To bolster its cellular Starlink service, SpaceX is reviving a regulatory battle for access to the 2GHz radio spectrum, long held by EchoStar, the parent company of Dish Network and Boost Mobile.On Wednesday, SpaceX filed a new application with the Federal Communications Commission to use the 2GHz spectrum, a year after the agency denied an earlier request for access. What’s changed? New FCC Chair Brendan Carr has signaled he wants to free up more radio spectrum for the commercial sector, including satellite services. Carr also sent a letter to EchoStar co-founder Charles Ergen last week, questioning the company’s control over a "large number of FCC spectrum licenses."On Monday, the FCC asked for public comment about whether EchoStar is effectively using the 2GHz band, which the company has exclusive control over for mobile satellite services. That prompted SpaceX to swoop in and request access to the 2GHz band for its cellular Starlink system, which is launching through T-Mobile in July. (Credit: T-Mobile)The company's application says the 2GHz spectrum “will provide a significant boost” to how SpaceX’s cellular Starlink system can connect users in cellular dead zones. "Granting this application will enable SpaceX to augment its MSS [mobile satellite service] capabilities and leverage its next generation satellite constellation to provide increased capacity, reduced latency, and broader service coverage for mobile users across the United States, including those users underserved or unserved by existing networks,” SpaceX wrote.In the US, the cellular Starlink service currently uses T-Mobile's 1.91 to 1.995GHz bands.Recommended by Our EditorsThe same application also criticizes EchoStar over its control of the 2GHz spectrum for mobile satellite services. SpaceX even went as far as to use its own Starlink satellites to measure radioactivity in the 2GHz spectrum, finding “EchoStar’s activity level is 1% to 5% in the 2000-2020MHz range and 1% to 3% in the 2180- 2200MHz range.”(Credit: SpaceX)The application also claims that EchoStar has no intention of using the 2GHz for a mobile satellite service, citing a comment from EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan during an earnings call last week that suggests. "If I had a satellite today, I would not launch it today," he said. "I would not because the satellite has a life of several years in the LEO system. And if the satellite goes up there, but there are no devices to talk to, what is the point?"As a result, SpaceX tells the FCC: “EchoStar’s inaction is not only a fundamental waste of valuable MSS spectrum, but also an opportunity for other more motivated and capable next-generation satellite system operators to more intensively use the spectrum to provide mobile services to Americans in underserved and unserved areas.”SpaceX's goal is to share the 2GHz spectrum, saying it can do so without generating radio interference. To gain faster access, the application also asks the FCC to waive its normal rules concerning spectrum approval. (Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)EchoStar didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But in response to the FCC’s inquiry, the company is pushing back on concerns about its spectrum use, telling investors it’s still developing a “direct-to-device” satellite system for phones."We are now testing new S-band (2 to 4GHz) services in both North America and Europe, and this year we launched an LEO satellite with several more planned in the coming months,” the company wrote in an SEC filing. In the past, EchoStar has also lobbied the FCC to reject SpaceX’s efforts to “pirate” access to the 2GHz band. “SpaceX’s attack is defamatory and anti-competitive. It is a transparently bad faith attempt to usurp the spectrum rights of a competitor, and the Commission should dismiss it as such,” the company wrote in a separate filing last month.

To stop China from obtaining cutting-edge chips, a US senator is floating the idea of requiring a location-tracking system for Nvidia GPUs, including the GeForce RTX 4090 and 5090.Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) says his Chips Security Act "will prevent American chips from falling into the hands of adversaries like Communist China.”Cotton’s goal is to allow international sales of advanced AI chips from companies like Nvidia and AMD without compromising national security. But those firms may not be in favor of implementing "chip security mechanisms” to help the US detect suspected “smuggling or exploitation” of advanced GPUs. The bill would require GPU makers to "implement location verification, using techniques that are feasible and appropriate” within 180 days of the legislation becoming law. The plan is to use the location tracking to tell if an high-end GPU is sold to other locations outside of the original export license. The same security mechanism could also detect if the GPU had been tampered with to “spoof, manipulate, mislead or circumvent location verification mechanisms or other chip security mechanisms,” the bill says. Cotton’s Chips Security Act would ensnare Nvidia’s top-tier RTX 4090 and the RTX 5090 graphics cards for consumers. That’s because the bill would require the chip security mechanism for products covered under US Export Control Classification Numbers 3A090 and 4A090. Those controls have applied to Nvidia’s enterprise-grade GPUs for AI training, in addition to the RTX 4090, the company revealed in a 2023 SEC filing.Recommended by Our EditorsIn response, Nvidia created downgraded versions of the RTX 4090 and 5090 for the Chinese market to comply with US export controls.In the House, Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) plans to introduce similar legislation, Reuters reports.Cotton's bill suggests the GPU-location tracking system would only apply to advanced chips meant for export outside the country. The senator introduced his legislation as the Trump administration scrapped Biden-era rules designed to curb AI chip exports to certain foreign markets, starting on May 15.“These new requirements would have stifled American innovation and saddled companies with burdensome new regulatory requirements,” the US Commerce Department announced today. “The AI Diffusion Rule also would have undermined US diplomatic relations with dozens of countries by downgrading them to second-tier status.” Instead, the Commerce Department plans on replacing the Biden-era rules with its own regulation in the future. In the meantime, the department says it’s also issued guidance “warning the public about the potential consequences of allowing US AI chips to be used for training and interference of Chinese AI models.”

