UK Wireless Microphone Licence covers 606.5–613.5 MHz anywhere in the UK, on a shared, non-protected basis.
See the numbers
CO-ORDINATED
A frequency for this venue
A co-ordinated licence names the exact frequency, location and dates, giving the best protection from other users and TV.
Plan a showGeneral information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.
A QUICK BAND CHECK
Where is your
mic transmitting?
Pick a band or licence to see what Ofcom says about it. The bar shows how much protection from interference that route gives.
Based on Ofcom's licence information pages for wireless microphones and monitors. General information, not legal advice; check Ofcom for current terms.
FOUR STEPS BEFORE THE SHOW
A quieter
soundcheck.
Radio trouble usually shows up at the worst moment. These steps follow what Ofcom's pages say about each route.
Count your channels
Licence-exempt bands typically hold 3 or 4 mics together. A bigger show may need channel 38 or co-ordinated frequencies.
Check what else is nearby
At 2.4 GHz and 863–865 MHz you share the air with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cordless headsets and more.
Use a frequency plan
In channel 38, Ofcom's 10 channel plan is designed so every frequency can work in the same place.
Check older kit
Since 1 May 2020, 703 to 790 MHz has not been available for this use after the 700 MHz band was cleared for mobile services.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A licence costs less
than a dropout.
One figure on the shared licence fee,
one on how many mics fit channel 38.
£75
UK Wireless Microphone Licence, one year, applied for online
A two-year UHF licence online is £135. Applying through the office costs £85 for one year or £155 for two.
FEES · OFCOM
10
Mics in Ofcom's suggested channel 38 plan
The licence does not fix spot frequencies, but Ofcom's 10 channel plan lets all ten operate in the same location without harmful interaction. Users and manufacturers can devise their own plans.
CHANNEL 38 · OFCOM
Ofcom says guard bands at each end of channel 38 help avoid interference with services in channels 37 and 39 and allow free-roaming use throughout the UK.
THE TV NEIGHBOURS
Sharing with
television.
Ofcom says co-ordinated frequencies between 470 and 790 MHz are shared with TV broadcasting on the understanding that households' TV reception is not affected, so availability changes across the country.
Ofcom has also opened parts of 960 to 1154 MHz, shared with aeronautical systems and worked out with the Civil Aviation Authority, to low-power wireless mics and in-ear monitors on a co-ordinated basis.
Questions
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence for a wireless microphone?
Not in the licence-exempt ranges: Ofcom lists 173.8–175 MHz, 863–865 MHz and 2400–2483.5 MHz, subject to the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2006. Ofcom's other two routes, shared and co-ordinated frequencies, are licensed.
What is channel 38?
A UHF range of 606.5–613.5 MHz that the UK Wireless Microphone Licence lets you use anywhere in the UK, shared with other licensees on a non-protected basis.
How much is a wireless microphone licence?
Ofcom lists £75 for one year or £135 for two years (UHF) when applied for online, and £85 or £155 through an office application.
Why do licence-exempt mics sometimes drop out?
Ofcom notes that the licence-exempt ranges are also used by other low-power equipment, so they can be subject to interference.
Can I still use mics tuned to 700 MHz?
Ofcom says that from 1 May 2020 the 703 to 790 MHz band is no longer available for this use, because it was cleared for new mobile services.
Where the facts come from
Updated