GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICE
LICENSING GUIDELINES
How to Complete the FCC Form 574
(revised 9/2/94)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Section Title) (Line Number)
Foreword 121
How to Use These Guidelines 128
The Purpose of These Licensing Guidelines 150
Why Change? 186
The Date of These Guidelines, and How to Obtain a Current Copy 206
Sample Applications (and brief commentary on each) 237
1: One channel: 462 MHz mobile only 303
2: Two channel: 462/467 MHz mobile only 568
3: One channel: mobile and small base 805
4: Two channel: mobile, small base, small control 1061
5: Two channel: mobile, small and conventional base,
small control 1304
6: Two channel: mobile, fixed and T/U base, small base,
small control 1545
7: Two channel: mobile, base, small base, small control,
repeater 1803
8: Two channel: mobile, base, small base, small control,
multiple repeater 2053
9: Two channel: mobile, multiple base. multiple small
base, multiple small control, multiple repeater,
T/U land stations (2 forms) 2321
Chapter 1: Choosing the Right Radio Service 2799
A: Basic Purpose of the GMRS 2813
B: Radio Services Available for Licensing 2857
The Various Other Private Land Mobile Services 2866
The Mobile Telephone Radio Services 2924
The Amateur Radio Service 2956
The Citizens Band Radio Service 2988
The General Mobile Radio Service 3020
C: In Summary about the GMRS 3076
Chapter 2: Choosing the Right GMRS Channel 3113
A: The Primary versus the Interstitial Channels 3126
B: The Selectability of Channels 3194
C: Finding the Best Local Channel(s) 3227
D: Special Provisions for Use of the 675 Channel 3274
Chapter 3: Choosing the Right GMRS Station Configuration 3329
A: Types of Mobile Stations 3371
The Handheld Radio 3374
The Vehicle-Mounted Radio 3401
B: Type of Land Stations 3463
Base Stations 3474
Control Stations 3547
Repeater Stations 3623
C: Changing Station Types 3671
D: Land Stations at Temporary, Unspecified Locations 3738
Chapter 4: Completing the Individual Questions 3821
A: Before You Start Filling in the FCC Form 574 3851
B: Distinguishing Land Stations Operated at Fixed Sites
from Other Stations 3870
C: The Individual Questions 3923
Items 1 through 11 3932
Items 12 and 13 4265
Items 14 through 17 4481
Items 18 through 25 4569
Items 26 through 29 4828
Items 30 through 38 5048
Final Items 5229
D: Functional System Diagram 5246
E: Completeness 5262
Chapter 5: Submitting the Completed Application 5281
A: Before Submitting Your Application 5298
B: Make and Keep a Copy of the Application 5332
C: The Filing Fee 5343
D: The User Fee 5364
Special Treatment for Non-Profit Licensees 5378
E: The Mailing Address for the Application 5392
Same Mail Address for New GMRS Licensees 5402
New Mailing Address for GMRS License Modifications 5417
GMRS License Renewal -- Several Options 5437
F: Available Payment Methods 5477
FCC Publication Describes Payment Methods 5508
Chapter 6: Practical Guidelines for Operating Your GMRS Station 5528
Chapter 7: Possible Future Directions for the GMRS (A Summary) 5657
Appendices
Appendix A: Definition of the Areas Included North of Line A
and East of Line C. 5701
Appendix B: Definition of the Areas in the QUIET ZONE. 6032
Appendix C: How to Calculate EFFECTIVE RADIATED POWER. 6066
Step 1: Determine Antenna Gain 6110
Step 2: Determine Feedline Losses 6209
Step 3: Determine Device/Component Loss 6323
Step 4: Sum the Losses 6366
Step 5: Calculate Overall Gain/Loss 6373
Step 6: Applying the Gain Factor 6375
Other Points to Remember 6403
Appendix D: How to Calculate Coordinates and Height above
Mean Sea Level with a Topographic Quadrangle Map 6466
I: What are Topographic Quadrangle Maps? 6490
II: Determining Geographic Coordinates. 6522
III: Determining Height above Mean Sea Level. 6616
IV: Where to Find Topographic Maps. 6669
V: Other Sources of Information on Geographic
Coordinates. 6751
VI: The Problem with Inaccuracies. 6772
=============================================================================
=============================================================================
=============================================================================
FOREWORD
Even if you read no further and want to jump directly to the samples, you
should read at least this FOREWORD section.
How to Use These LICENSING GUIDELINES.
Although we show nine specific examples in these LICENSING GUIDELINES, there
are nearly an infinite variety of combinations and permutations. Each
applicant may have his or her own special needs and intentions.
However, the examples shown and discussed here should provide the basis for
almost all applications. Some options are shown only once or twice, but could
be applied to other versions as well. For instance, the method by which to
request land stations to be operated at temporary, unspecified locations is
shown in Samples 6 and 9, but could be added to any of the other samples as
well.
The processing ("turn-around") time at the FCC's Gettysburg (PA) applications
processing facility varies according to work load. Since the beginning of
1993, this time has varied from as little as 8 working days, to as much as 20
working days. It has been even longer for applications requiring special
screening, for instance because of unusual configurations, or because of
antenna heights greater than 200 feet or located near airports.
If you wish to amend your application once it has been filed, the total
processing time also can increase. (See Chapter 5.)
If you have a computer and a modem, you can obtain the latest information on
applications turn-around time, and on many other aspects of the GMRS, from the
PRSG electronic BBS (bulletin board system): (313) 995-2100. It is available
24 hours per day (except for occasional short periods of downtime for
maintenance). The latest updates for these LICENSING GUIDELINES are also
available on this BBS.
The Purpose of These LICENSING GUIDELINES.
The FCC publishes its own FCC FORM 574 INSTRUCTIONS. This FCC publication
provides general instructions and examples for all dozen and a half radio
services for which the Form 574 is used to apply for new or modified radio
stations. Because of the broad coverage of these FCC INSTRUCTIONS, the many
unique recommendations, alternatives and exemptions specific to the GMRS are
not sufficiently explained, and sometimes are ignored altogether.
The GMRS once closely resembled most of the other private land mobile radio
services, especially the Business Radio Service. However, the GMRS has begun
to evolve along a very different path. The screening procedures and licensing
opportunities for the GMRS increasingly vary from those for other private land
mobile services, and they occasionally change (even without benefit of
announcement or of incorporation into the FCC Rules).
These factors combine to limit the accuracy and timeliness of the FCC's
INSTRUCTIONS.
The PRSG has prepared these LICENSING GUIDELINES to address these
inadequacies, and to respond to the burgeoning growth in GMRS licensing for
personal use caused by recent wide public exposure of this personal radio
service.
Why Change?
Many local GMRS user groups have developed licensing formats that they
continue to use although the FCC Rules have changed. Many formats fail to
take advantage of some alternatives (such as licensing for small base
stations) that have become available just in the past five years.
Others continue to employ the multiple-licensing format for local repeaters,
although this licensing method imposes unnecessary obligations on each
individual licensee. Even the FCC has now concluded that the multiple-
licensing format should be abandoned in favor of the shared/cooperative-use
format. (For years, the FCC had actually discouraged this latter format.)
These LICENSING GUIDELINES are intended not only for the new GMRS user, but
also for the experienced licensee. We encourage you to review the
recommendations here, and to modify your local licensing practices
accordingly.
The Date of These LICENSING GUIDELINES,
and How to Obtain a Current Copy.
