Narrowband Vs. Wideband

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KG4LHQ
Posts: 642
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:50 am

Narrowband Vs. Wideband

Post by KG4LHQ »

Just to make sure if the frequencies are say

154.220/153.800 - Thats Wideband


If The Frequency is like

154.220/153.8825 - Thats Narrowband

Right?
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mr.syntrx
Posts: 1587
Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:09 pm

Re: Narrowband Vs. Wideband

Post by mr.syntrx »

Not necessarily, for the former. Check the license details to get a definitive answer.
Jim202
Posts: 3610
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2001 4:00 pm

Re: Narrowband Vs. Wideband

Post by Jim202 »

With the FCC pushing to get all public safety licenses changed over to narrow band down the road,
you could see a mix and match over the next 5 years. It is always best to check the FCC database
to confirm what the license should be operating.

You notice that I used the word SHOULD. Just because the license says wideband, it doesn't mean
that is what is being used. There are a number of agencies that have started to make the switch
and haven't changed their license yet.

Guess the best way to tell is if your having a hard time hearing the audio, then they probably have
gone to a narrow band operation. This will also have an effect of how the CTCSS is working for
their system if all the radios haven't been changed over at the same time. Those using narrowband
deviation will probably have a hard time opening up tone squelched wideband receivers.

Trying to use a mix of both narrow and wide radios on the same channel will run into all sorts of problems.
When a wide radio talks, it may or may not be heard by a narrow radio. The wide deviation will probably
go right out of the receive passband of a narrow receiver. When a narrow deviated radio talks, the wide
receiver will have to turn up the volume control all the way in order to hear what is being said.

Jim
KG4LHQ
Posts: 642
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:50 am

Re: Narrowband Vs. Wideband

Post by KG4LHQ »

I went to the FCC website and did the GENMEN search but was unable to see where it says if its a Narrow or Wideband??

Suggestions?
k2hz
Posts: 532
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 7:27 am

Re: Narrowband Vs. Wideband

Post by k2hz »

Look at the emission designator - If it starts with "16K" it is wideband, "11K" is narrowband.

All operation on the new 7.5kHz split channels MUST be narrow band. The old 15kHz channels may still be wideband for "grandfathered" users until 2013 but new licensees must be narrow band.
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