• Radio Terminology
  • A BASE STATION is a wireless communications station installed at a fixed location and used to communicate with mobile units or hand held units. A base can be one or more than one channel operating independently. Using channel(s) to communicate in this manner is called SIMPLEX operation.
  • A CONTROL STATION is a base station used in a system with a repeater where the base station is used to communicate through the repeater to either mobile units or hand held units.
  • A HAND HELD unit (also called a PORTABLE) is a two-way radio typically carried by an individual using an attached battery as the unit’s power source.
  • A MOBILE STATION is a two-way radio that is typically mounted permanently in a vehicle using the vehicle’s battery as a power source.
  • A REPEATER (Mobile Relay) is a type of base station that extends the range of hand-held and mobile radios. The repeater acts as a RELAY. The repeater uses a frequency “pair” (one channel to receive a signal and a second channel to instantly rebroadcast that signal).The repeater is typically located at a high location and or located in the middle of the geographic area needing to be covered. Communicating in this manner is called “half duplex” operation.
• System Design
  • An ANTENNA is an electrical device which converts electric power into radio waves and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter (transceiver). In transmission, a radio transmitter supplies an electric current oscillating at radio frequency to the antenna's terminals, and the antenna radiates the energy from the current as electromagnetic waves (radio waves). In reception, an antenna intercepts some of the power of an electromagnetic wave in order to produce a tiny voltage at its terminals, that is applied to a receiver to be amplified.
    
