Batboard

here is the delema gang our department does not like to spend money, we currently spend 1,200/mo for space for 2 repeaters on a private building about 1/2 an air mile from our center of operation. Talk back from the site is good and i dont think there are any real issues that a BDA and some new recievers coudnt fix. But there is the problem that it wont get fixed unless it breaks and who knows when that will be. We just constructed a new 18story building in the center of our area which we own. I was thinking that i could sell the bosses on some new recievers and a new standby by pushing the fact that we will no longer pay out for the rent since we own the building.
the problem is 1) how do we adequately test coverage from there before we comit ourselves to moving the repeaters. i would think antenna choice from that hight and proximity to where the coverage is needed would be critical, so we dont shoot our signal away instead of down and around .
Also to your knowledge is there any APCO requirement to actually be narow band compliant before a certain date. I am wondering if i can show any legal reasons as to why we should upgrade or begin to upgrade so we are in compliance. i am just looking for reasons to build up a case for upgrading



thanks for the imput

You need to get a temporary operating permit from the FCC, it gives you two weeks to test.

Either way, you will need to have everything coordinated. Contact APCO and you regional coordinator for help. They will also help you get the STA.

APCO does not require narrowband, the FCC does, and it is something like 2018 (keeps getting pushed back)..... maybe by that time I will be retired anyways

Howard
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/ind&bu ... ltemp.html is the FCC link

thanks for the legal heads up! Has anybody had any experience in testing sites for recieve/tx coverage. I assume any good radio shop would know how to do this, but i am looking to set up the test on our own if it is possible. Basically i am looking to test the coverage or closely replicate as close as i can how a reciever and or main/standby transmitter would behave on top of this building. I know it will not be exact but i want to be as close as possible. Any pointers on set up antenna type ect would be greately appreciated.

Since talkback from mobiles and portables is often what limits the range, you should just climb up the building roof with a handheld and a either ¼ or 5/8th wave ground plane antenna connected to the portable and do a receive test. The portable’s sensitivity is about equal to any fixed equipment and should give you a good indication of available RX signal strength. You can do this test using your existing mobiles and portables on their present TX frequency.

Once you and everyone else are happy with the result, you may send me the check.

Nand.

nand

thanks for the info! It is appreciated very much

Excuse the ignorant ? but when you say 1/4 or 5/8ths wave antena would a mobile type (nmo mount) be what you are refering to? I could scare up a mag mount type antenna and a good size piece of 1/4 in steel?? Also any idea on where i could get a connector (or if anybody has a part number and source) to go from an ht1000 to say rg58. I know this set up will not be (by any streach) an ideal test but even if it produces margional recieve in spots where we have none at all (and we have 2 or 3) like that then i could probably assume that set up properly we will have good results.
As far as testing the TX out of that 18story roof top would a mobile say at 25or 40w with a mag mount set-up and a 1/4 or 5/8ths wave produce enough power to test spots where we cant recieve the base well? These spots are only 1-4 blocks away from this building and the problem areas are mainly in a basement and in a heavily sheilded research type building. Again i would assume that if we get better results with this jerry-rigged test set up than we do with our quantar 2 air miles away then if we relocate and do a proper instal we should be better off.

A mobile antenna is what I was suggesting. These are typically ¼ or 5/8th wave long for VHF. A magmount placed on a square yard or better of metal will do for a ground plane.

You may not have to go though that much trouble. If the site is really good, just a portable with its standard rubber duck will do for a test.

There is no need to test with high power. If you can hear the portables and mobiles with the handheld, then so will a fixed station and the fixed station will also be heard by the mobiles etc. since it is running equal or higher power.
In other words, if the path is good one way, it also is good the other way.

Nand.

Nand


Thanks for the education and clarification.



I will let you know how I make out, much appreciated.