The PRSG reviews all GMRS applications filed with and all GMRS licenses
granted by the FCC. Although we are not privy to the telephone communications
between FCC personnel and individual applicants, we can still see the
end-product of the questions and changes that are discussed during those
communications.
The PRSG will periodically amend these LICENSING GUIDELINES to respond to
perceived changes in these screening procedures. The published version of
these revisions will be available from the PRSG. In addition, the simple
text version of the latest changes will be publicly available (and without
cost, except for the long-distance call) on the PRSG's electronic bulletin
board system (BBS). It can be reached 24 hours per day at our Michigan office
at: (313) 995-2100.
The date of publication of this version is: SEPTEMBER 2, 1994. The next
anticipated changes will be posted in January 1995. This version
of the PRSG LICENSING GUIDELINES probably will not be accurate after the end
of 1994.
If you have additional recommendations or precautions for these LICENSING
GUIDELINES, please send them to us in writing or on our BBS. If we find them
to be appropriate, we will incorporate them into the next revision.
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Sample Applications (and Brief Commentary on Each)
These samples were originally prepared to accompany the PRSG publication,
"Licensing Guidelines." However, they can also be used as stand-alone
examples, but only when you observe the PROBLEMS associated with some of them.
Representing the FCC Form 574 in merely 80 columns forces some compromises.
(The 80-column limit is necessary to fit the information on a conventional
computer display.) Therefore, the Form 574 has been divided into a dozen
sections representing related or contiguous entries. On the Form itself,
these sections are located as below:
+--------------------------------+
| |
+-----------------------------------------+------------+ |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| DISPLAY 1: | DISPLAY 2: |
| items 1-11 | items 12-13 |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------+ |
| | |
| DISPLAY 3: | |
| items 14-17 | |
| | |
+------------------------------------------------------+-------------------+
| |
| DISPLAY 4: |
| items 18-25 |
| |
+-----------------+---------------------------------+----------------------+
| | | |
| DISPLAY 5: | DISPLAY 6: | DISPLAY 7: |
| item 26 | item 27 | item 28 |
| | | |
+-----------------+------------------------------+--+----------------------+
| | |
| DISPLAY 8: | |
| item 29 | DISPLAY 9: |
| | items 30-31 |
+------------------------------------------------+ |
| | |
| +------------------------+-------------------------+
| | |
| DISPLAY 10: | DISPLAY 11: |
| items 32-37 | item 38 |
| | (not applicable to GMRS) |
| | |
| | |
+-----------------------+--------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------------------------------+
| DISPLAY 12: |
| Final Certifications |
+--------------------------------------------------+
==============================================================================
SAMPLE 1
Station Configuration:
Single-channel mobile units on only 462 MHz.
Operating Area:
Countywide.
Special Example:
This is the MINIMUM possible configuration which includes both a vehicular
and a portable unit. If there were only a portable unit, the output power
(item 5) could be reduced, since the typical portable unit transmits with
no more than 5 watts.
Advantages:
This is the simplest possible mobile-only system.
Disadvantages:
There is no provision for any land station operation.
There is no provision for subsequent repeater use (which requires the
mobiles to be able to transmit in the 467 MHz band).
PRSG recommendation:
This format should NOT be used. Instead see Sample 4 for the MINIMUM
system configuration which we recommend.
If you install even just a modest UHF antenna on the roof of your home, and
attach it to your handheld transceiver, you can significantly increase the
communications range to your other handheld units. However, the license
issued in response to this application (Sample 1) would not permit such an
installation. Sooner or later you will probably want to take advantage of
the "small base station" license for your home. See Sample 3 for the
minimum system which includes a small base station, although Sample 4
(which also adds the upper band GMRS frequencies) is actually preferable.
One of the greatest benefits of the GMRS is the availability of repeaters.
However, a mobile unit must be able to transmit on the 467 MHz frequency of
the assigned channel to be able to communicate through a GMRS repeater
station.
Many first-time purchasers of GMRS radios acquire only single-band (462
MHz) radios, since these are the kind most widely available in local
consumer electronics stores and through mail-order sources. However, these
single-band radios have no upper-band (repeater input) capability. Under
this license, you would have no authorization for routine repeater
communications, even if you later do acquire mobile units which have the
467 MHz band capability.
(Even though this license does not authorize any 467 MHz band operation,
you would still be permitted to transmit on 467.675 MHz, to communicate
through a repeater<+>. The use of this channel is a special exception, but
only covers emergency and traveler assistance communications, not your
routine communications.)
A preferable mobile-only format is shown in Sample 2, but the addition of a
small base station (in Sample 4) would be better yet.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| | | | | | | | | | |
G| 462.675 | MO | 2 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 1 |
| Portable 1 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [X] Countywide MI |
| Ingham |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| | | |
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, MI |
(517) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
| | |
| Middlecity | MI | 48999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | | |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | | | |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
Firstname R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 517 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (517) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 2
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on both 462 and 467 MHz.
Operating Area:
Circular reference to a city.
Special example:
This is the MINIMUM possible configuration which includes two primary
channels (the maximum) and both upper and lower bands (in order to use a
repeater).
Advantages:
This Sample provides the potential for repeater usage by the mobile units.
Disadvantages:
There is no provision for any land station operation.
PRSG recommendation:
This format should NOT be used. Instead see Sample 4 for the MINIMUM system
configuration which we recommend.
If you install even just a modest UHF antenna on the roof of your home, and
attach it to your handheld transceiver, you can SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE the
communications range to your other handheld units. However, the license
issued in response to this application (Sample 2) would not permit such an
installation. Sooner or later you will probably want to take advantage of the
"small base station" license for your home. See Sample 4.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| | | | | | | | | | |
G| 462.600 | MO | 4 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
G| 462.675 | MO | 4 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
G| 467.600 | MO | 4 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
G| 467.675 | MO | 4 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 2 |
| Portable 2 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [X] Other 35 MIRA Boise, MI |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| | | |
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, MI |
(517) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
| | |
| Middlecity | MI | 48999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | | |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | | | |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
Firstname R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 517 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (517) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 3
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on only 462 MHz, plus a small base station (FBA) at a
single site.
Operating Area:
Statewide.
Special example:
This is the minimum two-channel configuration which also includes a small
base station.
This Sample demonstrates the format to use for a modification (items
32/35/36) to an existing license.
Advantages:
This includes a land station (FBA).
Disadvantages:
There is no provision for subsequent repeater use (which requires the
mobiles to be able to transmit in the 467 MHz band).
PRSG recommendation:
This format should NOT be used. Instead see Sample 4 for the MINIMUM
system configuration which we recommend.
One of the greatest benefits of the GMRS is the availability of repeaters.
However, a mobile unit must be able to transmit on the 467 MHz frequency of
the assigned channel to be able to communicate through a GMRS repeater
station.
Many first-time purchasers of GMRS radios acquire only single-band (462
MHz) radios, since these are the kind most widely available in local
consumer electronics stores and through mail-order sources. However, these
single-band radios have no upper-band (repeater input) capability. Under
this license, you would have no authorization for routine repeater
communications, even if you later do acquire mobile units which have the
467 MHz band capability.
(Even though this license does not authorize any 467 MHz band operation,
you would still be permitted to transmit on 467.675 MHz, to communicate
through a repeater. The use of this channel is a special exception, but
only covers emergency and traveler assistance communications, not your
routine communications.)
A preferable format is shown in Sample 4.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| | | | | | | | | | |
G| 462.575 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.675 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
H| 462.575 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 3 |
| Portable 4 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [X] Statewide IA |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| | | |
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, IA |
(515) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
FBA: 1234 North Main Street | | |
Middlecity, IA | Middlecity | IA | 50999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | | |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | | | |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [ ] New Station
[X] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
Items 1, 2, 3, 4: Add 575 channel.