    Typically an antenna consists of an arrangement of metallic conductors (elements), electrically connected through a transmission line to the receiver or transmitter.
  • An antenna's POWER GAIN or simply GAIN is a key performance number which combines the antenna's directivity and electrical efficiency. As a transmitting antenna, the gain describes how well the antenna converts input power into radio waves headed in a specified direction. As a receiving antenna, the gain describes how well the antenna converts radio waves arriving from a specified direction into electrical power (typically an SMR trunked system will use a “head end pre-amp in conjunction with a gain antenna to increase efficiency and provide better performance). When no direction is specified, "gain" is understood to refer to the peak value of the gain. A plot of the gain as a function of direction is called the radiation pattern.
  • PROPAGATION in two-way radio is the pattern created when the transmitting device sends a signal through the antenna system. The shape of the pattern depends on the type of antenna being used. In addition, the topography in the area where the transmitter is located will affect the integrity of the pattern (hills, valleys, or tall buildings will impact the shape). The propagation of an antenna system can be affected by the introduction of “elements” that change the pattern to increase range.
    1. UNITY GAIN antenna – forms a pattern similar to a balloon – round with energy being radiated towards the sky and downward towards the ground.
    2. MEDIUM GAIN antenna – configured with additional “elements” that electrically change the shape of the pattern. The effect is like pressing that balloon at the top. The shape changes as the balloon slightly flattens out. The result is the balloon is stretched horizontally. With a radio signal, the signal radiates further along the horizon – thus pushing the signal farther from the transmitting source.
    3. HIGH GAIN antenna – configured with additional elements further flattening the balloon. The result is the balloon stretches even farther along the horizon and the transmitted signal travels even farther from the transmitter.
    When designing an antenna system, it is important to understand the differences in the gain aspect of the antennas. The success of your system design is dependent on making a good choice. Below are some examples of where the type of “gain” antenna would be appropriate:
    1. UNITY – Smaller areas and buildings (like a condo) with height. Since the pattern radiates towards the sky and towards the ground, the coverage in the building is very reliable.
    2. MEDIUM – Larger properties (like gated communities), golf courses, college campuses, amusement parks.
    3. HIGH – When the need is significant distance from the transmitter. Service related businesses, local transportation, ready mix companies. Today, most of the businesses need longer distance coverage accomplish that by using an SMR (specialized mobile repeater) system that has been constructed for commercial purposes (charging for air time usage – typically on a monthly basis) and available to many users through the one antenna system.
    4. DIRECTIONAL – used in specific instances. The signal is focused in a single direction (45 degree beam width) and aimed at a target. Typically, a control station will use a directional (YAGI) antenna to transmit the signal to a repeater or SMR system. At that point, the repeater or SMR system will take over and retransmit the signal to mobiles/portables in the field.
• System Types
  • ANALOG OPERATION uses frequency modulation (FM). The frequency modulation produces a continuous wave with the voice signal. Analog operation has been in use for over 80 years. Simply put, when you key the radio your voice is attached to a “carrier” which is the frequency. The radio has very little “intelligence”. It cannot determine the quality of the sounds it hears (voice – ambient noises) and will broadcast what it hears AS it hears it. Some of the frustration of ANALOG radio operation is that the signal is often scratchy, noisy, and overpowered by ambient noises (like an elevator motor or a loud chiller or a lawn mower). The receiving radio hears all that and is sometimes unintelligible.
  • DIGITAL uses a mathematical method (algorithem) similar to computer chips. The message is broken down into “bits” – 1s and 0s and then transmitted to the receiving unit. The receiving unit has the intelligence to reconstruct that signal AND it knows the difference between voice and “ambient noise” and attenuates (cuts out) the unwanted noise .
  • TDMA (TIME DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS) Time division multiple access (TDMA) is a channel access method for shared medium networks. It allows several users to share the same frequency channel by dividing the signal into different time slots (communications paths). The users transmit in rapid succession, one after the other, each using its own time slot. In a CONVENTIONAL repeater or a TRUNKED repeater system – the DIGITAL repeaters using TDMA have the ability to support two separate users (groups) at the same time thus increasing capacity and efficiency.
  • FDMA (FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS) is a channel access method used in DIGITAL radio operation. Although the user has the inherent benefits of DIDITAL technology, the capacity and efficiency are not increased as in TDMA. Each repeater has only one communications path and can only handle one group at a time – thus the FDMA method needs twice the amount of repeaters than the TDMA method would need – making the decision between FDMA and TDMA an economic one.
• SIMPLEX COMMUNICATIONS is a communications channel that operates in one direction at a time.
• SEMI-DUPLEX COMMUNICATIONS requires two simplex channels operating in opposite directions. This is the theory behind a Repeater. The repeater receives an signal on 1 frequency and instantly rebroadcasts the signal on a second channel effectively creating a "RELAY".
• CONVENTIONAL OPERATION is a two-way radio system that uses a dedicated channel (frequency) for each individual group of users. When the channel is being used, no other user may access that channel until the transmission has ended. In multi-channel systems channels are used to separate purposes.
  Channel 1 – Pro Shop talks to starters, bag guys, cart crew.
  Channel 2 – Golf Course maintenance talks to cutters, trimmers, irrigation crew.
  In a multi channel CONVENTIONAL system – if channel 1 is being used and additional radios do NOT have channel 2 programmed in the radio – it must wait until the conversation has been completed.
• TRUNKED OPERATION (also called SMR operation). A trunked radio system differs from a conventional system in its ability to automatically search two or more available channels and assign a user an open channel. Each radio in a trunked system has all the channels programmed into the units. The units are then assigned a "GROUP". You may have as many "groups" as you need – keeping in mind that the effectiveness of the TRUNKED system is based on how many usable channels are in the system and how many "groups" are trying to access those channels. When a radio keys up – the system determines if there is an unused channel and then assigns the group whose radio has keyed up to a channel. It will not reassign that channel until the conversation has been completed. When all available channels in the system have been assigned, the next request will receive a "busy" tone and will not have access to the system until a channel becomes open.

• License Data Sheet Main
• License Data Sheet MAIN.docx
• License Data Sheet MAIN.pdf

