FCC Itinerant Licensing

[radioman2001]

I have searched hi and low here and at numerous other radio sites looking for specific information on how to self FCC license business itinerant frequencies. I have done regular licenses all the time, but havn't licensed an itinterant in over 35 years. I am not looking to have to pay for something I can do myself, the FCC website is useless for information on itinerants, and the website for Licensing Assistance Office (LAO) that has listed by others doesn't exist anymore. Paying someone $60.00 minimum to file a piece of paper in not what I have in mind.
Anyone done one recently who can give a step by step procedure. I already have a FRN and FCC access, or will I have to file a Form 601 by mail.

 

[ecps92]

If I recall [and that was 20+ yrs ago] even the Itinerants had to go thru a Coordinator.
Back then it was NABER

I have searched hi and low here and at numerous other radio sites looking for specific information on how to self FCC license business itinerant frequencies. I have done regular licenses all the time, but havn't licensed an itinterant in over 35 years. I am not looking to have to pay for something I can do myself, the FCC website is useless for information on itinerants, and the website for Licensing Assistance Office (LAO) that has listed by others doesn't exist anymore. Paying someone $60.00 minimum to file a piece of paper in not what I have in mind.
Anyone done one recently who can give a step by step procedure. I already have a FRN and FCC access, or will I have to file a Form 601 by mail.

 

[W2NJS]

Itinerants do not require coordination. How can you coordinate a channel or channels that are good for use nationwide? Been there and done that. Used LAO because my company was paying for it. You can phone them in Gettysburg and ask questions; they're still there.

 

[nd5y]

Do some reverse engineering.
Go to the FCC ULS Advanced Application search web site Application Search - Advanced Application Search
Under Application Detail select:
Service Group = Part 90-Land Mobile-Site Based
Radio Service Code = IG - Industrial Business Pool Conventional
Select a date range (the last year will limit the number of returns and work faster)
Click the Geosearch button at the bottom right of the page.

On the next page for Geographic Search Criteria check:
Include Nationwide Area of Operations
Include Applications with a Mobile Area of Operations
Select a state and county
enter a frequency like 151.625 or 464.500 (intinerant only frequency)
click Search

That will return everybody who is licensed for that frequency in that county including all statewide and nationwide licensees for that frequency.

The search results returns file numbers for each application. You can look at them and see how they filled out their 601s.

I don't know what the coordination reqirements are but I looked a a few applications and they all had the frequency coordinator listed on the "Service Specific" tab.

 

[stmills]

Coordination is not required, however the coordinators will be happy to take your money if you ask them. Here is a link to a an itinerant that was issused earlier this year as a new license and if you look at the application you will see the coordinator is blank.ULS License - Industrial/Business Pool, Conventional License - WQOS669 - Nebben, Denise

CFR-2010 title 47-vol5-part 90
§ 90.138 Applications for itinerant frequencies. An application for authority to conduct an itinerant operation in the Industrial/Business Pool must be restricted to use of itinerant frequencies or other frequencies not designated for permanent use and need not be accompanied by evidence of frequency coordination. Users should be aware that no interference protection is provided from other itinerant operations.

Full power itinerent Frequencies: - you would need to choose an area of operation : ie citywide, countywide, statewide, or nationwide.
451.8000
451.80625
451.8125
451.81875
456.8000
456.80625
456.8125
456.81875
464.5000
464.5500
469.5000
469.5500

