Monitoring Event Audio (including Music) on Part 90 System for Security Purposes?

[Spartiate]

Hello, All.

Quick scenario and question: A church has a few simplex UHF frequencies on a license under Part 90. These are used with handheld and mobile transceivers for various parking, safety, and security purposes. There is a main channel and "side channels" with main channel cut-in for emergency priority use. Is it legal and/or common to transmit program audio from the sound board (which will include recorded and live music) on a Part 90 simplex frequency for event management and security monitoring purposes?

Thanks!

Spartiate

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Hello, All.

Quick scenario and question: A church has a few simplex UHF frequencies on a license under Part 90. These are used with handheld and mobile transceivers for various parking, safety, and security purposes. There is a main channel and "side channels" with main channel cut-in for emergency priority use. Is it legal and/or common to transmit program audio from the sound board (which will include recorded and live music) on a Part 90 simplex frequency for event management and security monitoring purposes?

Thanks!

Spartiate

No not legal and No, not common in Part 90.

1) You would be "broadcasting" as that would be primarily a continuous one way transmission having nothing to pertain to the two way communications normally permitted.

2) It would interfere with two way communications of your licensee and others on a shared channel.

Is there a specific reason this is needed? Maybe there is a technical solution such as covert emergency button or other signalling that is permissible in Part 90.

 

[MTS2000des]

See 90.415:

47 CFR § 90.415 - Prohibited uses.

www.law.cornell.edu

§ 90.415 Prohibited uses.

Stations licensed under this part shall not:

(a) Transmit program material of any kind for use in connection with broadcasting;

 

[n5ims]

Why do you need the board audio transmitted to the security folks? It's hard to see a valid security need for it, but easy to see why they might want to listen if they're stuck in the parking lot and can't attend the event. One possible option might be to get a Certified Part-15 Low Power FM Transmitter (and be sure to read up on and understand the restrictions on how to keep them legal, it's very important!). Your range will be limited, but chances are will cover the typical event parking area. I do agree with that site's suggestion to consult a qualified engineer if you do anything beyond placing the device as instructed by the manufacturer. Those folks will also need to carry a portable FM radio to hear the signal, but their part-90 radio use will not be affected at all (unless they have the event audio too loud to hear the security radio).

Some info and equipment leads are here --> https://www.hobbybroadcaster.net/resources/Part-15-transmitters.php

Care should be exercised with any transmitter that exceeds Part 15 power limits, such as in the case of carrier current applications. You should consult a qualified engineer regarding installation of AM carrier current or other transmitter where improper installation could result in operation exceeding Part 15 limits.

 

[Spartiate]

n5ims asked "Why do you need the board audio transmitted to the security folks?"

Situational awareness. This is important for the routine management of operations (not just security), as well as for perception of emergency situations.

RFI-EMI-GUY and MTS2000des both made reference to "broadcasting". My understanding of broadcasting, as it connects with the FCC regs, is a transmission that is intended for the public. There are other examples of one-way continuous transmissions that are not considered as public broadcasting, like wireless microphones, interruptible fold back, etc. So, I still question whether the prohibition in 90.415(a) is applicable.

We have a Part 15 system with earpiece receivers for the hearing impaired. The range is limited to the main building, while various activities and safety/security staff operate on a multi-building campus.

Also, to shared-channel concerns: This would be over a coordinated frequency with no other authorized users in range.

Finally, permissible uses seem pretty broad: §90.405 Permissible communications. (a) Stations licensed under this part may transmit only the following types of communication: ... (2) Communications directly related and necessary to those activities which make the licensee eligible for the station license held under this part.

Our eligibility under 90.35 is declared as "activity coordination" at a church campus.

I do appreciate everyone's input, and do not wish to sound argumentative. I'm just seeking a permissible technical solution to what is certainly a common situation in event management and radio communications.

Thanks!

Spartiate

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

You cannot legally do what you propose under part 90 rules using those UHF frequencies.

"Situational awareness. This is important for the routine management of operations (not just security), as well as for perception of emergency situations. "

You can and probably should equip folks in the chapel with radios and earpieces if this is a concern. Otherwise you can hard wire a hidden emergency switchs like bank tellers have and a radio equipped voice annunciator (Ritron makes these) will alert so that in the event of an unruly heathen, someone can discretely summon a guard.

"We have a Part 15 system with earpiece receivers for the hearing impaired. The range is limited to the main building, while various activities and safety/security staff operate on a multi-building campus. "

That is your best, legal solution. Here are others:

The FCC LPRS will permit many channels in 216 MHz band with up to 100 mw transmitter into a real antenna system (actually better than part 15) You can have multiple transmitters and channels and there are receivers which will scan for a channel.

47 CFR Subpart G - Subpart G—Low Power Radio Service

www.law.cornell.edu

Just some of the many products available:

ListenRF216 - Listen Technologies

Provides better coverage in larger venues

www.listentech.com

Assistive Listening Systems | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H for our huge inventory of Assistive Listening Systems from top brands like TeachLogic, OWI Inc., Williams Sound and Listen Technologies.

www.bhphotovideo.com

There are also 72 MHz systems that operate under Part 74 and part 90, these are used for IFB by broadcasters.