• Who needs to be licensed?
  • Any business, no matter what their structure (corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, 501C(3), non-profit, or for profit) needs to obtain a valid FCC license before operating a private two-way radio system. Users of an SMR type system are eligible to operate under the license of the owner of the SMR.
• Do government agencies need to obtain an FCC license?
  • Yes. State and local government (township, city, county, county school district) agencies must obtain an FCC license before operating the two-way radio system.
• Who doesn’t need an FCC license?
  • Individuals that use the FRS (family service radio) radios do not need to obtain an FCC license. Selected low power frequencies have been put aside for this use and inexpensive radios are available that operate on these frequencies. These frequencies and units are NOT authorized for use by non-individuals-which means business and government agencies may NOT use these radios for business purposes.
• Why is an FCC license required?
  • With use of two-way radio systems growing, more and more companies are using the frequencies. In order to have an efficient and reliable two-way radio system, it is necessary to police who is using the available frequencies in a given area. The idea is to allow everyone who wishes to use two-way radios to better control their business operations, the ability to obtain a frequency that is clear and can be effectively used. If you remember the CB days - everyone operated on the same channels and it was chaos. FCC licensing of business operations looks to avoid the chaos.
• What if a company decides not to obtain an FCC license?
  • That company would be operating illegally. They are actually breaking Federal law and are subject to financial fines.
• Is there a fine for operating a two-way radio system without an FCC license?
  • Yes. There are substantial fines for operating a two-way radio system without an FCC license. There are also fines for operating in a manner that Is not compliant with the authorization granted to the applicant.
• What are some examples of fines for not operating in compliance with the granted FCC license?
  • The FCC had previously listed typical fines for violations but today the FCC treats each case individually. The Enforcement Division of the FCC previously had a list of typical violations with their fines. Recently, that has been changed to issuing fines on a case-by-case basis. The dollar amount is based upon the investigation of the offense.
    
    These are examples of the former fine amounts:
    
    

    Operation without an instrument of authorization (license) for the service	$8,000.00
    Exceeding power limits	$5,000.00
    Exceeding authorized antenna height	$6,000.00
    Using unauthorized frequency	$5,000.00
    Construction or operation at unauthorized location	$4,000.00
    Misrepresentation on application	$8,000.00
    Unauthorized substantial transfer of control	$8,000.00

    
    Fines levied against offenders are available to be seen on the FCC Enforcement page.
• How long is an FCC license valid?
  • An FCC license granted today would be in force for 10 years as long as the entity that obtained the license is still viable. The license is renewable at the end of the10 year period (currently for an addition 10 years).
• When can I renew my FCC license?
  • The FCC will allow a licensee to renew the FCC license no sooner than 90 days before that license is scheduled to expire. The expiration date is clearly marked on the FCC license.
• I noticed my license expired, what can I do?
  • If your license has expired and it is less than 30 days after the expiration date, you can ask us to apply for a waiver to maintain the frequencies and call sign of the expired license. If it is received by the FCC before the 30 days have passed by and the reviewer at the FCC accepts the explanation in the waiver request, the license will continue in force.
    