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
KAA4321
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 4
(NOTE: This is the minimum station configuration
which the PRSG recommends for all users.)
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
A small base station at a single site.
A small control station at a single site.
Operating Area:
Multiple counties in the same state.
Special example:
This demonstrates the format to use for a reinstatement (items 32/36) of a
prior license.
Advantages:
This provides both for land stations (small base and small control) and for
potential repeater operations (using the 467 MHz band repeater input
channels) using someone else's repeater (at a different location).
Disadvantages:
This does not include the repeater itself. However, if you are merely using
someone else's licensed repeater, this format is adequate (and preferred!).
PRSG recommendation:
This is the MINIMUM format which should be used by ALL applicants.
If you are not likely to use a repeater in your local area (but you still
want your mobile units to be able to communicate through a repeater when
they travel away from your home area), then you can delete the two lines
that show the small control stations (FX1 under item 2). If you wish to
install a repeater at this same site, use Sample 7.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| | | | | | | | | | |
G| 462.575 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.675 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 467.575 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
G| 467.675 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.575 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.575 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | MO | 7 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 2 |
| Portable 3 |
| Aircraft 1 |
| Marine 1 |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [X] Other IA counties Ada, Lane |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| | | |
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, IA |
(515) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
FBA: 1234 North Main Street | | |
Middlecity, IA | Middlecity | IA | 50999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | | |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | | | |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [ ] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [X] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
KAA4321
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 5
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
Both a small base station and a conventional base station at a single site.
A small control station at a single site.
Operating Area:
Circular radius from Station A
Special example:
This sample demonstrates pager licensing separate from other mobile units.
Advantages:
This provides both for land stations (small base and small control) and for
potential repeater operations (using the 467 MHz band repeater input
channels). It also has a conventional base station (which is allowed the
full 50-watt transmitter).
Disadvantages:
This version requires calculation of your geographic coordinates, your
height above mean sea level, and the antenna height to tip.
PRSG recommendation:
This is the MINIMUM format which should be used by any applicant who wants
to license for a conventional base station (i.e., a base station with more
than 5 watts ERP).
If you are not likely to use a repeater in your local area (but you still
want your mobile units to be able to communicate through a repeater when
they travel away from your home area), then you can delete the two lines
that show the small control stations (FX1 under item 2).
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 300 | |1234 | 50 |12-34-56N|23-45-04W
A| 462.700 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 300 | |1234 | 50 |12-34-56N|23-45-04W
G| 462.675 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.700 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 467.675 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
G| 467.700 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.700 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.700 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 4 |
| Portable 4 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers 2 |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is 45 miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| 1234 North Main Street |Middlecity |Kane | IA
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, IA |
(515) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
FBA: 1234 North Main Street | | |
Middlecity, IA | Middlecity | IA | 50999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | X | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | tower | 30 feet |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | Kane County | 17 | W |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | X | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-9876
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 6
Station Configuration:
Single-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
Both a small base station and a conventional base station at a single site.
A small control station at a single site.
Both a small base station and a conventional base station at a temporary,
unspecified site.
A small control station at a temporary, unspecified site.
Operating Area:
Circular radius from specified coordinate point.
Special example:
This sample demonstrates licensing for operation of land stations at
temporary, unspecified locations.
Advantages:
This provides both for land stations (small base and small control) and for
potential repeater operations (using the 467 MHz band repeater input
channels) for some other licensee's repeater. It also has a conventional
base station (which is allowed the full 50-watt transmitter). Each of
these land stations is also authorized for operation at temporary,
unspecified locations.
Disadvantages:
This version requires calculation of your geographic coordinates, your height
above mean sea level, and the antenna height to tip.
This is only a single-channel operation. Adding a second channel would
overrun onto a second Form 574, but would still be issued as just a single
license (and a single application fee). To add a second channel, insert a
line after each of those shown, with the second frequency shown but
otherwise duplicating the other station information.
PRSG recommendation:
If you need an authorization for one or more land station classes to be
operated at temporary, unspecified locations, then this is the kind of
format which should be used.
This Sample includes a conventional base station (and its temporary
counterpart), which could be omitted if not needed in your system. Once a
station authorized for such temporary operation has been at a particular
site for a year, you must modify your license to add that specific site.
If you intend to operate a land station recurrently from one or more sites
(even if not a year at a time), it is better to add that to your license in
the first place. The FCC is expected soon to consider imposing additional
logging and identification requirements on land stations operated at
temporary, unspecified locations.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 300 | |1234 | 50 |12-34-56N|23-45-04W
G| 462.675 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 467.675 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | FBT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | FBAT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | FX1T | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 4 |
| Portable 4 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is 45 miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat 12-35-19 N |
| Lon 23-44-52 W |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| 1234 North Main Street |Middlecity |Kane | IA
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, IA |
(515) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
FBA: 1234 North Main Street | | |
Middlecity, IA | Middlecity | IA | 50999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | X | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | tower | 30 feet |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | Kane County | 17 | W |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | X | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-9876
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 7
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
A small base station at a single site.
A single-licensee repeater at the same, single site.
Operating Area:
Multiple states.
Special example:
This demonstrates licensing for a repeater collocated with home small base
station. It also demonstrates how a single site designator (A) can be used
for antennas at two different heights on the same structure. If the second
antenna were on a different structure but at the same location (same
coordinates), a second site designator (B) would need to be used, in order
to distinguish different structure or antenna heights (items 9 and 26
through 29).
Advantages:
This authorizes a single-licensee repeater on each of two channels from
your home location. If you think you might install such a repeater, then
you can save having to modify your license later by including this station
on your application.
Disadvantages:
The licensing of a repeater requires the calculation of your coordinates,
the height above mean sea level, and the antenna height to tip.
There is no RF control station (to operate through a repeater at another
location). This could be added (if needed) following the format in Samples
5 or 8.
PRSG recommendation:
This is the MINIMUM format which should be used is you anticipate
installing a repeater station in your home.
It still gives you the small base station, which could be used to
communicate with your mobile units on any of the interstitial frequencies
if the extended range of the repeater were not needed, or if your primary
repeater channel was busy.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| 462.675 | FB2 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 300 | |1234 |150 |12-34-56N|23-45-04W
A| 462.700 | FB2 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 300 | |1234 |130 |12-34-56N|23-45-04W
G| 462.675 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.700 | FBA | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.700 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.700 | MO | 8 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 4 |
| Portable 4 |
| Aircraft |
| Marine |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [X] Other States IA, MN, NE, SD |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| 1234 North Main Street |Middlecity |Kane | IA
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
| ATTN:
1234 North Main Street | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Middlecity, IA |
(515) 555-1212 |=======================================
|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
FBA: 1234 North Main Street | | |
Middlecity, IA | Middlecity | IA | 50999
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | X | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | tower | 130 feet |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | Kane County | 17 | W |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | X | 4/01/92 | Firstname I. Lastname | FAA Des Moines |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hisname
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-9876
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 8
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
Both a small and a conventional base station at each of two sites (your
regular mailing address, and one separate address).
A small control station at each of two sites. The one collocated with the
your regular mailing address does not need to have an RF control for the
repeater at the same site.
A single-licensee repeater at one of your base station sites.
A multiple-licensee repeater at a second, remote site.
Operating Area:
Portions of multiple states.