There are also numerous ways to utilize the WIFI system to broadcast to devices or smartphones.

 

[Motoballa]

I've licensed my church, I can say it is certainly not common, at least I've never seen anything like that done or a desire to do anything similar.

We have discrete security roaming the building, outside, and inside watching the sermon. Since we have 3 services they just change out each service so everyone has a chance to watch the sermon. I understand there are some dependencies that may make that not practical in your situation.

I agree with the other contributors here that it is not legal and there are alternatives that are tad bit out of the way but would be legal.

Let us know what you come up with as a solution.

 

[W4WMH]

This won't be the politically correct answer, but a church I've seen do similiar uses a 8X.X low power unlicensed FM transmitter in the church, fed from the soundboard. They use Chinese radios in DMR mode, that will listen to the 8X.X channel, and swap to the correct channel when someone TX's. Seems to work well for the limited conversation. I think they have Part 90 accepted Anytone 878 radios.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Some of the Part 95 LPRS equipment claims 3000 feet range outdoors.

 

[Spartiate]

OK, from the above responses and other research, I have gained an idea for immediate use and a direction for possible expansion of the system.

We already have a 72MHz Part 15 system from Williams Sound. It is located in the sound booth with a little telescoping antenna on top, and was intended for hearing impaired attendees in our meetings. It works very well for this. Some of our security guys have already been using the receivers within a very limited range in the same building, while others do not like having an earpiece in each ear. I will experiment with receiving this FM signal in "dual watch" mode on a cheap multi-band radio I have with that capability. Maybe the range will be better. If so, we may procure additional transceivers to support this mode of monitoring.

The 216MHz transmitter products and capabilities look better than 72MHz. However, I have yet to find a Part 90 type-accepted UHF transceiver that also receives at 216MHz. Any suggestions are welcome.

It seems low VHF is the best option for getting main service audio to staff earpieces. A Part 74 license offers no advantage, as Part 15 already allows the max 50 mW EIRP. This is unlikely to cover our entire campus. In our current cluster of buildings I could deploy a leaky coax system, but we are adding a new building at a distance that would make a coaxial link inconvenient. So, transmitters may be located in each building and fed with streamed audio over an IP network.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Please let me know if I am missing anything.

Spartiate

 

[KevinC]

In my opinion if you are so concerned about security you shouldn't have your security radios trying to monitor 2 things. A lot can happen while your radio isn't monitoring the security frequency. But that's just my opinion.

Get them a dedicated receiver for the service transmitter.

 

[Spartiate]

KevinC, like many people, we are concerned about multiple things simultaneously. If this were entirely unacceptable, we would hire professional security people. We already have two separate radio systems: UHF 2-way radios with earpieces, and a VHF system for hearing impaired monitoring of service audio using earpieces. When a volunteer staff member is monitoring the service in one ear, this audio does not stop when a two-way radio message is heard in the other. Not an ideal situation, especially when another person may be speaking with them face-to-face at that same moment. Using a single radio to monitor multiple frequencies is a pretty common interest on this forum. We have already configured our UHF transceivers to monitor the priority channel the moment squelch breaks on that frequency. If any team member ever needs to focus on a face to face conversation or other task with minimal distraction, switching the single radio to the priority channel will bring mostly peace and quiet in the single earpiece. That's just how we've decided to handle it. That said, I do acknowledge other perspectives, like your own. If you were on our team of volunteers, you would certainly be free to equip yourself as you have described, or to park on the priority channel.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Your best solution would be some hidden panic switches and a wireless transmitter such as these from Ritron. There is even one that relays a remote key fob type panic button. They transmit a prerecorded voice message when activated.

Wireless Solutions | Remote Monitoring | Ritron Quick Talk

Connect up to 4 different sensors or switches to the Ritron QuickTalk™ and record a corresponding voice message for each, when the sensor or switch detects a change, your custom voice message will be immediately transmitted to the appropriate radio-equipped personnel.

www.ritron.com

 

[Giddyuptd]

In my opinion if you are so concerned about security you shouldn't have your security radios trying to monitor 2 things. A lot can happen while your radio isn't monitoring the security frequency. But that's just my opinion.

Get them a dedicated receiver for the service transmitter.

Sounds like he needs to keep security on one setup and have the front desk or a extra body monitoring the feed, and security who will report to guards the activity similar to dispatch.

 

[Spartiate]

RFI-EMI-GUY, I can see how this panic button could be a good solution for specific emergency situations... especially when a given situation has a pre-defined response, and needs to be triggered by someone without a two-way radio, like a speaker at the podium.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

RFI-EMI-GUY, I can see how this panic button could be a good solution for specific emergency situations... especially when a given situation has a pre-defined response, and needs to be triggered by someone without a two-way radio, like a speaker at the podium.

You could potentially have a button for a medical response, another programmed for, security, another for police.