Wireless Solutions Center - Tips for Digital Migration
The Enterprise Wireless Solutions Center® assists buyers to identify and access sources for new wireless technologies, and to secure answers about complex spectrum projects. Recent inquiries have included county government agency and a business enterprise, both of which were migrating from analog to digital systems. To assist others who may have similar questions about migrating to a digital wireless system, please review the following helpful links from two Wireless Solutions Center vendors about migration strategies.
Migrate your analog system to digital (Icom America Inc.)
Analog to Digital Migration (Kenwood USA)
More information about other technologies and answers can be found on the Wireless Solutions Center by clicking the “Find a Solution” button on the home page.
But I’ve Been Good!
Gila Electronics Inc. was issued a fine in the amount of $3,200 for operating their licensed fixed point-to-point microwave station at an unauthorized location and for “providing a carrier service not in accordance with the rules applicable to its particular radio service.” The actual location of the station and that reported under WNTB570 indicated a 15 mile error in coordinates. Further, Gila Electronics was providing a private carrier service for which they were not currently authorized. The FCC reduced the forfeiture from $4,000 to $3,200 noting that Gila Electronics had not received any violations over the past twenty years. Forfeiture Order
Category: Enforcement CornerAmen Brother!
After receiving a monetary forfeiture from the FCC for operating an unlicensed radio transmitter on frequency 95.9 MHz from his business location in Miami, Florida, Durrant Clarke responded that while he had control of his physical space, “Brother Gary” was the party spreading “the word of God” and had placed the radio equipment at his business. Notwithstanding Mr. Clarke’s claim that he “had no partaking in any illegal acts,” the FCC’s view differed somewhat and noted that Mr. Clarke knowingly allowed someone to place equipment at his business, operated the equipment on Brother Gary’s behalf, and as such, consciously committed illegal acts. A reduced forfeiture amount was issued in the amount of $1,000 due to Mr. Clarke’s inability to pay. Forfeiture Order
FCC Request Guidance on Narrowbanding Waivers
The FCC has requested public assistance in evaluating twenty-one separate public safety requests for waiver of the January 1, 2013, narrowbanding deadline. Of interest, the Tennessee Highway Patrol asked for an additional 3 years; New York City Transit 3.5 years, the Pennsylvania State Police 2 years; and Ocean County, New Jersey an additional 5 years (!) to comply. There seems to be some inconsistencies with the amount of time relief necessary that may be attributable to the availability of technical assistance and/or the availability of necessary funding. Public Notice
Category: In the newsATS Cites Compliance Difficulty in Waiver Request
Arguing that licensing its numerous customer locations throughout its nationwide service area as permanent base stations would be “administratively cumbersome for it and its frequency coordinators”, American Time & Signal Company (ATS) seeks a waiver of the definition of a mobile station necessary to license fixed transmitters with ERP levels as much as 40 watts, as mobile units under a station class code of MO6. In its Public Notice, the FCC requested comments regarding the necessity of providing primary spectrum protection to such operations. Comments are due on February 22 with Replies on March 5. Public Notice
Public Safety VHF TDMA Systems Beware
EWA is not quite sure whether one or all four of the FCC’s public safety frequency advisory committees are on board with this coordination policy, but we know that at least one has informed EWA that it will not certify applications that specify a fixed transmitter within the 150-174 MHz band using a 7K60FXE/D/W emission designator in excess of 10 watts ERP pending further testing. EWA is not quite sure how this informal policy will be enforced, or when and by whom tests will be conducted to address interference concerns. The VHF band does pose some difficult spectrum management issues given that it was established decades ago for simplex, not duplex system operations. Identifying suitable paired frequencies in the VHF band, especially for exclusive public safety operations, has proven to be a daunting process.
Category: In the newsLight Squared Petition Ruling Moves One Step Closer
In 2011, LightSquared requested the Commission to “resolve the regulatory status” of commercial Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, to the extent their operations may be impaired by the ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) of LightSquared’s licensed operations in the 1524-1559 MHz Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) band. LightSquared has requested specific declarations designed to establish that commercial GPS devices are not entitled to interference protection from LightSquared’s operations, as long as those operations occur within the technical parameters prescribed by rule and Commission Order. The U.S. GPS Industry Council (USGIC) previously requested that the Commission issue a statement noting that the GPS community is not required to share responsibility for resolving interference issues with MSS ATC providers like LightSquared. Their petition, which is still pending, contends that MSS licensees providing ATC service are required to protect GPS receivers from interference caused by such terrestrial operations, and that the Commission has declared that the MSS licensees are obligated to resolve harmful interference. Comments are due on February 27th. Public Notice
Category: In the newsState of Maine v. AAR
You just knew it was inevitable. Frustrated by a “lack of support” from the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the State of Maine has filed eighteen applications and a waiver request seeking authority to operate trunked land mobile facilities on VHF channels which are exclusively coordinated by the AAR, but not exclusively allocated for use by railroads. In its request, Maine reports that in response to repeated requests for concurrence, AAR indicated that it would oppose any request to coordinate these frequencies for public safety use. Maine has countered that AAR’s rejection of its request for concurrence is “grossly inadequate”, and alleges that the AAR made no effort to coordinate Maine’s applications or to verify the interference potential of Maine’s proposed use of railroad channels. Maine also notes that the state has very limited railroad service within its borders and none of the Class I railroads operate track (or are building any for that matter) within the State.
In its request for comment, the FCC posed some very specific questions about the future of railroad operations within the State of Maine and even asked whether the State of Maine would be able to operate its channels on a shared basis. One may assume that this question is a not so indirect query to both AAR and the State, since neither appears willing to share at all at this point. If the State believes the prospects for future railroad operations are non-existent, then perhaps they should agree to share with a party that may never show up. They lose nothing. This matter has EWA’s attention for a number of reasons, and EWA will be filing comments on February 13. Public Notice