Batboard

I've got a friend that of mine that is a Class 3 Firearm dealer & manufacturer & is embarking on building a facility & is looking to license a frequency pair. He explained to the FCC person on the phone the nature of his business & advised him that he would be eligible to utilize encryption due to the nature of his business. He will eventually put up a repeater at the facility but not right away so he will want to have the license & the frequencies to eventually put up repeater & use digital encryption.

I have 3 questions:

1) He is looking for a UHF pair in the 450-470 band. the 2 different allocation services that look like they're for this are "IK" & "IG". of these 2, what's the difference & which one would be more applicable to his scenario? (the only thing that I could find is one is more for not for profits like churches & hospitals but I could be wrong)

2) are there any restrictions against using digital encryption in either of these services?

3) is there anything he needs to specify when applying to indicate the use of a repeater?



Any info or insight would be most appreciated!!

PS: I'm almost positive that any frequency will need to be narrowband...

There is no encryption restriction for anyone in Part 90 and no special permission is required. As long as the emission designator is for the flavor of digital that he is deploying, he is free to use it.
If he is doing P25 then he can use ADP, AES, or DES. If he is going to use DMR then he can use whatever is available.
The repeater will do the station ID for him in CW every 15 minutes so there Is no reason for the end users to identify in the clear.

Just have him go to one of the many licensing services and deal with them directly instead of the FCC. He can license any number of emission designators per location at the time of application as well and yes he is required to be narrowband. He cannot license a 25 KHz analog channel in Part 90.

What he does have to be careful for is the area of operation and would he be justified for a repeater. There are certain mileage requirements and they (the licensing service) will query on the facility type and the ability for him to use simplex instead of a repeater system at a single facility. If they license as simplex then the station identification requirements change and there is a need to ID in the clear or he can put up a low power beacon at the facility to CWID every 15 minutes.

Register with PCIA or one of the others and do the forms online. Go with a RPT first no need to do it again . i have done it a few times

Thanks guys!!! Great info here!! I will pass it along!

Does anyone know the difference between IK & IG services & which one would be more appropriate for a gun shop/range?

I would say IG.