Why does Google have UHF repeaters?

[seligman]

I noticed that Google has licenses all over the place, in very random locations. I checked some of the addresses they provide - sometimes the satellite photos show a rural area, with a trailer, no office building in sight.

Other locations have office buildings, but the tenant (as far as I can tell) is not Google.

The freqs are in the 450 and 460 MHz range, with lots of repeater sites (FB2 class).

Some locations:
Thornton, CO
Lenoir, NC
Moncks Corner, SC
Pryor, OK
Austell, GA
Kirkland, WA
Ann Arbor, MI
The Dalles, OR

Any guesses?

 

[rvictor]

Maybe to coordinate the taking of ground level photos for Google Earth or to upload the data from the mobile units that take such photos. This could be consistent with the trailers moving from place to place as they complete one area and move to another.

Just a guess. No actual knowledge.

Dick

 

[brandon]

The database also lists a Google LTR system at their Mountain View HQ
Scanner Frequencies: Google Trunking System, Mountain View, California

I don't know if its even active but would love to know. It would be interesting to monitor them via ScanGoogle.com

 

[BaLa]

Maybe to coordinate the taking of ground level photos for Google Earth or to upload the data from the mobile units that take such photos. This could be consistent with the trailers moving from place to place as they complete one area and move to another.

Just a guess. No actual knowledge.

Dick

My Brother in Law and Mom used to actually do just that.
Basically they drove a Car with a big expensive camera on it..
It had a GPS in it, and a map of the area also having the area they already drove in highlighted.
They got a Box of HDDs every couple of days. And replaced the HDD and sent the 'old/used' ones back to Google when the box was full.

 

[icom1020]

The Dalles OR location is a Google data center. I believe they are licensed for motoTrbo.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/14/technology/14search.html

 

[seligman]

Like an idiot, I forgot to link to Google's licenses. I think I exaggerated "all over the place" - they have these repeaters in 15 to 20 locations, spread out all over the USA. Some locations have multiple repeaters. At least one of the licenses indicates 7K60FXE for MotoTRBO digital.

I believe all of the mobile stations are licensed within a 32km (20 mile) radius of the repeater.

FCC Callsign WQAK992 Details
Mountain View and Santa Monica offices. They also have freqs that are nationwide Mobile, Temporary Fixed, or Itinerant. Could this be a mobile repeater/trunking system?

FCC Callsign WQFX929 Details
This one is interesting. Either factories or warehouses in Austell, GA. Check the satellite photos.

FCC Callsign WQIR860 Details

FCC Callsign WQEN482 Details

FCC Callsign WQIT645 Details

 

[rfradioconsult]

Google "server farms" most likely the UHF allocations are for everyday business operations. The Pryor, OK location is scheduled but has been delayed.

 

[b7spectra]

WQFX929 in Austell, GA, I find at that address is the following:

Humphrey's & Company - an interior construction company
Sun Microsystems - a possibility?
Exodus Communications - A former ISP that went Chapter 11 and purchased by Cable & Wireless
Material In Motion - A after-sales logistics and supply chain management.
Sterling Commerce Group - A computer software group.

Maybe they are just renting a closet for the repeater?

 

[BaLa]

What is the freq/call sign on the one in Austell? I'll go by there and check it out!

FCC Callsign WQFX929 Details

 

[icom1020]

Like an idiot, I forgot to link to Google's licenses. I think I exaggerated "all over the place" - they have these repeaters in 15 to 20 locations, spread out all over the USA. Some locations have multiple repeaters. At least one of the licenses indicates 7K60FXE for MotoTRBO digital.

I believe all of the mobile stations are licensed within a 32km (20 mile) radius of the repeater.

FCC Callsign WQAK992 Details
Mountain View and Santa Monica offices. They also have freqs that are nationwide Mobile, Temporary Fixed, or Itinerant. Could this be a mobile repeater/trunking system?

I don't think mobile repeater as much as they are growing and going to get bigger, think big box stores that have nationwide allocations and the ability to send out low power simplex radios for plant operations. The Dalles site is 32 acres alone. They like their corporate stealthiness. Willamette Week | “Welcome to Googleville” | Willamette Week | June 4th, 2008

I may prowl around sometime if I get the chance. They have a roving security patrol inside the perimeter.

 

[seligman]

Google "server farms" most likely the UHF allocations are for everyday business operations. The Pryor, OK location is scheduled but has been delayed.

That's what I thought too, but why do they need repeaters running 25 to 45 watts for a server farm? The New York location is licensed for 100 watts. And then there's the mobile frequencies licensed within a 20-mile radius.

The license for Austell, GA is suspicious for another reason. Under the eligibility field, Google wrote: 90.35A1 - GOOGLE INC SITE-MANUFACTURING & OFFICE COMPLEX COMMUNICATIONS.

Manufacturing?

 

[seligman]

I don't think mobile repeater as much as they are growing and going to get bigger, think big box stores that have nationwide allocations and the ability to send out low power simplex radios for plant operations. The Dalles site is 32 acres alone. They like their corporate stealthiness. Willamette Week | “Welcome to Googleville” | Willamette Week | June 4th, 2008

I may prowl around sometime if I get the chance. They have a roving security patrol inside the perimeter.

Thanks for the article, a good read.

Another thought, these freqs might be used for Google's philanthropic efforts. Google.org

 

[rfradioconsult]

That's what I thought too, but why do they need repeaters running 25 to 45 watts for a server farm? The New York location is licensed for 100 watts. And then there's the mobile frequencies licensed within a 20-mile radius.

The license for Austell, GA is suspicious for another reason. Under the eligibility field, Google wrote: 90.35A1 - GOOGLE INC SITE-MANUFACTURING & OFFICE COMPLEX COMMUNICATIONS.

Manufacturing?

Most likely Google hired a Consultant to file the coordination and license applications, based upon general information. The elgibility statements are pure boilerplate for FCC filings. If Google was building some super duper wireless network that wouldn't file plain jane license applications in the UHF commercial bands for analog voice. No black helos here.

 

[n5ims]

Google has hardware appliances too

Manufacturing?

They have to make these (or import to and ship from) somewhere

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