Special example:
This demonstrates licensing for one repeater collocated with your home base
station, and a second located elsewhere,
This also demonstrates how to license for base and control station
operations at each of two sites. If you anticipate recurrently operating a
base and control station from multiple sites, each should be specifically
included on the license.
Advantages:
This format covers operations of two repeaters at different sites, one at
your home, the other at a remote location.
Disadvantages:
The licensing of the repeaters and the conventional base stations requires
the calculation of your coordinates, the heights above mean sea level, and
the antenna heights to tip.
The system is more complex because you don't need the same control-station
configuration at both sites. Explaining that the home (mailing address)
site (designated B) does not need an RF control station for the collocated
repeater requires additional lines in item 18, or a separate discussion on
the reverse side of the application.
If you are not the PRIMARY licensee of the remote repeater (site A, on
Redtop Mountain), it would be better to drop reference to that station on
this application. If you include it, then this will make YOU (as well as
any other licensees for this same station) responsible for ALL
transmissions of that remote repeater. If you are merely a user of that
remote repeater and not its primary licensee, then you should deleted
reference to it on your application and instead enter into a written
contract for your use of that station. (See Para. 95.33.)
PRSG recommendation:
This would be a typical format for licensing for both a repeater at home
(locally controlled) and another at a remote location.
Including the repeater at the remote location is NOT recommended unless you
are its PRIMARY licensee (and must therefore assume the full responsibility
for its operation). If you are the SOLE licensee of that remote repeater
(on Redtop Mountain), then you should change the station class from FB4 to
FB2.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| 462.675 | FB4 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 400 | |1234 |260 |12-34-56N|23-45-17W
B| 462.600 | FB2 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 250 | | 944 |120 |12-43-21N|24-13-05W
B| 462.600 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 250 | | 944 |120 |12-43-21N|24-13-05W
B| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 250 | | 944 |120 |12-43-21N|24-13-05W
C| 462.600 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 200 | | 917 | 45 |12-47-54N|23-55-39W
C| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 200 | | 917 | 45 |12-47-54N|23-55-39W
G| 462.600 | FBA | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.675 | FBA | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 467.600 | FX1 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
G| 467.675 | FX1 | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.600 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.600 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | of |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 5 |
| Portable 5 |
| Aircraft 1 |
| Marine 1 |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [ ] Nationwide |
| [X] Other west IA, south MN |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| radio site #15, Redtop Mountain |near Chicopee |Wilson | MN
B| 1234 North Main Street |Middlecity |Kane | IA
C| farmhouse, Morgan Acres, Route 32 |Ashton |Tate | IA
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
1234 North Main Street, Middlecity,| ATTN:
IA (515) 555-1212 | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
Morgan Acres, Route 32, Ashton, IA:|
FX1s on 600 and 675 |=======================================
1234 North Main Street, Middlecity,|23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
IA: FX1 only on 675 | | |
FBA: Morgan Acres, Route 32, | Middlecity | IA | 50999
Ashton, IA | | |
1234 N Main Str., Middlecity, | | |
IA | | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | X | KAA1234 ZA |
B | X | | | |
C | X | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | tower | 240 feet |
B | tower | 100 feet |
C | building | 35 feet |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | Wilson Muni | 17 | WNW |
B | Kane County | 17 | W |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | X | 4/01/92 | Firstname I. Lastname | FAA Des Moines |
B | X | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hername
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
SAMPLE 9
Station Configuration:
Two-channel mobiles on 462 and 467 MHz.
Both a small and a conventional base station at each of two sites (your
regular mailing address, and one separate address).
A small control station at each of two sites, neither collocated with a
repeater.
Multiple-licensee repeaters at each of four remote sites.
All land station classes and channels also authorized to operate at
temporary, unspecified locations.
Operating Area:
Nationwide. "Continental US," which would exclude Hawaii and US
possessions, can be abbreviated as "CONUS".
Special example:
This sample demonstrates multiple land-station (including remote,
multiple-site, multiple-user repeater) licensing.
This sample requires the use of TWO Forms 574 to accommodate all of the
station and channel entries, but would still be issued under a single
callsign (and require only a single application fee) because there are land
stations at not more than 6 specified locations.
Advantages:
This license will cover the operation of multiple repeaters plus
authorization for land station operations at temporary, unspecified sites.
Disadvantages:
This version requires calculation of your geographic coordinates, your
height above mean sea level, and the antenna height to tip for each of
multiple sites.
If you are not the PRIMARY licensee of any of the remote repeaters (sites A
through D), it would be better to drop reference to the respective stations
on this application. (However, note that in item 26, no prior licenses for
the stations at sites C and D have been issued.) If you include any
repeater stations for which you are not the PRIMARY licensee, you (as well
as any other licensees for these same stations) will be responsible for ALL
transmissions of those respective remote repeaters. If you are merely a
user of one or more of these remote repeaters and not their primary
licensee, then you should deleted reference to them on your application and
instead enter into a written contract for your use of those stations. (See
Para. 95.33.)
PRSG recommendation:
Include only those repeaters on your application for which you will be the
PRIMARY licensee (the person who will have to assume ALL responsibility for
their proper operation).
On this application, the repeater at site B (Mount Palomar) is previously
licensed (KAA0123), and could probably be deleted. The repeaters at sites
C and D are apparently NOT already licensed, and should be included.
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
A| 462.575 | FB4 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 450 | |2210 |243 |55-44-56N|89-45-12W
B| 462.575 | FB4 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 350 | |1978 |134 |54-32-16N|87-43-21W
C| 462.675 | FB4 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 400 | |1772 |121 |54-33-38N|88-33-28W
D| 462.675 | FB4 | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 205 | |1609 | 80 |55-27-21N|89-04-04W
E| 462.575 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 200 | | 867 | 54 |54-29-28N|87-55-24W
E| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 200 | | 867 | 54 |54-29-28N|87-55-24W
F| 462.575 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 185 | | 912 | 38 |54-43-06N|87-53-18W
F| 462.675 | FB | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | 185 | | 912 | 38 |54-43-06N|87-53-18W
G| 462.575 | FBA | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 462.675 | FBA | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | 5 | | | | |
G| 467.575 | FX1 | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
G| 467.675 | FX1 | 2 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.575 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.575 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | 1 of 2 |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 5 |
| Portable 5 |
| Aircraft 1 |
| Marine 1 |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [X] Nationwide South of Line A |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| radio site #15, Redtop Mountain |near Chicopee |Wilson | MN
B| Mount Palomar, 15 miles SW of |Wadsworth |Dade | IA
C| elevator control room, 319 Broad |Chisolm |Matthews | IA
D| Broderick Building, 912 W. Huron |Dexter Hghts |Atkinson | MN
E| 1234 North Main Street |Middlecity |Kane | IA
F| farmhouse, Morgan Acres, Route 32 |Ashton |Tate | IA
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
1234 North Main Street, Middlecity,| ATTN:
IA (515) 555-1212 | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
farmhouse, Morgan Acres, Route 32, |
Ashton, IA |=======================================
FBA: 1234 N. Main Street, |23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
Middlecity, IA | | |
Morgan Acres, Rte 32, Ashton, | Middlecity | IA | 50999
IA | | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | X | WBG123 | IB |
B | | X | KAA0123 | ZA |
C | X | | | |
D | X | | | |
E | X | | | |
F | X | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | tower | 270 feet |
B | tower | 115 feet |
C | building | 105 feet |
D | building | 70 feet |
E | building | 52 feet |
F | building | 30 feet |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | Smith Field | 17 | N |
B | Floyd Intrntl | 32 | ESE |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | X | 3/31/72 | Central Comm Inc. | FAA Des Moines |
B | X | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First R. Hername
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Federal Communications Commission
APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE AND GENERAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
==============================================================================
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Freq MHz Class Unit Emis Desg Out ERP AAT HAMSL AHTT latitude longitude
===============================================================================
H| 467.675 | MO | 12 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.575 | FB4T | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | FB4T | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.575 | FBT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | FBT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 50 | | | | | |
H| 467.575 | FX1T | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 467.675 | FX1T | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.575 | FBAT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
H| 462.675 | FBAT | 1 | 20K0F3E | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
