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How to apply for a 900mhz STL..?

S

spinjector

Hi all,

The company I work for is a vexing conglomeration of stations that have changed hands a few times. Since T1 is a lot easier to move than a 900mhz STL, that's what everything is running on. Well...I'm sick of T1. Every time there's a storm, the darn things have a stroke and start acting like electronic pogo sticks.

So... I've never done the paperwork for this before, so I'd like to ask for advice on how to file with the FCC to change an existing 900mhz STL path. We have a number of existing licenses that came with the various stations we have, and one in particular is almost exactly what I need, but one end of it would have to move.

I've installed the "Cavell, Mertz & Associates Google Earth Plugin", and found the position of the studios & transmitter make the existing path almost identical to what I need to change it to. The difference in heading is 4 degrees, but the new path would be almost exactly twice as long as the existing one.

Where do I even start? Do I need a contract engineer for this kind of thing? Or is P2P easier to do than AM & FM..?

Thanks.
 
http://www.rflicensing.com/ seems to have a better grasp on reality than one of the other major coordinators.
We've had several instances of either no notification of "coordinated" frequencies or ones that did cause severe interference when tested.

After you get a frequency I would check with the local SBE coordinator (if there is one in your area). They generally have a better idea if it'll actually work.
http://www.sbe.org/documents/freqcoor_099.pdf
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107696213440042586661.000459db4324b77490e75&ll=73.627789,-117.070312&spn=59.428844,225&z=2
 
Before you give up on T1, see if your local telco has fiber running to or even near your TX site. I had a T1 that did the same thing on copper, between the storms and the ice in the winter getting into a repeater can it was a nightmare. Fiber terminated near the TX, wrangled with Verizon for a little bit and finally got the fiber up there when they saw how much service was being interrupted. Since fiber, maybe 1-2 minutes of down time per year over the past 3 years.
 
I will throw out two other names I was given by a consultant for an STL project I will have later this year.

Micronet Comm www.micronetcom.com
Comsearch www.comsearch.com

Havent looked into either company yet, and I do appreciate the other two names given previously that I had not heard of. Definately will check them out too. From what I hear using one company for the search, coordination, and fcc paperwork is ultimately the way to go even though it may cost a little more money at a savings in sanity. True? I cannot afford to loose any more hair!
 
Another vote for the CC guys at http://www.rflicensing.com/... Being they are broadcast folks themselves sort of helps cut through the BS with STL licensing in general. It's really too bad the FCC decided broadcast now has to go through a formal coordination opposed to the SBE system that worked just fine. It's more cost, red tape and BS for litterly a problem that DIDN'T EXIST.
 
WNTIRadio said:
Before you give up on T1, see if your local telco has fiber running to or even near your TX site.
Click to expand...
Is there a fiber at the site? There's an OC3 for the two cellular carriers that lease our tower. =-)

The problem is that Verizon wants $1600/mo for the T1.
 
Whoa, that's a lot! How far are you going? I had a 4 mile point to point T1 for $370/mo. Yikes, I can see where an STL would pay for itself. How far is the hop? Have you considered putting the T1 on 5.8Ghz? You can retain your current T1 interface equipment and get the antennas/radios.
 
The T1 hop is about 10 feet. =-)

The STL I'm hoping for is about 10 miles from a 450-foot tower to a 6 story office building, with the STL gear prolly being about 8 stories up on top of the elevator shack.

I've plotted the signal path with Google Earth using the above elevations, and it seems to be direct line of sight. The line doesn't cut into the ground, and as far as I can tell there are no tall buildings in the way.

I think what I'm going to do is get a cheap telescope from Wally World and go up to the roof on a clear day and see if I can get an idea of how close the beam would come to the ground and/or any nearby buildings.
 
Nostalgia said:
I will throw out two other names I was given by a consultant for an STL project I will have later this year.

Micronet Comm www.micronetcom.com
Comsearch www.comsearch.com

Havent looked into either company yet, and I do appreciate the other two names given previously that I had not heard of. Definately will check them out too. From what I hear using one company for the search, coordination, and fcc paperwork is ultimately the way to go even though it may cost a little more money at a savings in sanity. True? I cannot afford to loose any more hair!
Click to expand...

Given a choice, RF Licensing is pretty reasonable and accurate. You can call them and reach a human too. The others? Not so much. When the coordination rules changed a number of years ago, I decided to see how difficult it was to roll my own. It turned out to be only slightly more difficult that before, and only required pre-coordination as an addition condition. So I send letters, and follow up with a phone call or e-mail to make sure the stations potentially affected are notified. The Google Earth tool is really good, but does not show applications, only licenses, so you have to be careful if you use that. The Part 101 rules are published, and not very difficult to comply with.
I do most of the STL applications here in Hawaii these days. It is easier here, except on Oahu, which might as well be Los Angeles or Chicago. The congestion is similar.
 
If you can find a high powered laser to borrow or rent, shoot that from the studio to your stl recieve location. If you see it, you're in like flin. There's fresnal zone stuff to get somewhat concerned about, but for the most part what you see is what you get.
 
If you Use the Mosley 950Mhz LanLink system. you do not need to License it.
This is a spreadsprectrum IP system.
Or you can go with Ubiquitys NanoStation 5 gig IP system.
Both of these would require you to use some sort of Audio to IP Codec's
The NanoStation is the Cheaper way to go.
I am Running 2 stations through the Mosley system its a 4 mile hop.
The NanoStation is a backup.
 
"Just make sure you don't point the lazer at an aircraft.
FAA and DHS really get upset."

You've got that right! Be SURE not to point it at aircraft! Also, be very careful with a high powered laser with your eyesight. They aren't toys, ya know...
 
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