Low Power itinerent frequencies (per 47.90.267)
(e) Group C Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in
Group C are available nationwide for non-coordinated itinerant use as follows.
(1) Group C frequencies are available for voice and non-voice operations on a co-primary basis. Only mobile operations will be authorized on Group C
frequencies. Stations may operate at fixed locations for a temporary period
of time. No stations operating at a permanent fixed location will be authorized on Group C frequencies.
(2) Operation on these frequencies is limited to 6 watts effective radiated
power for fixed or mobile units and 2 watts ERP for portable units. Stations
operating at fixed locations for a temporary period of time will be limited to
an antenna height of 7 meters (20 feet) above ground.
(3) The Industrial/Business Pool Group C Low Power Frequencies are as
follows:
461/466.03125 461/466.0375 461/466.04375 461/466.05625 461/466.0625 461/466.06875 461/466.08125 461/466.0875 461/466.09375 461/466.10625 461/466.1125 461/466.11875 461/466.13125 461/466.1375 461/466.14375 461/466.15625 461/466.1625 461/466.16875 461/466.18125 461/466.1875 461/466.19375 461/466.20625 461/466.2125 461/466.21875 461/466.23125 461/466.2375 461/466.24375 461/466.25625 461/466.2625 461/466.26875 461/466.28125 461/466.2875 461/466.29375 461/466.30625 461/466.3125 461/466.31875 461/466.33125 461/466.3375 461/466.34375 461/466.35625 461/466.3625 461/466.36875 462.7625 (unpaired) 462.7875 (unpaired) 462.8125 (unpaired) 462.8375 (unpaired) 462/467.8625 462/467.8875 462/467.9125 464/469.48125 464/469.4875 464/469.5125 464/469.51875 464/469.53125 464/469.5375 464/469.5625 464/469.56875

 

[cabletech]

The biggest thing you need to remember about using unlicensed itinerent frequency's are:
A) that you will have cochannel operations
B) 6 watts max for mobiles and 2 watts max for portables.


If you license itinerent frequency's, then you can go 10 watts for mobiles and 4 watts for portables.

Any coordinator group can do this for you.

I just did four sets of license's that included itinerent frequencys and 2 have been approved and returned with a cost of $300.00, had a total of 25 frequency's with 15 itinerents on each license

 

[Mtnrider]

I have a Itinerant license and Have repeaters,bases mobiles licensed a lot higher power than 10 watts and only got the license a few years ago. Theres Highband,low band and UHF freqs available. The license i have is a mix of high and uhf and i have a new list of prices it will cost 260.00 the way i read it for a 10 year license

 

[Elighting]

So am I reading correctly, that you can use the Itinerant only frequencies, without a license, just abide by the wattage restrictions?

I have a local business that does not have a licence, and I am trying to get them one.

They use 2 watt Kenwood's on simplex. So they would legal on the unlicensed part, if I'm reading correctly.

They don't mind getting a license, but if they qualify for not having to get one, then that would be better. They still need to go narrowband, I want to get licneses taken care of before narrowband, in case of frequency change.

Jordan.

 

[stmills]

License is required from the FCC, coordination from a frequency coordinator is not required.

 

[nd5y]

So am I reading correctly, that you can use the Itinerant only frequencies, without a license, just abide by the wattage restrictions?

No. You need a license for them.
The only two way radio services that don't require licensing are MURS, FRS and CB.

A business could also rent or lease radios from a service provider who would hold the license.

 

[rapidcharger]

So am I reading correctly, that you can use the Itinerant only frequencies, without a license, just abide by the wattage restrictions?

I have a local business that does not have a licence, and I am trying to get them one.

They use 2 watt Kenwood's on simplex. So they would legal on the unlicensed part, if I'm reading correctly.

They don't mind getting a license, but if they qualify for not having to get one, then that would be better. They still need to go narrowband, I want to get licneses taken care of before narrowband, in case of frequency change.

Jordan.

If it is a local business using the radios in the same place day after day, year after year, then they should apply for a license and have a frequency(ies) coordinated and assigned. The itinerant frequencies are meant for itinerant use. That's not to say you can't use them or use murs but those are shared channels and they are shared potentially with a lot of other users.

As was already pointed out, you need a license to use the itinerant channels.
You have to go narrowband no matter what in the business pool.

 

[Elighting]

Ok, that was what I was thinking. Just making sure. I have never done a license before, They use itenerant frequencies now, I just want to make them legal as cheap as possble.

