Rescue Squad Busted by FCC on Mototrbo.

[rr60]

Here is a good reason for you Public Safety folks not listen to your salesperson
if they say do not worry about your license when making a change to Mototrbo.

I am told this is what happened to this rescue squad in Eastern Pa.

http://transition.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-314682A1.html

 

[gewecke]

Nice! We have un-licensed users here using trbo on UHF set up by a service,lol!

73,
n9zas

 

[KB1UAM]

I didn't read anything mentioned about mototrbo, I am in a public safety department and my agency uses trbo for day to day operations. What I read is that that company wasn't transimitting their call sign at all. So I understand why they would be in violation. Also that station was causing harmful interference. Maybe that is the use of mototrbo in there

 

[W2NJS]

Come on, people! Take the time to actually READ what the FCC wrote to this licensee:
1. They failed to identify their station as required.
2. They stepped on other people using the frequency.
3. They used a mode of transmission for which they are not licensed.
Any one of which could get you cited for a violation.

And, as far as I can see, there's nothing in the writeup about UHF.

 

[rr60]

Read Again

47 C.F.R. S: 1.903(a): "Stations in the Wireless Radio Services must
be used and operated only in accordance with the rules applicable to
their particular service as set forth in this title and with a valid
authorization granted by the Commission under the provisions of this
part, except as specified in paragraph (b) of this section." At the
time of inspection, Trevose was transmitting narrowband digital
emissions on the frequency 152.2925 MHz using a Motorola Mototrbo
transmitter. The license for station WQKF612 only authorizes FM
analog telephony emissions (F3E) on the frequency 152.2925 MHz.

 

[KB1UAM]

Oops sorry didn't even see that (fe3) now I see it lol.

 

[902]

I didn't read anything mentioned about mototrbo, I am in a public safety department and my agency uses trbo for day to day operations. What I read is that that company wasn't transimitting their call sign at all. So I understand why they would be in violation. Also that station was causing harmful interference. Maybe that is the use of mototrbo in there

Look at 2.c. The problem is that their license (a business license, not a public safety license) authorizes ONLY 11K2F3E emission. Period. When implementing something another modulation scheme, the license MUST be revised to include that emission. In this case, 7K60FXE for voice and imbedded incidental data (unit ID, emergency status indication, etc.) in both TDM slots, and 7K60FXD for non-incidental data in one of the TDM slots, like SCADA, AVL, etc.

Think about it this way: Trevose Heights' license is like having a regular driver's license. Then they go to work as a school bus driver and didn't get CDL with passenger endorsement. Is that a clearer illustration? They did something different and did not make the needed modifications to their license. Yes, they had a license for analog, but they DID NOT have a license for any digital technology. And, apparently, their radio shop did not program up their CWID, which may have required them to be "located."

Now, they can run full power and have 7K60FXD on a VHF 90.35 frequency as an IG licensee. IF they licensed as a PW licensee/operated on a 90.20 frequency, they would have to reduce their digital power by 3 dB (in this case, no greater than 150 Watts, although they would never be coordinated that much power on a 90.20 frequency), and would only be allowed 7K60FXE with a channel occupancy that does not exceed normal land mobile radio airtime. Historically, interference from this kind of digital technology has included a very high channel occupancy because of automatic vehicle location polling and refresh rates, long hang times, and so on.

Bottom line: you cannot implement another technology like this without changing your license first.