Digital on business band?

[gotdigital]

The company I work for is currently interested in going digital. Since they know I am into radios they asked me a question which I wasn't quite sure about. Currently we use very old Kenwood analog UHF radios our channel plan is laid out as follows:

1 451.1875
2 451.2375
The rest of the channels are empty.

My question is... can these frequencies be used in any digital TX format? Be it, P25, Mototrbo, IDAS, NexEdge. ect. Thanks! By the way they will not be used on a repeater but DMO.

[nd5y]

Yes. You can use any of those but you have to modify your license to include the emission designator(s) for whatever modes you will be using.

[n5ims]

Originally Posted by gotdigital

The company I work for is currently interested in going digital. Since they know I am into radios they asked me a question which I wasn't quite sure about. Currently we use very old Kenwood analog UHF radios our channel plan is laid out as follows:

1 451.1875
2 451.2375
The rest of the channels are empty.

My question is... can these frequencies be used in any digital TX format? Be it, P25, Mototrbo, IDAS, NexEdge. ect. Thanks! By the way they will not be used on a repeater but DMO.

You should be able to simply change your license(s) to add the emission code(s) for the digital mode(s) you want to switch to and start using the new digital radios. There's really nothing magic about it.

What problem are you trying to solve moving to digital though? Analog may work better in your situation and is nearly certainly a less costly way to communicate. Going digital will require more costly radios and may reduce your range and readability. There is no regulation requiring digital operation (although some radio shops wanting you to spend more may imply that there is).

[JRayfield]

In almost all cases, MOTOTRBO will provide significantly better range as compared to narrowband analog FM and in conditions of high background noise (around machinery, for example), MOTOTRBO is superior to any analog equipment due to it's ability to drastically reduce transmitted background noise.

John Rayfield, Jr. CETma

Originally Posted by n5ims

You should be able to simply change your license(s) to add the emission code(s) for the digital mode(s) you want to switch to and start using the new digital radios. There's really nothing magic about it.

What problem are you trying to solve moving to digital though? Analog may work better in your situation and is nearly certainly a less costly way to communicate. Going digital will require more costly radios and may reduce your range and readability. There is no regulation requiring digital operation (although some radio shops wanting you to spend more may imply that there is).

[W2NJS]

First question to ask is, "Are you trying to fix something that already works okay?" There is absolutely nothing wrong with a properly adjusted FM system if it does the job you need done. So, what advantages do your people hope to gain by going to a digital system, or is it something they heard about and think might improve their operations?

[cmpsa]

If you still wish to switch to digital...

* 1st pick the mfg & type of digital radios. Once you purchase them, then you will know the emission designator (from the mfg spec sheet).
* 2nd you are required to modify your FCC license adding on the digital emission designator.

We operate a disaster relief organization and have licenses in the public safety & business frequency pool. Our license were analog only (11K0F3E) and we added on P25 digital, which is what we chose to use, so we added on (8K10F1E) which is P25 digital. Other types of digital are different designators.

[bfperez]

Originally Posted by cmpsa

If you still wish to switch to digital...

* 1st pick the mfg & type of digital radios. Once you purchase them, then you will know the emission designator (from the mfg spec sheet).
* 2nd you are required to modify your FCC license adding on the digital emission designator.

We operate a disaster relief organization and have licenses in the public safety & business frequency pool. Our license were analog only (11K0F3E) and we added on P25 digital, which is what we chose to use, so we added on (8K10F1E) which is P25 digital. Other types of digital are different designators.

This is maybe a dumb question, but what stops a licensee from just adding a dozen emission types or all of them?

[cmpsa]

a simple answer, nothing... But it wouldn't make sense to add 10-15 emission designators just for the heck of it (ones you might use & none you may never use).

but here is the "short version list", all that one would need:

Analog-narrowband: 11K0F3E
P25 Digital: 8K10F1E & {data=8K10F1D}
MotoTRBO/Vertex Digital: 7K60FXE & {data=7K60FXD}
Icom IDAS/Kenwood NexEdge Digital: 4K00F1E & {data=4K00F1D}

Voice only - use the above 4 voice ones. If you are planning on data too - then add the 3 data, for a grand total of 7.

Now in order to modify one's FCC business frequency pool license, frequency coordination IS required for adding on any types of digital emissions designators, and there would be a FCC "PALM" $60.00 application modification fee too. Plus business frequency coordinators charges for the coordination services too. Though this modification would have a flat rate charge (regardless of whether you add 1, 3 or 6 more designators onto it).

[Steveradio]

Most bigger radio shops will let you demo the radio, or even have a system you can operate from. was getting quotes abou $20 per radio per month and once my company heard the price per unit was going up they backed out.