Wireless mics fail when they rely too much on perfect conditions. BOYAMIC 2 fixes that by making every part of the system self-contained. Each transmitter records on its own. Each receiver controls levels, backups, and signal without needing an app. Noise is filtered in real time. Recording keeps going even if the connection drops. Designer: BOYAMIC There’s no need for a separate recorder or post-edit rescue. The unit handles gain shifts, background interference, and voice clarity without user intervention. Everything shows on screen. Adjustments happen through physical controls. Files are saved directly to internal memory. This system is built to capture clean audio without depending on external gear. It records immediately, adapts instantly, and stores everything without breaking the workflow. Industrial Design and Physical Form Each transmitter is small but solid. It’s 40 millimeters tall with a ridged surface that helps with grip and alignment. The finish reduces glare and makes handling easier. You can clip it or use the built-in magnet. Placement is quick, and it stays put. The record button is recessed, so you won’t hit it by mistake. An LED shows when it’s active. The mic capsule stays exposed but protected, avoiding interference from hands or clothing. Nothing sticks out or gets in the way.   The receiver is built around a screen and a knob. The 1.1-inch display shows battery, signal, gain, and status. The knob adjusts volume and selects settings. It works fast, without touchscreen lag. You can see and feel every change. Connections are spaced cleanly. One side has a USB-C port. The other has a 3.5 mm jack. A plug-in port supports USB-C or Lightning. The mount is fixed and locks into rigs without shifting. The charging case holds two transmitters and one receiver. Each has its own slot with magnetic contacts. Drop them in, close the lid, and they stay in place. LEDs on the case show power levels. There are no loose parts, exposed pins, or extra steps. Every shape and control supports fast setup and clear operation. You can press, turn, mount, and move without second-guessing. The design doesn’t try to be invisible; it stays readable, durable, and direct. Signal Processing and Audio Control BOYAMIC 2 uses onboard AI to separate voice from background noise. The system was trained on over 700,000 real-world sound samples. It filters traffic, crowds, wind, and mechanical hum in real time. Depending on the environment, you can toggle between strong and weak noise reduction. Both modes work directly from the transmitter or through the receiver. The mic uses a 6mm condenser capsule with a 48 kHz sample rate and 24-bit depth. The signal-to-noise ratio reaches 90 dB. Two low-cut filter options, at 75 Hz and 150 Hz, handle low-end rumble. These are effective against HVAC, engine hum, or low vibration. Gain is managed with automatic control. The system boosts quiet voices and pulls back when sound gets too loud. Built-in limiters stop clipping during spikes. A safety track records a second copy at -12 dB for backup. This makes it harder to lose a usable take even when volume jumps suddenly. Each setting is adjustable on screen. You don’t need a mobile app to access basic controls. Everything runs live and updates immediately. There are no delays or sync problems during capture. Recording and Storage Each transmitter records internally without needing the receiver. Files are saved in 32-bit float or 24-bit WAV formats. Internal storage is 8 GB. That gives you about ten hours of float audio or fifteen hours of 24-bit. When full, the system loops and overwrites older files. Recording continues even if the connection drops. Every session is split into timestamped chunks for fast transfer. You can plug the transmitter into any USB-C port and drag the files directly. No software is needed. This setup protects against signal loss, battery drops, or app crashes. The mic stays live, and the recording stays intact. Each transmitter runs for up to nine hours without noise cancellation or recording. With both features on, the runtime is closer to six hours. The receiver runs for about fifteen hours. The charging case holds enough power to recharge all three units twice. The system uses 2.4 GHz digital transmission. Its range can reach up to 300 meters in open areas. With walls or obstacles, it drops to around 60 meters. Latency stays at 25 milliseconds, even at long distances. You get reliable sync and stable audio across open ground or indoor spaces. Charging is handled through the included case or by direct USB-C. Each device takes under two hours to recharge fully. Compatibility and Multi-Device Support The system supports cameras, smartphones, and computers. USB-C and Lightning adapters are included. A 3.5 mm TRS cable connects the receiver to most cameras or mixers. While recording, you can charge your phone through the receiver, which is useful for long mobile shoots. One transmitter can send audio to up to four receivers at once, which helps with multi-angle setups or backup channels. The receiver also supports stereo, mono, and safety track modes. Based on your workflow, you choose how audio is split or merged. Settings can be changed from the receiver screen or through the BOYA app. The app adds firmware updates, custom EQ profiles, and gain presets for different camera brands. But the core controls don’t depend on it.The post BOYAMIC 2 Rebuilds Mobile Audio with AI and Onboard Capture first appeared on Yanko Design.