Transcript Narrowbanding: What is it and and How Will it Effect Me?

What is Narrowbanding?
 FCC mandated process to require a channel efficiency of 1
voice channel per 12.5 kHz of spectrum for all users operating
between 150-174 and 421-512 MHz.
 Many Public Safety Licensees use 25 kHz (wideband)
channels. Narrowbanding requires users to migrate to 12.5
kHz (narrowband) channels.
 Requires data efficiency of 4800 bps for a 6.25 kHz channel,
or 9600 bps for a 12.5 kHz narrowband channel.
What is the Deadline?
 End of 2010 – At the end of 2010, the FCC will no longer grant
New or MOD Apps for WB operations. In addition, the FCC
will prohibit the manufacture or importation of equipment
that operates on a 25 kHz BW.
 End of 2012– At the end of 2012, all users operating between
150-174 and 421-512 MHz must be operating on a 12.5 kHz
voice channel efficiency, 9600 bps (or equivalent) data rate.
Users who are not NB compliant by this deadline risk
cancellation of their FCC licenses.
Wideband Radio Users
 Users with wideband-only radios in their fleet likely
have associated wideband infrastructure which may
need to be replaced.
 If you have both dual-mode and wideband-only radios
in your fleet, your dual-mode radios are probably
operating in the wideband mode, and will need to be
reprogrammed.
6.25 kHz Bandwidth
 After 2010, all Part 90 transmitters certified by the FCC
must be capable of operating with a channel efficiency
of one voice channel per 6.25 kHz of bandwidth.
 No current FCC deadline for required migration to 6.25
kHz bandwidth.
List of Some Dual-Mode Capable
Radios
Motorola
M/A-COM
E.F. Johnson
Kenwood
APX 7000
M- RK
2600 Series
TK-2140
XTS 5000
M7100 IP
5000 Series
TK-2160
XTS 2500
Mastr III .
5100 Series
TK-2170
XTS 1500
Orion .
51SL Series
TK-2180
XTS 3000
P7100 IP
5300 Series
TK-2200
MTS 2000
Panther 300P
Phantom 501x
TK-2212
Panther 400P
TK-272
Panther 405P
TK-280
APX 7500
Panther 600P
TK-290
XTL 5000
Panther 605P
TK-5210
XTL 2500
Panther 625P
TK-5710
Astro Saber
Saber SI
XTL 1500
MCS 2000
ASTRO Spectra Plus
ASTRO Spectra
Quantar Station/Repeater
TK-7150
TK-7180
TK-730 (G)
TK-760(H)G
TK-790
TK-790(H)
TKR-740
TKR-7400
TKR-750K2
Impact on Coverage
 Transition from wideband to narrowband on an analog
system will result in a reduction in coverage of about 3
dB.
 A coverage analysis will be necessary to insure coverage
reductions will not result in the loss of radio coverage
in key areas, such as portable in-building coverage.
 Increased power or additional transmitter locations
may be required to account for lost coverage.
Coverage Loss Example
Before
After (3dB Loss)
Impact on Data Rates
 Narrowbanding of data systems is intended to
encourage development and use of most efficient data
modulation techniques.
 Users may continue to operate WB as long as they
meet the equivalent efficiency requirements of 4800
bps for a 6.25 kHz channel (19200 bps for a 25 kHz
channel.)
 Equipment utilized in data systems that cannot meet
the FCC’s efficiency requirement will need to be
replaced.
Going Digital
 Digital upgrades are not required as a result of
narrowbanding.
 Many agencies are using the costs associated with the
replacement of non-compliant equipment to build-out
digital systems.
 Many new radios are capable of operating in analog
and digital modes.
Transitional Problems
 Communications between WB & NB radios is possible,
although at a reduced performance.
 Voice quality will be reduced, and data corruption will
increase.
 Radios and equipment must be upgraded expeditiously to
insure minimal cutover time.
Will This Affect
Interoperability?
 Mismatch between WB & NB radios is inevitable
between interoperating agencies.
 Agencies may coordinate their narrowbanding cutover
to insure minimal mismatch time.
 Check with your region’s interoperability committee to
see if plans have been put into place for
narrowbanding.
Interoperability Channels
 While not required, narrowbanding provides a good opportunity to add
InterOp channels to your system.
 Channels immediately adjacent to InterOp channels in the VHF and UHF
bands have already narrowbanded. If you are operating adjacent to an InterOp
channel with a wideband system, then your operations are on a secondary
basis. If you are utilizing an InterOp channel for regular communications, plan
on relocating.
VHF (MHz)
UHF (MHz)
151.1375
453/458.2125
154.4525
453/458.4625
155.7525
453/458.7125
158.7375
453/458.8625
159.4725
Spectrum and Licenses
 All licensed frequencies will remain the same. No
frequency exchange is required.
 FCC licenses must be updated to reflect a narrowband
emission designator. Narrowband emission designators
include 11k0F3E (voice), 11k0F1D (data), and 11k0F2D
(data).
 Updating the emission designator requires frequency
coordination. The coordinators simply add new emissions
designators.
 Channels will be narrowbanded on a one-for-one basis.
How do I Show the FCC That I
am Narrowband Compliant?
 One method the FCC will verify narrowbanding
compliance is through the emission designator on your
FCC licenses.
 The first four digits of the emission designator describe the
bandwidth of the channel. Wideband emission
designators starting with 20K0 or 16K0 must be removed,
and narrowband emissions less than or equal to 11K3 must
be added.
Narrowbanding License
Example
Budgeting
 Replacement equipment represents the most
significant investment in narrowbanding.
 Inventory your system now and determine what
equipment will need to be replaced.
 Add the cost of new radios to your agencies budget
immediately.
 New equipment represents a significant
investment. It may take several years to secure the
necessary resources.
Grant Funding
 No grant funding is available explicitly for
narrowbanding.
 Narrowbanding costs may be piggybacked on other
communications grants such as PSIC, IECGP,
firefighter grants, etc.
 I believe this could fall under Unfunded Government
Mandate.
Summary
 The FCC has required that all users “narrowband” their
VHF and UHF radio systems before the end of 2012.
No new applications or modifications of wideband
licenses will be granted after 2010.
 Equipment not capable of operating in a narrowband
configuration must be replaced. Equipment capable
of operating in both wideband and narrowband
configurations must be programmed to operate in
narrowband mode.
 Start planning now. The deadline is about 3 FY away!
Questions?
Presenter:
Company:
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Ali Shahnami
ACD Telecom, LLC
1268 Upsala Road
Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 302 – 2237
(407) 302 - 2293