Question - Will narrow banding help me meet this objective?
Answer - Actually no! In most cases, a REDUCTION in range and performance will be expected UNLESS the narrow band radio is operated in some type of digital mode (as compared to current vintage analog systems).
Question - What is narrow band?
Answer - Bandwidth is the space allocated for radio channels as defined by the FCC. Presently, 25 kHz is authorized (currently referred to as standard or wide band). Narrow band is 12.5 kHz which effectively doubles the use of existing frequencies. 6.25 kHz Very Narrow Band (more about this later) TRIPLES the use of each frequency. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to a special report that tells why one of the largest communications user groups (Association of American Railroads) has elected to switch to 6.25 kHz right now! A copy of this information is available by going to the Why Digital? section of this web page. Click here for more information on narrow band standards.
Question - Will my existing equipment work on narrow band?
Answer - All radios manufactured after 2000 should be programmable to narrow band at minimal cost (We charge $35 for the first radio and $5 for each additional at our shop). Many of your favorite radios, including the Motorola HT1000 and MaraTrac cannot be converted to narrow band.
Question - Who made the decision to convert to narrow band, by what authority, and for what purpose?
Answer - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as authorized by Congress made the decision to require narrow banding, and ultimately, very narrow banding for the purpose of creating more efficiency for limited frequency space. There are three important milestones to the FCC plan starting in 2011, then 2013, then 2018, the date originally proposed for mandatory 6.25 kHz operation.
Question - What about those dates you mentioned earlier - 2011 - 2013 and 2018?
Answer - 2013 is when ALL users must convert to narrow band, and 2018 is the proposed date for conversion to Very Narrow Band (VNB). The Catch 22 is that 2011 is when ALL manufacturers must offer VNB 6.25 kHz equipment. VNB equipment also meets narrow band operating standards. Based on this information, the logical conclusion is that any equipment purchased today should be capable of meeting 25, 12.5 and 6.25 kHz operating standards or at least be adaptable as required (P25 is a work in progress designed from the beginning for technology upgrades. NXDN meets the proposed 2018 standards now. MotoTRBO is designed specifically for two slot 12.5 kHz operation with no known upgrade program for single channel 6.25 kHz operation. Click here for more information on narrow band standards.
Question - What is an operating standard?
Answer - A 15 inch automobile wheel is an operating standard. If every wheel maker made a difference size, tires would be very expensive and often hard to find. 25 KHz analog is an operating standard. It is known as an open standard since many manufacturers can build to a common standard. 12.5 kHz and 6.25 kHz radio equipment is available in both analog and digital standards. Currently, there are two basic standards covering radios capable of operating in analog and digital modes. P25, or APCO-25, is an OPEN standard providing the ability to operate on 25 or 12.5 kHz channels in either an analog or digital mode or BOTH simultaneously. MotoTRBO is a CLOSED standard in the USA with the ability for repeaters to operate in an analog or digital mode, but not both for 25 kHz analog operation or 12.5 analog or digital operation. NXDN is an OPEN standard allowing operation in BOTH analog and digital modes using bandwidth spacing of 25, 12.5, or 6.25 kHz.
Question - What's the difference between an OPEN and CLOSED standard?
Answer - An OPEN standard means that multiple manufacturers offer comparable products which allow the user to select the vendor or vendor’s best suited for their individual requirements. A CLOSED standard means that the user is locked in to a single source at whatever price that supplier chooses to charge.
Question - What's the real difference between MotoTRBO, NXDN, and P25?
Answer - P25 is the most mature of the analog/digital systems and works very well. It has two major disadvantages. The first is cost (Considerably more than the cost of either MotoTRBO or NXDN). The second is the current generation is not designed for 6.25 kHz operation and 2011 is only three years away. MotoTRBO is a great system, affordably priced with a full range of options including GPS and messaging available. However, the MotoTRBO repeater can only be set for analog or digital operation (not both) which means this system does not provide a simple and affordable migration path from analog to digital. Additionally, the MotoTRBO system cannot operate at 6.25 kHz for single channel operation (See earlier comments about 2011). NXDN is priced comparably to MotoTRBO, yet it CAN operate simultaneously in the analog and digital modes, and it CAN operate at 6.25 kHz. Prices are expected to come down as more manufacturers embrace the NXDN standard (ICOM, Kenwood, and Ritron are already committed to the NXDN standard.
Question - When do I have to switch to digital?
Answer - Tricky question! The answer is that you SHOULD be planning your migration to digital right now and not for the purpose of meeting regulatory requirements. The fact is that there are five major reasons for making the switch to digital and NONE of them involve regulatory compliance. One the largest 2-way radio users in the USA, the Association of American Railroads (AAR), is in the process of switching to NXDN 6.25 kHz DIGITAL operation at this time. You might be interested in a review of why this decision was made by referring to http://falconinfo.blogspot.com/2008/09/aar-chooses-nxdn-digital-standard.html. As to when you have to switch to digital, the answer, based on current technology, is when 6.25 kHz standards are madated by the FCC. The FCC's original plan called for all VHF and UHF radios systemto be capable of operating at 6.25 kHz channel spacing by 2018. At this channel spacing, analog doesn't work well whereas digital works very well at 6.25 kHz. Therefore the answer is when the FCC releases a data certain time for 6.25 kHz compliance, assummed currently to be in the 2018 time frame.
Question - What's the story on operational problems with digital radios?
Answer - The reported problems deal ONLY with 800 MHz digital trunked systems - not VHF or UHF conventional digital systems. The main reported problem is poor building penetration in highly urbanized areas. The fact is that 800 MHz has virtually NO building penetration whether the system is analog or digital. Additional information is available at http://falconinfo.blogspot.com/2008/07/source-of-digital-radio-problems.html.
Question - Are you available for individual or group consultation?
Answer - You name the date, time and place - we'll be there! Be sure and ask us about our new single site repeater system that offers 99.9% reliability and complete county wide coverage for a fraction of the cost of other wide area communications systems. We call it UltraCom II. You'll call it amazing! We are available by phone at 800.489.2611, or by email - sales@falcondirect.com. Give us a call today - you'll be glad you did!
Thanks for visiting with us!
The Falcon Team
At your Service!