    If the license is expired for more than 30 days, you may not reinstate the license. You will then need to reapply for a new license. You may try to apply for the same frequencies, however, the FCC is not obligated to accept the request. If you are assigned different frequencies, you will need to re-program your radios to the new frequencies.
• Does everyone pay for an FCC license?
  • Yes. Whether you are a business or government entity, everyone pays for their FCC license. Typically, government entities and 501C (3) organizations may be exempt from paying certain portions of the fee-but the frequency coordination required is paid by all.
• What does a frequency coordinator do?
  • Frequency coordinators are private organizations that have been certified by the FCC to recommend the most appropriate frequencies for applicants in the designated radio services. A frequency coordinator will research an identified geographic area where an FCC license application has requested one or more frequencies to operate a two-way radio system. Depending on the type of use (conventional or trunked (centralized), the geographic area size will vary. Typically, an on-site conventional system (FB/MO or FB2) will have protection from a co-channel user for 25km in UHF. A centralized trunk system (FB8) will have a protected area of 166 km. The frequency coordinator will choose the best available channel(s) and send that recommendation to the FCC with the application.
• When can I begin to operate my two-way radio system?
  • Once the coordinator has assigned a frequency (s) and transmitted the application to the FCC, there begins a 10 day period when the application is open for public display. During this time an objection may be lodged with the choice of frequency in the given area or a discrepancy may be discovered and the application can be contested. Fortunately, that is a rare occurrence. Once the 10 day public display period has passed without issue, the applicant can begin to operate on the frequency.
• What is Conditional Authority?
  • This is the authority to operate the two-way radio system once the 10 day public display period has passed. To be eligible to operate under the conditional authority, an applicant needs to have satisfied frequency coordination requirements and has filed the needed FCC license application. License applications requiring (a) coordination with Canada, (b) a waiver, (c) the proposed station having an environmental impact, and (d) the proposed station posing a hazard to aviation safety may not operate until those issues have been ruled on.
• Is the 10 day public display why I get flooded with requests from organizations that say I might need to pay more fees or by a rules book?
  • Yes, that is correct. The Wireless Telecommunications bureau and Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau publish weekly status public notices pertaining to filings in the Universal Licensing System (new or modified FCC license applications). Private companies will retrieve that information and send mailers to the applicants. They typically advise that more fees could be due or that you need to buy a rules book etc. If your license preparer is doing the job there should be no need for additional fees at that point and if you own a computer and have WWW.FCC.Gov bookmarked in your favorites, you are compliant with the need for having a rules book - - AND- this method is FREE (no need to spend $119.00).
• What should you do if someone is interfering with your frequency?
  • First check with your two-way radio supplier to have them investigate whether another user has been assigned the same frequency in your area. If no other license has been granted, you may have someone operating on the same frequency but without proper authorization. If that is the case, your two-way radio supplier can try to determine who the offender might be and if located advise the user that they need to obtain a proper FCC license. If the offender cannot be located or if located-declines to cooperate-you may initiate a complaint with the FCC compliance division. They will investigate and try to correct the interference problem. Interference does happen, but fortunately it is not common.
• What happens if I need a tower?
  • Building a new tower requires compliance with the FCC’s rule for environmental review. This process ensures that appropriate measures are taken to protect environmental and historic resources. Additionally, it is necessary to receive a determination from the FAA (Federal Aeronautical Association) that the tower is not too close to an airport and potentially cause a hazard to flight. To proceed with the new tower, you must file an Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) with the FCC. This will be done after receiving approval from the state or local government body for the proposed site, are in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, are compliant with the National Historic Preservation Act, and receive approval from the FAA for that site.

Some FCC license prep companies make the claim that they work for the lowest price. While price is a consideration in most things we do, we make decisions based on what is truly important to us – my customers have filled me in on why they deal with MRC Licensing:

• Professional
• Reliable
• Accessible
• Prompt
• Knowledgeable

• Experienced
• Dependable
• Easy to talk to
• Accurate
• Caring

Committed to total customer satisfaction

Don’t get me wrong, our pricing is fair. If you are looking for a company that can take the load off your shoulders and do the job effectively and efficiently – we do that. In addition to processing the forms, we work well with vendors who may have new inexperienced sales people that could use a little guidance in talking with prospects/customers about their FCC license needs.

Having worked in designing two-way radio systems from basic base/mobile/portable systems to trunked systems for close to 40 years, we are able to look at things from a different perspective than those without practical experience who are merely inputting data. MRC knows the equipment supplied by the various manufacturers (Motorola, Kenwood, Vertex, Icom, HYT, Tait). This is extremely important in making sure that the equipment to be used meets the requirements of that FCC license in technical capability as well as power allowance. Compliance with the FCC rules and regulations is a burden that ultimately falls on the FCC License holder. We make sure that compliance issues are discussed and dealt with prior to submission of the application.

• 40 years of experience in FCC License preparation and submission
• Work with vendors and individual applicants
• Work with vendors in an advisory capacity
• Motorola C&E trained in system design and implementation
• Motorola management (7 years)
• Former Motorola Dealer
• Former Motorola MSS (Motorola Service Station)
• Hours of operation are 8:00 am to 8:00pm (eastern standard time)

MRC Licensing adds value in many ways. We are committed to completing the FCC licensing task promptly and accurately to assure a smooth journey through frequency coordination and ultimately the FCC grant of the license.

Electronic application submission has been in place for several years now which helps streamline the process. Proximity to the FCC is no longer necessary – a mere push of the “send” button gets the application to the coordinator and when the coordinator’s job is done, the application is electronically submitted to the Commission. The hours of operation at the FCC are from 8:00 am till 5:30 pm eastern time making it very easy and convenient to contact them if necessary.