===============================================================================
=============================================|
|COMMISSION USE ONLY | Page No. |
| | 2 of 2 |
=============================================|
| 12. Number of Mobiles |
| By Category |
| |
| Vehicular 5 |
| Portable 5 |
| Aircraft 1 |
| Marine 1 |
| Pagers |
|====================================|
| 13. Area of Operation for |
| Mobiles, Temporary, or |
| Itinerant Stations |
| |
| is miles |
| radius of station A, |
| or is miles |
| radius of coordinates: |
| |
| Lat |
| Lon |
| County |
| State |
| If not, please check ONE: |
| [ ] Countywide |
| |
| [ ] Statewide |
| [X] Nationwide South of Line A |
| [ ] Other |
| __________________________________ |
===============================================================================
14. Station Address or Geographic Location 15. City 16. County 17. St.
A| | | |
B| | | |
C| | | |
D| | | |
E| | | |
F| | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
18. Location of Primary Control Point |19. Freq Advisory Comm No: 20. RS:ZA
(Include telephone number) and |=======================================
location of all Radio Control |21. Applicant/Licensee Name:
Stations with antenna under 20 |
ft. GMRS ONLY: List small control | LASTNAME, Firstname I.
station locations and "FBA" |
followed by small base locations |=======================================
with antennas under 20 ft. |22. Mailing Address:
|
1234 N. Main Street, Middlecity, IA| ATTN:
(515) 555-1212 | ADDRESS: 1234 North Main Street
farmhouse, Morgan Acres, Route 32, |
Ashton, IA |=======================================
FBA: 1234 N. Main Street, |23. City 24. State 25. ZIP Code
Middlecity, IA | | |
Morgan Acres, Rte 32, Ashton, | Middlecity | IA | 50999
IA | | |
| | |
===============================================================================
================================================
|26. Will antenna be mounted on a |
| structure with an existing antenna? |
| If yes, give call sign and radio |
| and radio service of existing license. |
|--------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Callsign Radio Service|
A | | | | |
B | | | | |
C | | | | |
D | | | | |
E | | | | |
F | | | | |
================================================
===============================================================================
27. Provide description of the structure on which your antenna is mounted and |
the height above ground to the top of the structure. (See antenna figures|
1-3 on reverse for samples.) |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Structure Type Structure Height Above Ground |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A | | |
B | | |
C | | |
D | | |
E | | |
F | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
28. Give the name of the nearest aircraft landing area, and the distance |
and direction to the nearest runway. |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Aircraft Landing Area Name Distance (Miles) Direction|
A | | | |
B | | | |
C | | | |
D | | | |
E | | | |
F | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
|29. Has notice of construction or alteration been filed with the FAA? If |
| yes, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and the FCC |
| office where filed. |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| No Yes Date Filed Name Under Which Filed FAA Office Where Filed |
A | | | | | |
B | | | | | |
C | | | | | |
D | | | | | |
E | | | | | |
F | | | | | |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
30. Applicant Classification [X] Individual [ ] Partnership
[ ] Association [ ] Corporation [ ] Govt. Entity
===============================================================================
31. Eligibility (Describe Activity): |
|
Licensee is over the age of 18 and is not the representative of a |
foreign government. Radios will be used only by applicant's |
immediate family residing in the same household. |
-------------------------|
|Give Rule Section |
| |
| 95.5 |
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
32. Application is for (check one): [X] New Station
[ ] Modification [ ] Assignment [ ] Reinstatement [ ] Renewal
===============================================================================
33. Does application include the complete system?
[X] Yes [ ] No
===============================================================================
34. Would a commission grant of your application be an action which may have a
significant environment effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules? If you answer yes, submit the statement as required
by Sections 1.1308 and 1.131.
[ ] Yes [X] No
===============================================================================
35. Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable:
===============================================================================
36. If other than new station, list call sign(s) of existing station(s)
to be modified, combined or reinstated.
===============================================================================
37. Individual completing this application form(s):
First I. Hername
Telephone No. ( 515 ) 555-1212
===============================================================================
38. Supplemental information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 MHz and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
(none of this section is applicable to the GMRS)
===============================================================================
Typed/Printed Name: Telephone No:
Firstname I. Lastname (515) 555-1212
Signature `MUST BE ORIGINAL' Date:
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
<EOF>
===========================================================================
===========================================================================
Chapter 1:
Choosing the Right Radio Service
Section 1A: Basic Purpose of the GMRS
Section 1B: Radio Services Available for Licensing
The Various Other Private Land Mobile Radio Services
The Mobile Telephone Radio Services
The Amateur Radio Service
The Citizens Band Radio Service
The General Mobile Radio Service
Section 1C: In Summary about the GMRS
Section 1A: Basic Purpose of the GMRS
Two key words summarize the GMRS: "PERSONAL," and "MOBILE."
Only INDIVIDUAL PERSONS are eligible to obtain a new license in the General
Mobile Radio Service. Licenses issued to entities other than individual
persons before July 30, 1987 may be renewed but may not be significantly
modified. (See Para. 95.71(e) of the FCC Rules.)
The only persons who may operate under a license issued to an individual
person are the members of that licensee's IMMEDIATE FAMILY residing in the
SAME HOUSEHOLD. Others (the licensee's relatives not residing in the same
household, the licensee's non-family employees and associates, etc.) are not
eligible to operate under that license, and must obtain their own licenses
before they may operate a GMRS transmitter.
A licensee may not allow anyone else to operate under his or her personal
license. A licensee may not loan, sell, assign or in any other way convey
operating privileges to any party -- they are established SOLELY by FCC
regulation. (See Para. 95.179.)
The GMRS is available only for communications between MOBILE UNITS, or from
one or more mobile units with a single land station. Land stations are
PROHIBITED for communicating with each other.
Under some circumstances, a transceiver that is normally a mobile unit becomes
a land station. These are described in further detail in Chapter 3.
The GMRS is an ideal radio service for the conduct of a licensee's personal
business, such as the "business" of running the contemporary, highly mobile
family. It is also suitable for coordinating family member activities, and
for communicating with other licensees and families operating under their own
licenses.
GMRS is a FUNCTIONAL RADIO SERVICE. These "functions" can include the
coordination of mutual activities with family members or with persons
operating under other licenses.
GMRS is not a RECREATIONAL RADIO SERVICE. GMRS operators should not engage in
GMRS communications solely as a hobby or a diversion. However, a GMRS station
operator may communicate with others about their own or mutual activities.
Section 1B: Radio Services Available for Licensing
There is a variety of radio services available for individuals to license for
and to use. Each has their own separate licensing requirements and their own
channels. Each also has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The Various Other Private Land Mobile Radio Services:
The GMRS is but one of the various private land mobile radio services,
although each the others is regulated by Part 90 of the FCC Rules. (GMRS is
regulated by Part 95 of the FCC Rules.) These other services are intended for
those whose communications concern primarily the activities of another party
or entity (a business, a local government agency, a membership or volunteer
organization, etc.).
