| 800MHz Re-Banding Information |
| |
In order to clean up the interference from Nexhell the FCC has selected to totally re-arrange the spectrum and separate Nexhell from the rest of the 800MHz spectrum users.
This is called "Re-Banding"
How did we get to this point
When Nexhell started it applied and received licenses for various 800MHz frequencies available for commercial use. Except at the top end of the 800MHz band from 866 to 868 which was reserved for Public Safety (NPSPAC) any one could apply for and get frequencies in the lower band. Nexhell dutifully did this, as well as aquiring local SMR trunking systems and eventually converting all the Motorola corporate & RSS owned SMR's into Nexhell sites too.
Whats the problem?
Nexhell causing harmful interference to adjacent channel users!
What about SouthernLinc?
It should be noted that the Southern Corp. uses the SAME iDEN technology as Nexhell to provide its own internal communication and offer services to the public & business much like Nexhell, BUT doesn't cause the same problems! Why is that? SouthernLinc FOLLOWS THE FCC rules and works to correct any problems. Nexhell just pollutes and does nothing about it unless you were persitent.
The outcry from the public safety users led to the creation of the APCO Project 39 database to show how wide spread this problem is.
Finally after a long debate on the matter with two solutions "Re-Banding" & simply getting nexhell to clean up its act ie: follow existing FCC rules, it was decided to "Re-Band" the 800MHz band into separate areas for two-way users and commercial providers aka Nexhell. Part of this decision was that Nexhell would pay for this "Re-Banding". A far simplier plan which would only effect Nexhell would have been to simply ENFORCE THE FCC RULES! Each plan has it merits and cons, and I would have went with the alertnate plan over rebanding as it ONLY EFFECTS nexhell. Basically it was decided that its OK to pollute the airwaves so we'll just move everything around to create a 14MHz wide garbage band to accomodate this system.
So what exactly is this "Re-Banding"?
The following graphic will illustrate "Re-Banding".The top section shows how the 800MHz band is set up now.
The bottom section shows how the 800MHz band will be setup after this procedure is completed in 2008.This will occur in 4 phase, with the areas bordering the US & Mexico being the last so that co-ordination between these countries can be achieved and new treaties worked out.
All public safety systems will be relocated to the bottom end away from nexhell & SouthernLinc who will be at the top end of the band. This will eliminate the interference issues. Notice how there is a 2MHz "Expansion Band" & "Guard Band"' think of them as DMZ's or gutters to keep the RF pollution away. The next group to complain will be the cellular A & B side carriers in the 869MHz region who will be getting interference from nexhell now.
How will this effect the scanner user?
This will effect certain modes of scanning mostly on older scanners, but some of the newer released digital units from Uniden will be effected as well.
For those monitoring EDACS and/or LTR systems this will NOT effect these modes. Any scanner listed below with these modes will continue to function normaly. You WILL need to REPROGRAM NEW FREQUENCIES for your selected system in many cases.
Find your trunking capable scanner in the charts below and then refer to each mode to determine if your unit will be effected.
| Uniden BearCat Scanners |
|
Model
|
Motorola APCO 25
|
Motorola Analog
|
EDACS
|
LTR
|
|
BCD396D
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC246T
|
N/A
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC296D
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC796D
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC898T
|
N/A
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BCT8
|
N/A
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC-785D
|
Replaced
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC-250D
|
Replaced
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BC-780
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
BCT-895
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
BCT-245
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
BCT-235
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
| Radio Shack/GRE Scanners |
|
Model
|
Motorola APCO 25
|
Motorola Analog
|
EDACS
|
LTR
|
|
Pro-2096
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-97
|
N/A
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-96
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reflashed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-2055
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-2053
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-95
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-94
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-93
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-2067
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-92B
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-92A
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-92
|
N/A
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
Reprogrammed
|
|
Pro-2066
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-2052
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
Reprogrammed
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-2050
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
|
Pro-91
|
N/A
|
Replaced
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Why do I have to replace my scanner due to this "Re-Banding"?
The way the internal software for the trunking scanners works for Motorola format scanners is based on each frequency being assigned a channel number by the FCC from 1 to 868. With the "Re-Banding" the channel numbers are CHANGING. This effects two way radio users too! Unfortunately they get Nexhell to PAY for their upgrades.
So what does changing the channel numbers do that causes such a mess?
When your using control channel mode only, on supported scanners, the control channel tells the radios & scanners to goto channel #xxx. When the channel numbers are changed channel #xxx is no longer frequnecy yyy.yyyy, so your scanner/radio is going to the WRONG FREQUENCY.
So what about if I program all the freuncies in like in the older non control channel mode scanners?
Same problem. The scanner looks up to see if channel #xxx/frequency yyy.yyyy is programmed into the memory and then jumps to that channel. Again the change in channel numbers will result in the scanner going to the WRONG FREQUENCY.
How to decipher these tables.
Reflashed = Download updated firmware from manufacturer and upload to radio.
Reprogrammed = Reprogram new Re-Banded frequencies and/or LCN data as applicable. AND/OR Reprogram Trunking Tables via keypad for the base offset pairs.
Replaced = Radio will need to be TOTALLY REPLACED with a NEW RADIO from the following: BCT-8, BCT796D, BCT296D, BC246T, BC898T, BCD396D, Pro-96 or Pro-2096 to continue monitoring Motorola Analog systems.These radios will CONTINUE TO WORK FOR EDACS & LTR systems AFTER being REPROGRAMMED with the NEW frequencies.
When will I need to either replace or reprogram my radio?
The FCC broke the US down into various Frequency Co-ordination zones to assign frequencies for new applications. Each of these zones has been placed into ONE (1) of FOUR (4) waves. Wave Number 1 will commence 6/27/05 and be completed by 8/27/08. The map below shows where each area is located in which wave.
For FLorida that means Wave #3 starting in 1/06 the process will being. When exactly after this date you will need to have your new or updated radio in use will be determined as each system works thru the process. Systems in the present 851-854MHz area WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST RELOCATED.
For information on how this will effect each system in the area refer to the County Re-Banding Info Page to see how each system will change.
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