Am I better off just to pay the $60.00 plus FCC fees to get the license, or is it really not that hard for a non-coordinated license? They use 2 frequencies right now, I am assuming that I can request certain frequencies?

Jordan,

 

[rapidcharger]

Ok, that was what I was thinking. Just making sure. I have never done a license before, They use itenerant frequencies now, I just want to make them legal as cheap as possble.

Am I better off just to pay the $60.00 plus FCC fees to get the license, or is it really not that hard for a non-coordinated license? They use 2 frequencies right now, I am assuming that I can request certain frequencies?

Jordan,

Are you buying the business a license as a gift or something or is it your business?

The intinerant freqs, and there are about 3 on UHF and 5 on VHF, each have restrictions and limitations as outlined in Part 90. So look through them and see which ones you can use. At only 2 watts, the only restriction that comes to mind are geographic restrictions that a couple of the frequencies have. Then listen to those frequencies and make sure they are clear and do not have interference. Keep in mind, they could have interference at any time without warning. On one particular channel in my area that is itinerant, the main user is a fleet of cement trucks that use the channel for their car-to-car communications even though that channel was probably set up for job site communications only and it's hard to share that channel with them using their high powered mobiles on it despite using coded squelch. And now that very same frequency has a licensed and coordinated user on a splinter frequency about 2.5 khz away from it (an EMS) that is audible over that frequency just as if it was on the frequency.

It seems like many people are confusing the business radios like they sell at costco that come with about 30 different preset frequencies. Those are not necessarily itinerant frequencies and in fact, most, if not all of them are not itinerant. You can't just go buy those at costco, mail in an application and start using them when you get your license. It's not GMRS.
You still have to get coordinated for the frequencies that those use.
You can request the frequencies that are in there but you have to get with a coordinator that will agree to that and pay their fee (in addition to the license fee). If you don't want to do that, you'll be limited to the few itinerant channels or perhaps MURS, which, MURS is actually more quiet and usable in my area than the itins. You might also look at some of the business grade FRS radios that are out there. I believe Icom makes one that will hold up to the rigors of every day use. Of course, you'll be sharing your frequency with singing 5-year-olds but that's keeping it legal for less.

 

[SargeUSMC]

FRS/MURS/Itinerant

Holycrap Batman, this is confusing..........If I search for MURS freqs, or FRS freqs, or Itinerant freqs, I get lists of freqs. If I walk in to a store and buy any of these throw away radios, like a Mot XTN or RDX, I can pick from a list of pre-programmed frequencies, set them up to talk to each other and not need a license, yes? But I can't take these same frequencies and put them into other radios without licensing them, why? Power output?

I can use MURS or FRS frequencies without a license, yes? Are there restrictions to their use as to power output, bandwith and modulation? Can I drop DMR traffic on a MURS channel?

 

[WB4CS]

Holycrap Batman, this is confusing..........If I search for MURS freqs, or FRS freqs, or Itinerant freqs, I get lists of freqs. If I walk in to a store and buy any of these throw away radios, like a Mot XTN or RDX, I can pick from a list of pre-programmed frequencies, set them up to talk to each other and not need a license, yes? But I can't take these same frequencies and put them into other radios without licensing them, why? Power output?

I can use MURS or FRS frequencies without a license, yes? Are there restrictions to their use as to power output, bandwith and modulation? Can I drop DMR traffic on a MURS channel?

I would recommend reading up on the rules for each license free radio service. That will give you an idea of why certain radios can be used for only certain frequencies. Also, GMRS is licensed while FRS and MURS is not.

But to answer your questions, some of it has to do with power restrictions. MURS is 2W and FRS is 0.5W. Also a radio must be FCC certified for a certain radio service, Part 95 for MURS, GMRS, and FRS. Part 90 for commercial, public safety, and I believe itinerant as well. Certain radio services allow or prohibit certain modes/modulation.