Individual persons who are employees of a business or local government agency,
or who are officers or members of some organization, may also license
individually in the GMRS, and under those licenses may communicate about the
business or the activities of that entity.
However, they should first consider if these communications would be more
appropriate in another radio service under which that business or organization
may be directly eligible. The ADVANTAGE of licensing in one of these other
private land mobile radio services can include:
+ Obtaining just a single license for all of the employees, officers or
members of that entity or agency.
+ Being able to control exactly how the radios operated by that single
business or group license may be used. (Personal communications and
chit-chat can be limited by the licensed entity, preserving greater
discipline among the local users.)
+ In some cases, receiving an exclusive frequency allocation for these local
operations. (Others may be prohibited from licensing on and using the same
channel in that area.)
+ When channel sharing is required, the sharing is generally with other
like-minded organizations, businesses and agencies. This similarity of
communications interests can result in a greater degree of cooperation
among co-channel users, since they can all sympathize with each others'
needs.
+ In some cases, being able to interconnect these radio facilities with the
public switched telephone network. "Autopatch" is permitted in some of
these Part 90 services, in some areas.
+ Operating a "trunked" radio system in which channel selection is automatic.
In many trunked systems, this automatic channel assignment can result in
almost immediate access to the communications network, without having to
wait for prior communications exchanges to be completed. Operators of
trunked systems are likely to encounter a "busy channel" much less
frequently!
Some DISADVANTAGES of the other private land mobile radio services include:
- A cumbersome and sometimes expensive "coordinating" process, in order to
get licensed in the first place,.
- Limitations on the area of most mobile operations.
- Some limitations on the content of permissible communications.
The Mobile Telephone Radio Services:
The cellular telephone and other telephone-based radio services are preferable
for those who need recurrent communications with persons, locations or
functions otherwise available only or primarily by telephone.
Some ADVANTAGES of cellular telephone in particular include:
+ No individual user licensing requirement.
+ Virtually nationwide communications coverage, at least in population
centers and along the primary highway systems.
+ System maintenance entirely by others, except for the responsibility for
the particular cellular telephone that you use personally.
+ No limitations on content of communications, nor on points of
communications. (Namely, you may communicate with ANY other telephone or
cellular telephone user.)
+ Availability of ancillary services (answering services, mobile computer
data services, paging services, etc.).
Some DISADVANTAGES of using cellular telephone are:
- Sometimes limited service coverage when in remote rural areas not near a
major urban area or near a major highway.
- The expense of cellular telephone usage. (You pay by the minute!)
The Amateur Radio Service:
This service is most appropriate for those who are interested in radio as a
hobby activity by itself. There are hundreds of "special interests" within
the "ham" hobby, spanning the entire gamut of electronic sophistication and
capabilities.
Some ADVANTAGES of operating in the Amateur Radio service include:
+ Access to extensive local, regional, and international radio networks.
+ Ability to participate in communications networks for local and regional
emergencies.
+ No restrictions on communicating about hobby interests.
+ Relatively inexpensive equipment.
The primary DISADVANTAGES include:
- The need to license individually, which requires that you be test on your
knowledge of electronic theory and FCC regulations. More advanced licenses
also require that you be able to receive Morse Code.
- Limitations on recurrent communications about the business or activities of
other parties or entities.
- Each individual must obtain his or her own personal license. There is no
family or organizational licensing.
The Citizens Band Radio Service:
For those who enjoy "recreational" communications, chit-chatting with
neighbors, and "jaw-boning" with fellow travellers, CB radio at 27 MHz still
offers an affordable communications alternative.
Some ADVANTAGES include:
+ Inexpensive radios.
+ Widespread use, especially among the motoring public. If you want to learn
of road and traffic conditions, "smokey reports," etc., this is the best
radio service.
+ No licensing or coordinating requirement, no testing.
+ Direct communications with nearby public safety agency vehicles in many
areas. Monitoring networks by volunteers in some areas.
The infamous DISADVANTAGES include (among others):
- Lack of privacy.
- Limitations on reliable communications range.
- The sometimes crude language and lack of courtesy among other operators.
- Susceptibility to "skip" communications coming in from long range, and
blocking out local communications capabilities.
The General Mobile Radio Service:
GMRS combines some advantages and disadvantages of the various services
described above. The ADVANTAGES can include:
+ Ease of licensing. However, if you are struggling with the FCC Form 574
(for which this publication provides some instructions), it may not appear
to be so easy! However, if you follow the recommendations in these
GUIDELINES, you should have no problem.
+ Lack of coordinating fees. But this comes with the disadvantage that you
will have no claim to exclusive use of your assigned channel(s).
+ Permissible nationwide mobile operations.
+ Access to repeater (mobile relay) stations to extend local communications.
+ No per-minute charges for use of your local repeater station.
+ Generally more courteous behavior among users (enlightened self-interest!)
The DISADVANTAGES of GMRS include:
- A separate license is required for each person or family.
- Communications between land stations are not permitted.
- Autopatch (interconnection with the public switched telephone network) is
prohibited.
- Operation only on assigned channels, plus on the low-power, non-repeater
interstitial frequencies.
- Repeater coverage is sporadic. Access to a particular repeater usually
requires use of a particular CTCSS subaudible control tone. Determining
which tone codes are used by a particular repeater is not easy. Separate
tone programmability is not readily available on most GMRS transceivers.
- A GMRS licensee may communicate only through a repeater on the same channel
for which he or she is licensed. The only exception is for repeaters on
"the 675 channel" (467.675 MHz repeater input, 462.675 MHz repeater
output). Communications there are limited just to emergency and traveller
assistance messages, unless the operator is also licensed for the 675
channel specifically.
- Channels must be shared with other local users. Repeaters can dominate
their local channels, and this requires cooperation among all local users.
- GMRS radios are usually more expensive than similar radios with the same
performance levels but which operate in the Amateur Radio Service.
(For additional discussion comparing these various services, see the PRSG
publication "Choosing a Radio Service: General Observations.")
Section 1C: In Summary about the GMRS:
Fortunately, your operations in one radio service do not preclude the option
of your licensing (if necessary) and operating in another one as well. You
can operate in several different ones, to meet all of your communications
needs.
Some GMRS travellers find that they also want or need a cellular telephone as
well, for staying in touch with home when travelling away from their home
operating area. Cellular telephone systems have a generally broader
collective coverage, for even just traveller assistance communications.
Many GMRS users also have CB radios in their vehicles. CB is (and will remain
for the foreseeable future) the best communications system for finding out
about local traffic and road conditions.
The PRSG has developed the general recommendation stated below for persons
considering the GMRS to meet all or a portion of their functional
communications needs:
The GMRS is appropriate for use by individuals who need to communicate
with others (family, friends, associates) about the activities of their
respective PERSONAL LIVES, in order to coordinate these mutual activities.
Persons who need communications EXCLUSIVELY to support the activities of
some THIRD PARTY (a business, a joint commercial effort, a membership
organization, even a volunteer community activity) should instead operate
in some other radio service in which that entity is eligible to license.
The GMRS is NOT a substitute or a supplement for operation in these other
radio services.
=============================================================================
=============================================================================
Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Channel(s)
Section 2A: The Primary Versus the Interstitial Channels
Section 2B: The Selectability of Channels
Section 2C: Finding the Best Local Channel(s)
Section 2D: Special Provisions for Use of the "675 Channel"
The GMRS is an ASSIGNED-CHANNEL service. GMRS licensees may transmit ONLY on
certain channels as shown on their licenses or as authorized in the FCC Rules.
