PowerPoint Presentation

Future Very Narrowband Radio RequirementsImplicationsfor the Hydrologic Warning CommunityTimothy J. SaloSalo IT Solutions, Inc.May 11, 20111Very Narrowband ImplicationsTopicsNarrowband Mandate and StatusFuture Very Narrowband MandateVery Narrowband StandardsVery Narrowband EquipmentTestbed Status2Narrowband MandateNarrowband MandateMost Part 90 licensees must migrate to 12.5 kHz channel bandwidth by January 1, 2013Culmination of a very long process1995: Original narrowbanding rules adopted1997: 12.5 kHz equipment available2004: 2013 deadline announced3Narrowband MandateNarrowband StatusFCC appears concerned many licensees havent yet migratedFCC January 26, 2011 Narrowband WorkshopLots of interesting infoMany licensees havent migrated yetMany havent updated licensesFunding a concern for many4Narrowband MandateNarrowband StatusWhat if my cousin doesnt migrate?Waivers will be very difficult to obtainFCC public answer:Your system will not be incomplianceYou wont be legally protected from interferenceYou may cause interference to lawful systemsSomeone might complainEnforcement is another divisionAlleged private answerFCC will cancel wideband licenses

5Narrowband MandateNarrowband ResourcesFCC January 26, 2011 Narrowband Workshop

FCC Narrowbanding Website

Yahoo! LMR Narrowbanding Group

6Very Narrowband MandateVery narrowband, 6.25 kHz migration will occur, FCC saysNo date setFCC will follow usual rule-making processesNote: narrowband deadline ~16 years after equipment availabilityEquipment certified after January 1, 2013 must support very narrowband (6.25 kHz) operation7Very Narrowband StandardsSeveral emerging very narrowband standardsMany include data specification

dPMR (digital Private Mobile Radio)DMR (Digital Mobile Radio)TETRAP25 (Project 25)8Very Narrowband StandardsdPMR (digital Private Mobile Radio)European 6.25 kHz digital standardIncludes both a voice mode and a data modeVoice products are just starting to become available in EuropeDMR (Digital Mobile Radio)European digital standardMultiplexes 12.5 kHz channel9Very Narrowband StandardsTETRAEuropean standardTDMAP25 (Project 25)American solution for interoperable public safety radiosPhase 2 under developmentReported work on data-only mode apparently suspended10Very Narrowband EquipmentSome very narrowband equipment starting to become availableProprietary data radiosStandards-based voice equipmentIcom dPMR system

Remember: Equipment certified by FCC after January 1, 2013 must support 6.25 kHz operation 11Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioDigi (MaxStream) XTendVHF narrowband radioMaxon SD-171E with ACC 513 modem12Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioDigi International (MaxStream) XTend

13Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioDigi International (MaxStream) XTend900 MHz unlicensed operation1 watt transmit power9,600/115,200 bpsClaim line-of-sight (LOS) range of 14 - 40 mileIncludes mesh networking capability14Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioSimilar devices:FreeWave FRG2-IOSLaird (AeroComm) ConnexLinkAll use different, proprietary on-the-air formatsMost ALERT / environmental monitoring vendors resell or experimenting with these radios15Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioAttempted communications over:Five-mile non-LOS urban pathSeven-mail not-quite-LOS urban path16Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radio7 dbi mobile omniLaird MA7-7N20

17Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radio9.2 dbi omniComet KP-2096

18Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radio9 dbi 5-element yagiLaird YA9-920

19Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radio13 dbi 15-element yagiLaird YA9-1357

20Testbed Status900 MHz spread spectrum radioResultsCommunications never established over:Five-mile non-LOS pathSeven-mile not-quite-LOS pathCommunications established over shorter pathsSubstantial interference with consumer deviceDevices have potential in right circumstancesNot the solution for HWS21Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioMaxon SD-171E radio and ACC-513E modemNarrowband (not very narrowband) VHF radioSD-171E/ACC-513E certified for narrowband operationInexpensiveCommercial off-the-shelf (COTS) productBenefits from manufacturing economies of scaleSD-171E radio: $245ACC-513E modem: $8922Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioMaxon SD-171E radio and ACC-513E modemInteroperates with Midland SD-171 and ACC-513Maxon SD-171E appears to be a superior radioMidland radio appears to be obsolete/discontinued

23Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioMaxon SD-171E

24Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioACC-513E modem

25Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioACC-513E modem

H8 8-bit microprocessor

26Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioACC-513E modem

CML MicrocircuitsCMX589AGMSK modem

27Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioACC-513E modem4,800 bps in narrowband operationGMSK modulationLink layer frame is based on part of MPT 1327 specificationSort of documented in ACC-513E service manualIs it an open protocol?28Testbed StatusVHF narrowband radioFuture plans:Test and evaluate Maxon SD-171E/ACC-513EDemonstrate interoperability with MidlandSD-171/ACC-513Maybe29Very Narrowband ObservationsA very narrowband mandate is comingSomeday; probably not this decadeSeveral emerging standards offer the prospect of interoperable very narrowband data equipmentMaybe; not today

30Very Narrowband ObservationsHWS vendors and operators should make their needs known to data radio vendorsStandards-based, interoperable very narrow band data radiosdPMR data-only radio?P25 Phase 2 data-only radio????Speak with a collective voice31Acknowledgement / DisclaimerThis work was supported by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services.

The opinions expressed here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of any other individual or organization, including those that have funded, are funding, or may in the future fund the authors employer, Salo IT Solutions, Inc.32Very Narrowband Implications?33