MURS: Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS) | FCC.gov
GMRS: General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) | FCC.gov
FRS: Family Radio Service (FRS) | FCC.gov

 

[stmills]

The throw away business band radios- Motorola XTN, RDX, Kenwood XLS, Protalk, etc operate on frequencies that require FCC licensing to operate legally.
MURS and FRS do not require an individual to obtain a license, like CB they are licensed by fcc rule.

 

[SCPD]

The throw away business band radios- Motorola XTN, RDX, Kenwood XLS, Protalk, etc operate on frequencies that require FCC licensing to operate legally.
MURS and FRS do not require an individual to obtain a license, like CB they are licensed by fcc rule.

Correction: the RDX radios operate on MURS as they are in use at wal-mart and do not need a license to use the RADIOS.

 

[rapidcharger]

Holycrap Batman, this is confusing..........If I search for MURS freqs, or FRS freqs, or Itinerant freqs, I get lists of freqs. If I walk in to a store and buy any of these throw away radios, like a Mot XTN or RDX, I can pick from a list of pre-programmed frequencies, set them up to talk to each other and not need a license, yes? )))

No.
If they operate on business pool frequencies, it requires a license.
The term "itinerant" is thrown around a lot and often inaccurately.

Itinerant means you operate at varying locations for unspecified periods of time. There are several frequencies set up in the business pool for intinerant operation and they still require licensing. They don't require coordination but they do require licensing.
There are only a handful of those channels. The business band radios they sell at costco, bj's and etc, operate on business frequencies that are not itinerant and do require licensing and coordination.

One could also operate on GMRS and MURS and FRS in an itinerant fashion. Similarly, those are shared, uncoordinated channels and you are likely to encounter many other users there that could adversely effect how well you can communicate.

(((But I can't take these same frequencies and put them into other radios without licensing them, why? Power output?)))

You may be able to. Many frequencies have limitations on power and geographic use.

(((I can use MURS or FRS frequencies without a license, yes? Are there restrictions to their use as to power output, bandwith and modulation? Can I drop DMR traffic on a MURS channel?

There are many rules and restrictions for MURS and FRS. For starters, you have to use specific MURS or FRS radios. I am not aware of any digital FRS radios and the DMR radios that are out there are not compliant

The throw away business band radios- Motorola XTN, RDX, Kenwood XLS, Protalk, etc operate on frequencies that require FCC licensing to operate legally.
MURS and FRS do not require an individual to obtain a license, like CB they are licensed by fcc rule.

^^^ this! ^^^

 

[stmills]

The RDX series is a business line of radios. There are VHF and uhf models, the uhf - rdu- can operate on 89 frequencies that require fcc licensing, the VHF rdv- operate on 27 frequencies, 5 MURS, and 22 that require fcc licensing. The RDM is the MURS only series of VHF radios.

 

[SCPD]

No.
If they operate on business pool frequencies, it requires a license.
The term "itinerant" is thrown around a lot and often inaccurately.

Itinerant means you operate at varying locations for unspecified periods of time. There are several frequencies set up in the business pool for intinerant operation and they still require licensing. They don't require coordination but they do require licensing.
There are only a handful of those channels. The business band radios they sell at costco, bj's and etc, operate on business frequencies that are not itinerant and do require licensing and coordination.

One could also operate on GMRS and MURS and FRS in an itinerant fashion. Similarly, those are shared, uncoordinated channels and you are likely to encounter many other users there that could adversely effect how well you can communicate.



You may be able to. Many frequencies have limitations on power and geographic use.


There are many rules and restrictions for MURS and FRS. For starters, you have to use specific MURS or FRS radios. I am not aware of any digital FRS radios and the DMR radios that are out there are not compliant



^^^ this! ^^^

First off. The Motorola Radios mentioned do not need a license to use. Secondly, you don't need a license to use the radios on MURS.

As far as I know from looking at the FCC MURS page, there are no itinerant MURS freqs.