Section 2A: The Primary Versus the Interstitial Channels
A licensee may request a license to operate on one or two of the eight primary
channel pairs. These pairs are shown in Table 2.1 below.
---------------------------------------------------------
| Designator Lower Upper |
| Frequency Frequency |
| |
| "550" 462.550 MHz 467.550 MHz |
| "575" 462.575 MHz 467.575 MHz |
| "600" 462.600 MHz 467.600 MHz |
| "625" 462.625 MHz 467.625 MHz |
| "650" 462.650 MHz 467.650 MHz |
| "675" 462.675 MHz 467.675 MHz |
| "700" 462.700 MHz 467.700 MHz |
| "725" 462.725 MHz 467.725 MHz |
| |
| Table 2.1. The GMRS "Primary" Channels. |
| |
---------------------------------------------------------
GMRS mobile stations, base stations, and repeater stations may transmit on the
462 MHz primary frequencies, as specified on their FCC licenses. GMRS mobile
stations and control stations may transmit on the 467 MHz primary frequencies,
as specified on their FCC licenses, but only to communicate through and to
control repeater stations.
In addition, a personal licensee is permitted to operate low-power,
non-repeater stations on ANY of the SEVEN interstitial ("in-between" or
"split") frequencies in the 462 MHz band. These pairs are shown in Table 2.2
below.
---------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Designator Frequency |
| |
| "5625" 462.5625 MHz |
| "5875" 462.5875 MHz |
| "6125" 462.6125 MHz |
| "6375" 462.6375 MHz |
| "6625" 462.6625 MHz |
| "6875" 462.6875 MHz |
| "7125" 462.7125 MHz |
| |
| Table 2.2. The GMRS "Interstitial" Frequencies |
| |
| [NOTE: The corresponding interstitial frequencies |
| in the 467 MHz band are not currently available |
| for use in the General Mobile Radio Service.] |
| |
---------------------------------------------------------
The FCC does not assign the interstitial frequencies, and does not show them
on the GMRS license. Permission to operate on these frequencies is granted
instead by the Rules. Only small base stations and mobile stations may
transmit on the interstitials, and all stations must transmit with no more
than 5 watts ERP (effective radiated power, including antenna gain, cable
loss, etc.).
Furthermore, small base stations may transmit with an antenna whose maximum
height is not more than 20 feet above the ground or above the structure
(exclusive of the tower, mast or pole) on which it is mounted.
Section 2B: The Selectability of Channels
Many first-time purchasers of GMRS transceivers have little actual choice in
what frequencies to operate on -- they are already crystaled (or more likely,
programmed) into the transceivers. This is especially true for GMRS
transceivers purchased at local consumer-electronics stores (such as Radio
Shack), or from mail-order sources.
The prices of GMRS radios purchased from these consumers-electronics stores
and from mail order companies can be very attractive, compared with the prices
of those purchased from the more traditional sources of land mobile
transceivers, local two-way radio shops. These lower prices are possible in
large part because of "the economies of scale." Namely, by manufacturing or
programming many transceivers for the very same channels, the manufacturing
costs can be minimized.
The proliferation of GMRS transceivers that are unable to transmit with the
frequency offset required to communicate through a repeater, and that are
unable to transmit a repeater-access code (these factors are discussed further
in Chapter 3), means that many first-time GMRS licensees cannot use GMRS
repeaters. Most inexpensive "starter" transceivers have channel and/or tone
limitations that limit them only to NON-REPEATER communications.
That does not mean, however, that even first-time purchasers of GMRS
transceivers could not or should not anticipate upgrading or expanding their
communications systems later to add a repeater capability.
Further, including that additional repeater capability in your initial license
application can save you having to modify your license later (and spending
another $45 licensing fee!).
Section 2C: Finding the Best Local Channel(s)
For those who have the luxury of selecting channels on which to license and to
operate, the general recommendation is to monitor the eight primary GMRS
channels in your local area FIRST. If you want to communicate with others who
already have their own licenses, then you will want to select the SAME
CHANNEL(s) that they have. On the other hand, if you wish to avoid co-channel
conflict with other users, or you want to find the quietest channel for your
local use, then you want to find the channel(s) that are in LEAST use in your
area.
You can determine those channels in least use by monitoring with a "scanning
receiver." However, these receivers usually do not have the quality and
sensitivity of a communications transceiver, so you may not necessarily hear
ALL local users. When monitoring for local area activity, it is best to mount
an OUTSIDE antenna on your rooftop, even of you plan to use only handheld
units in your initial radio system. This increased antenna height will
maximize the chance that you can discover pre-existent local GMRS use.
Once you have determined which GMRS channels are in use in your local area,
you may be able to identify the particular licensees. The PRSG maintains a
national GMRS licensing database, through which the identities of current
licensees may usually be determined. Subscribers to the PRSG newsletter can
access this database through our electronic BBS (bulletin board system), and
can search the licensing records by callsigns, by station locations (state and
county), by licensee names, and by many other ways.
The best way to determine local usage is to monitor the 462 MHz frequencies of
the primary GMRS channels. You usually need not monitor the 467 MHz
frequencies, because the transmissions there are usually just repeated on the
associated 462 MHz frequencies through repeater stations with higher antennas.
If you have purchased a GMRS transceiver that is already crystaled or
programmed on two of the eight primary GMRS channels (or three of them, if the
third one is the "675 channel"), then you need to license for those two
primary channels. (You get the third one, the "675 channel," automatically.
However, if it is not one of the two conventional channels on your license,
you may use it only for MOBILE communications pertaining to an IMMEDIATE
EMERGENCY, or for requesting or providing assistance to a traveller.)
If your GMRS radio is already crystaled or programmed for only one of the
primary channels, you need to license for that channel specifically. We
recommend that you license for the "675 channel" as well (and install it in
your radio, if possible).
Section 2.D: Special Provisions for Use of the "675 Channel"
Of the eight GMRS PRIMARY channel pairs, one (the "675 channel") is by far the
most commonly licensed and used nationally. It is also available for a
special use.
If a personal licensee is not already authorized by his or her license to
transmit on the "675" channel (462.675 and 467.675 MHz), then he or she (and
the other persons eligible to be station operators under his or her license)
may also communicate on the 675 channel from his or her mobile units.
However, under this situation, these frequencies may be used ONLY for
soliciting or rendering ASSISTANCE TO A TRAVELER, or for communicating in an
emergency pertaining to the IMMEDIATE safety or life, or to the IMMEDIATE
protection of property.
Applicants may license for and use one or two of the eight primary GMRS
channel pairs. Although a personal GMRS licensee would get the 675 pair
automatically under the rules, the PRSG recommends that all applicants include
it as one of their two primary channels, unless the applicant has a compelling
need for two of the other seven primary channels.
Including the 675 pair as one of your licensed channels would mean that your
communications on 675 would not be restricted solely to traveler assistance
and immediate-emergency communications.
We recommend that applicants who do not have a capability of monitoring local
GMRS channels before they license, or who intend initially to operate ONLY on
the low-power, non-repeater interstitial frequencies, should license
specifically on the 675 channel pair. A second primary channel pair also may
be requested. Applicants may want to choose their second channel on the basis
of others that may be in the most common use locally also for traveler
assistance and emergency communications.
