What you need to do.
CHECK YOUR LICENSE
Verify that your company or organization has a current and valid FCC Part 90 radio station license. A license is required to legally operate any Part 90 (land mobile radio) radio system. This license may have been issued directly to your company or organization or, third party repeater service provider or other entity that provides your radio infratructure. If you are unable to verify that a current license for your system exists, you should contact one of our representivies who will assist you. You can also contact an FCC certified frequency coordinator. You should do this immediately to avoid any loss of use of your radio system or any penalties for unauthorized or illegal operation.
INVENTORY YOUR EQUIPMENT
Perform a full inventory of all radios in your system, including all portable (hand-held) radios, all mobile (in-vehicle) radios and all dispatcher-used radios. Also any radio for wireless data or SCADA that operates below 512 MHz should be recorded. This includes any radios at remote tower sites or other remote locations. It necessary to list the specific makes and model numbers of all radios. Although the serial number is typeically not necessary, it may be useful with some equipment where the lot number changes functionality as well as provide you with a means of tracking your assets.
HAVE YOUR EQUIPMENT EVALUATED
Contact one of our representatives who will provide assistance in determining which models are capable of simply being re-programmed for narrowband operation and which models are not. Any radio that cannot be re-programmed to narrowband operation be will need to be replaced.Land Mobile Radios manufactured after 1997 should be "narrowband" ready; however, it is recommended that all currently used radios in a system be verified as being "narrowband" capable.
This is a free service we offer to our existing customers and for new accounts, any fees may be credited towards future purchases for compliance.
BUDGET FOR THE CONVERSION
Once we have evaluated your equipment, we will be able to provide you with pricing to program, upgrade or replace your equipment.
You should then initiate your internal business process of budgeting for and procuring any new narrowband capable replacement radios as may be necessary.
PLAN FOR THE MIGRAGTION
Whether your are a business, organization or government agency you may find that a slow and systematic approach to replacing equipment will be easier on your capitial than a single "fork-lift" upgrade all at once. This makes good business sense.
Please note that any new radios procured should not be programmed for narrowband operation until the full conversion is ready.
Using both "wideband" and "narrowband" radios on the same system frequency - is not recommended.
Try to plan actual reprogramming of all radios in a system as close to simultaneously as possible to assure minimal disruption to normal radio communication operations.Licensees whose radio systems are interoperable with external agency or organization radio systems should coordinate their conversion activities and plans with those agencies or organizations to insure that radio interoperability capabilities are factored into any narrowbanding conversion plan. It is highly recommended that your company or organization work closely with a professional two way radio service vendor such as Creative Electronics during the development of any system conversion plan to insure there will be "no surprises" during the actual "narrowbanding" cutover.
SCHEDULE THE CONVERSION
Contact our office to evauate dates and times for the actual system conversion (or cutover). It is very important that all radio users have been advised in advance and are aware of the process. Also make sure that all portable and mobile radios are readily available for reprogramming at pre-scheduled times.7) The final step in the "narrowbanding" process is to modify your FCC radio station license to add the necessary narrowband emission designator(s) and remove any "wideband" emission designators once the conversion is completed.
This would also be an opportunity to make any other changes or updates to a license that may be required. It is strongly recommended that you employ the services of a reputable and qualified company such as Creative Electonics for FCC licensing assistance.
DON'T PROCRASTINATE
Please Do not wait until the last minute to begin or complete the "narrowbanding" process - by doing so, you will be risking not only the use of your current radio frequency(s), but the benefits enjoyed and the investment you have made in your radio system equipment as well. Non-compliance may result in the cancellation of your license(s) by the FCC.
