Myth:
The Narrowbanding Mandate requires licensees to "go digital" (i.e.
P25; NXDN; MotoTRBO, TETRA)
Myth:
The Narrowbanding Mandate requires licensees to use 6.25 KHz emissions
Myth:
The Narrowbanding Mandate requires licensees to change to a new
frequency or band
Myth:
The Narrowbanding Mandate requires licensees to use trunking
technology
The above claims are false in
the context of any of them actually being required to comply with
the
narrowbanding mandate. They
may, however, be valid OPTIONS for
consideration by
individual
licensees or certain types of radio system user groups (i.e.
Public Safety) when comparing the features, capabilities, benefits
and added value those advanced technology options offer with those
provided by
existing radio systems and/or, in determining
whether present systems still effectively meet a licensees
current and future communications needs and requirements.
It is imperative that licensees thoroughly discuss, analize,
and understand how these OPTIONS may (or may not) be beneficial to
their specific radio system operations. Using the services of
qualified radio communications professionals when planning and
implementing any narrowband migration project is highly
recommended.
Myth:
Wideband licensees may continue to operate on a "secondary user" basis
after 01/01/2013
Not true. ALL Part 90 VHF and UHF two way voice dispatch,
data, SCADA, and private
radio pagingsystems must be operating in a 12.5 KHz narrowband (or
equivalent) mode on or before the 01/01/2013 date unless
and only if a Narrowbanding
Waiver has been issued to the licensee.
Myth:
Everybody must narrowband again by 2017
This myth is inaccurate. This date applies only to
Part 90 Public
Safety 700
MHz systems which
must be operating with 6.25 KHz emissions/equivalency by January 1,
2017. Part 90 VHF (150-174
MHz) orUHF (421-512
MHz) licensees are NOT required to migrate to 6.25 KHz
emissions/equivalency by this or any other date
Myth:
3rd Party narrowbanding "kits" may be used to modify equipment to
comply with the Mandate
No. "To be compliant with the commission's rules, the
radio must be specifically certificated for
narrowband use
under Part 90" (Ira Keltz, deputy chief, FCC's Office of Engineering
and
Technology - http://missioncriticalmag.com/onlyonline.cfm?OnlyOnlineID=147
01/20/2010
and http://missioncriticalmag.com/onlyonline.cfm?OnlyOnlineID=151
02/02/2010)
|
Reality:
Part 90 narrowbanding is NOT optional
Reality: Do
NOT ignore the narrowbanding
compliance date of
January 1, 2013
Reality:
Failure to comply WILL result
in license revocation and/or monetary penalties
Reality:
Narrowbanding is not complete until all subscriber and infrastructure
radios in
a system have been
either replaced or
re-programmed to operate in the narrowband mode. Many
existing radio systems are
still operating in the wide-band mode - do you know
the status of YOUR system?
Reality:
Interference WILL occur
to wideband systems as new narrowband systems are
deployed on narrowband frequencies adjacent to those used by wideband
systems
Reality:
After 01/01/2013, any Part 90 system still operating in the wideband
mode that causes
interference to compliant narrowband
systems will be
subject to several FCC enforcement
actions, including
the immediate shut down of
the offending system
Reality:
Low, potentially distorted, or unintelligible audio or, corrupted
data, WILL occur
between wideband and narrowband devices operating in the
same system
Reality:
Narrowbanding WILL require well-planned
and coordinated implementation strategies
to avoid disruption of normal day-to-day radio communications and
operations
Reality:
After 01/01/2013, all dual-mode
capable 25/12.5 KHz radio
equipment must be operated
only in the 12.5 KHz
narrowband mode
Reality: The
Narrowbanding Mandate does NOT apply
to Low Band (30-50 MHz) 220, 700, 800 or 900
MHz Part
90 systems, nor to FRS, GMRS, MURS, Amateur, Marine VHF, or CB radio
users |
 |
800-982-3905
478-742-0361
|
|