Is there a way to download the current FCC STL database in spreadsheet format?
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STL Database
- Thread starter BobOnTheJob
- Start date
Good question actually. I've wondered the same thing. Boy, things were sure better before the damn goverment stuck their nose in and forced everyone through a coordinator. Back in the "good 'ol days" a simple call to the local state SBE coordinator got a frequency, if available, and listed on their online database (at least here). Now the SBE database may not be right anymore and the FCC one isn't easily accessable, or at least I cannot find it. Leave it to our "friends" at the federal goverment/FCC to come up with such a great solution to a problem that, in most cases, simply didn't exist before they bothered us.
That pretty well sums it up OKC. There are databases of various FCC items (none labeled STL or RPU that I see) which can be downloaded but they are .dat files. Heaven forbid they would be in a .xls format that the average Joe could slice and dice to at least get some idea of what 'might' be available. The consultants seem to have access to the data, which they'll share for a price. Something stinks here...
I would love to see that too. Got an LPFM that may be getting displaced and be stuck having to move to a tall enough tower to get a waiver. We were told what we had may have been the "last" STL freq available in this area, but now with a change in the direction of the path I would like to find out if it will even work or if we are going to have to buy some IP radios or be stuck at the mercy of the phone company.
The CDBS is not accurate. Mainly due to a lot of licensees not bothering to update their info.
Locally I maintain an Excel list of STL's around here. Of the 48 or so paths/frequencies I know of, 8 are not in their licensed location/path or even on a licensed frequency in 2 cases. I do a lot of snooping/monitoring with the Icom R7000. I get surprised a lot.
Load Google Earth and go here: http://www.fccinfo.com/fccinfo_google_earth.php
Locally I maintain an Excel list of STL's around here. Of the 48 or so paths/frequencies I know of, 8 are not in their licensed location/path or even on a licensed frequency in 2 cases. I do a lot of snooping/monitoring with the Icom R7000. I get surprised a lot.
Load Google Earth and go here: http://www.fccinfo.com/fccinfo_google_earth.php
Yes, this is a strictly pen and paper routine, checking every station in town to see what they have licensed. Then you make yourself a chart showing the frequencies and directions.
Then you get a scanner with the 950 band (I have a little $100 Uniden I can run off the cigarette lighter). and see who else is using an STL (but forgot to license it).
In any event, once you find something that you think will work, you still need to pay to do the prior coordination notice process. You can always pay a little extra to see what they come up with.
I use Terrestrial RF licensing in Tulsa: www.rflicensing.com/
Then you get a scanner with the 950 band (I have a little $100 Uniden I can run off the cigarette lighter). and see who else is using an STL (but forgot to license it).
In any event, once you find something that you think will work, you still need to pay to do the prior coordination notice process. You can always pay a little extra to see what they come up with.
I use Terrestrial RF licensing in Tulsa: www.rflicensing.com/
Sounds like everyone is doing what I've done...the priceless (and free) Google Earth database along with verification. I'm aware of stations that moved their studio 15 miles and the Google Earth database still shows the original path. Another station (owned by one of the biggest chains) was moved 50 miles...the old studio and transmitter sites are decommissioned yet the path is still licensed. There are more within 50 miles of here. As TomT noted, it's a pen and paper exercise. FCCInfo gets this database but we can't. I've already done my pen and paper exercise for the area of interest, but having what FCCInfo has in .xls form would have saved me (and countless others) a couple hours worth of cross referencing information..
I love the FCCinfo.com Google data. I use the Tulsa guys for all my coordination needs. It's a shame we even have to go through the mess in the first place, but Steve in Tulsa at least makes the process as easy as possible.
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