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February 24, 2015
Volume 9, Issue 3
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A Victory for Flathead County
Good for them. Now that the FCC has granted the County’s waiver to use 8 Industrial/Business VHF frequencies to go along with the 20 or so VHF channels they already had, some of which are held in reserve for legacy systems or as backup in case the new P25-based system doesn’t work out for them as expected given coverage challenges, Flathead County, Montana must be the safest county in North America. New York City should be so lucky to have such spectrum assets at its disposal. What EWA is having trouble understanding are FCC statements in the Order that EWA had questioned whether “the Commission should sanction the use of Project 25 technology.” We didn’t ask the FCC to sanction any technology in our opposition to the County’s waiver. We did ask if the FCC had concerns about its nationwide use since the County justified its waiver request for I/B VHF channels on the “coverage difficulties and multipath propagation problems” it experienced in migrating to P-25 in its particular terrain. Aren’t technology advances generally supposed to enhance spectrum efficiency, not increase spectrum demands? Read more from Crosby's Blog |
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800 MHz Interstitial Channels Closer to Reality
The Commission has identified the 809-817/854-862 MHz band (the “800 MHz Mid-Band”) as the primary spectrum location for the opportunity to use 12.5 kHz interstitial channels well suited for a variety of narrowband technologies, subject of course to frequency coordination analyses designed to protect incumbent system operations. If granted, a total of 319 additional voice-grade channels would be potentially made available for use by Public Safety, Business/Industrial, General Category, and high-site Specialized Mobile Radio licensees. More
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MOU Will Address 800 MHz MXed Applications
The LMCC membership, particularly the FCC-certified frequency advisory committees, are in the final stages of developing a Memorandum of Agreement that will accommodate mutually exclusive (MX) applications when the FCC releases for general use perhaps as many as 80 25 kHz channels within the 800 MHz Expansion Band and Guard Bands. More
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Hearing Aid Compatibiligy (HAC)
The LMCC filed Reply Comments in response to the FCC’s Public Notice on wireless hearing aid compatibility (HAC), urging the FCC to retain the carefully considered exemption in the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (“CVAA”) for the non-consumer digital handset devices that are used on private systems. Among other matters, the Public Notice asks whether the HAC rules should be extended to include handsets and customer premise equipment (CPE) used exclusively on private, internal systems such as those operated by public safety, critical infrastructure, and businesses. More
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$10,000 Fine for Interference and Location Violation
Alan Slater, a land mobile licensee in Mehama, Oregon was issued a $10,000 fine for operating an unlicensed 800 MHz frequency which caused interference to the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency. Although Mr. Salter challenged that the frequency violation was unintentional and the location was authorized, the Commission upheld the fine.
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... EWA Interference Mitigation Efforts
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Nasty - Unlicensed Users
For more than a decade a retirement facility located in Florida operated their UHF radio system with virtually no interference issues, until last year when it started to have its communications interrupted. Unable to identify the source of the problem, although they were receiving intelligible voice communications, the retirement facility contacted EWA for assistance. Research revealed that all co-channel licensees within a 50 mile radius of the retirement facility’s transmitter location were properly licensed and complying with FCC rules. More
Not Even in Arkansas
An Arkansas city utility started receiving interference on their VHF frequency so their radio dealer contacted EWA to conduct research to help identify the source of the interference. EWA identified the offending licensee that was providing virtually continuous remote control of farm implements. Licensed for six fixed transmitter locations in Arkansas with VHF mobiles (including remote controlled farm equipment) operating within a 40 km radius of each of those sites, the problem was likely due to the fact that 25 KHz wideband channels were still in use for voice and data purposes well past the January 1, 2013, obligation to cease using wideband systems within the VHF band. More
How Big is This Guy?
A Michigan company that manufactures small gas turbine engines was receiving identifiable voice interference on their UHF radio frequencies. The voice communications were loud and clear and appeared to be taking place within a fitness center. It was so clear in fact that the turbine manufacturer decided to start documenting the conversations. Time and again, they would clearly hear the name of a particular employee of the fitness center being advised to come to the lobby to meet with a member waiting for an appointment. Armed with this information, the company decided to call each of the two local fitness centers asking to speak to that employee. More
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Visit with EWA at these upcoming events to see and hear about exciting new services:
Motorola Channel Partner Expo (CPE)
March 15-17, 2015
Aria, Las Vegas, NV
International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE)
March 18-20, 2015
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Learn more
2015 EDMSSA Spring Meeting
April 21 - May 1, 2015
Hershey Lodge, Hershey, PA
Learn more
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WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT EWA
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“Hello Kristi - EWA Rocks! Thank you for your continued excellent service! We appreciate all you do for HCI!”
Rod Hubbard - HCI Communications, Inc.
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Have you Checked out EWA's LinkedIn Group - Wireless Users Tech Talk?
Join today and share your thoughts and ideas with fellow wireless users and professionals on a range of issues and solutions impacting our industry. We welcome your participation!
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Send Us Your Comments
Members are encouraged to contact EWA with their comments and recommendations regarding the Alliance's services or newsletter content. |
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