The best second channel will vary from one area to another. In most east
coast and midwest states, the 600 channel (462.600 and 467.600 MHz) is usually
the best. In some midwestern states (especially Nebraska), the best second
choice can be the 700 channel (462.700 and 467.700 MHz). In California
(especially southern California), the best second choice can be the 575
channel (462.575 and 467.575 MHz). In New England, the best second choice can
be the 725 channel (462.725 and 467.725 MHz).
Applicants can call or write to the PRSG for a recommendation on what second
channel pair to request. The GMRS NATIONAL REPEATER GUIDE can also be used
for guidance in this selection. The 1994 edition of the GUIDE will list all
GMRS repeaters nationally. Contact the PRSG for information about its
availability, or if you would like to add your repeater station to this
edition.
============================================================================
============================================================================
Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Station Configuration
Section 3A: Type of Mobile Stations
The Handheld Radio
The Vehicle-Mounted Radio
Section 3B: Type of Land Stations
Base Stations
Control Stations
Repeater Stations
Section 3C: Changing Station Types
Section 3D: Land Stations at Temporary, Unspecified Locations
There are two basic classes of stations in the GMRS: MOBILE UNITS,
and LAND STATIONS.
The GMRS may be used for communications among one or more mobile units, and
these mobile units may communicate with a land station. However, land
stations may NOT communicate with each other.
The reason for this prohibition on communications between land stations in the
GMRS can be explained by understanding the peculiarities of communications at
the 460 MHz UHF frequencies. Station antenna HEIGHT is more important in
determining communications range than transmitter POWER. Land stations
usually have the capability of operating with antennas that are significantly
higher than those employed by mobile units.
If communications between land stations were to be permitted, they would have
such a considerable advantage of communications range over mobile units, and
such an enhanced capability of blocking the signals of mobile units operating
on the same frequencies, that the mobile-use nature of the service would be
severely compromised.
Furthermore, land stations generally have an immediate access to other
communications alternatives, such as telephones. The land-based telephone
system should be used INSTEAD of GMRS whenever possible. Telephone service
should NOT be avoided or declined merely because of the availability of GMRS.
These restrictions on points of communications are also summarized in Table
3.1 (last page of this chapter).
Section 3A: Types of Mobile Stations
The Handheld Radio
Mobile stations in the GMRS can come in a variety of sizes, capabilities and
expense. The most popular type is the handheld (or more accurately,
"person-carried") transceiver, sometimes referred to as a "walkie-talkie."
Such units can have a maximum transmitter power output of up to 4 or 5 watts,
although the 1- to 3-watt range is more typical. (Power output is limited
primarily by the source of the electrical supply, such as a rechargeable
nickel-cadmium battery.)
The communications range between handheld units depends primarily on their
operating location and antenna height, and only secondarily on their
transmitter output power.
Unfortunately, advertisements for handheld units often claim an operating
range of a mile or more, whereas actual operating range can be less than
one-tenth mile in the most rigorous conditions (such as in a heavily forested
area or within buildings). The range can also be more than 50 miles in
extraordinary circumstances (for instance, between persons atop distant
mountains!).
The greatest advantage of the handheld (person-carried) radio is its
portability. A radio that can be carried ON THE PERSON is ideally suited for
this personal radio service.
The Vehicle-Mounted Radio
Although handheld units are rapidly becoming the more popular, vehicle-mounted
units were previously the more common. A primary advantage of the vehicular
mounted radio is the increased transmitter power, since the power can be
derived from the higher capacity electrical system of the vehicle. (Up to 50
watts transmitter output power is permitted in the GMRS.)
A second and more significant advantage is the performance benefit available
from some vehicular antennas. First, they can concentrate the signal at the
horizon, and second (and more important), they transmit from the advantageous
height of the vehicle roof.
The greater importance of antenna height to transmitter power on
communications range can be shown by comparing the performance of a handheld
unit within a vehicle, to that of a vehicular-mounted transceiver used with
the same vehicle.
The typical handheld radio (at 3 watts) has less than one-tenth of the
transmitter output of a full-powered, vehicular-mounted unit. The gain of the
handheld's "rubber duckie" antenna is frequently less than one-tenth that of
the external vehicle-mounted antenna. And the submergence of the handheld
radio's antenna within the absorbing, metallic shell of the vehicle may impose
yet another 10:1 disadvantage.
Yet even with the vehicular radio's 1000:1 advantage (10:1 three times,
described in the previous paragraph), the comparable communicating range of
that vehicular unit may be only as little as 2:1 OR LESS over that of the
lower powered handheld transceiver!
On the other hand, a handheld radio operated at a height of 50 feet (from a
typical fifth or sixth floor window of a multi-story building) may have a
communicating range of 3 to 10 times GREATER than that of the full-power,
vehicular-mounted unit operated down at street level.
This shows the greater importance of antenna HEIGHT over transmitter output
power.
Besides the greater transmitter power, many vehicular-mounted units have
traditionally had other operating features not available on handheld
transceivers because of the space and weight limitations of person-carried
units. These advantages have included more channels, more control-tone
options, channel-scanning capabilities, etc.
However, with the advance of electronic technology, this performance
difference (exclusive of the transmitter output power) between state-of-the-
art handheld (person-carried) transceivers and mobile (vehicular-mounted)
transceivers has now largely disappeared. The limitations in capabilities of
typical handheld units are today less attributable to technology, and more
attributable to manufacturing and marketing selections. For instance, most
"entry-level" GMRS transceivers (those marketed for the first-time purchaser
of GMRS transceivers) are limited in performance (channel selection, tone
capabilities, etc.) less by the technology than by certain cost and marketing
factors.
What this means, unfortunately, is that many first-time purchasers of GMRS
transceivers have radios that lack the technical and hardware features that
can be of greatest benefit to GMRS users: the ability to communicate through
repeater stations!
Section 3B: Types of LAND Stations
The THREE types of land stations (base stations, control station, and
repeaters) are distinguished more by the way in which the radios are used
(especially, the frequencies on which they transmit) than by hardware
configurations. A land station may perform in more than one class, depending
on the channel on which it transmits. Furthermore, some land stations are
essentially just mobile units, but operated not in a vehicle.
Base Stations
A GMRS base station is a land station whose operator communicates directly
with one or more mobile units on the 462 MHz frequency of the assigned channel
pair. Base stations may communicate ONLY with mobile stations, and NOT with
or through any other class of GMRS land station. Only base stations may
transmit a communication to a pager.
There are two kinds of base stations, "conventional" base stations, and
"small" base stations. In the FCC Rules, reference to a "base station" is to
both types of base stations, unless the reference is specifically to a "small"
base station. The FCC Rules do not actually use the adjective "conventional"
to describe conventional base stations.
Only individual persons may license for and may operate a small base station.
Grandfathered non-personal licensees are not eligible to license for or to
operate small base stations.
A conventional base station may transmit only on the one or two 462 MHz
frequencies authorized on the GMRS license. A small base station may transmit
on those one or two frequencies authorized on the GMRS license, and on any of
the seven "interstitial" frequencies in the 462 MHz band.
The permissible transmitter frequency tolerance for a conventional base
station is +/- 0.00025%. (All transmitters will drift in frequency slightly
over time, temperature, and even just daily operation. The amount of this
drift is expressed in terms of a percentage of the center frequency itself.
The value +/- 0.00025% is also expressed as 2.5 parts per million.) The
frequency tolerance for a small base station is the same as for a control
station and a mobile station: +/-0.0005% (or 5 parts per million). The
tighter frequency tolerance required of a conventional base station is
achievable only by using a higher quality (and thus, usually more expensive)
frequency-determining element or circuitry.
A base station may operate only from the point authorized on the license (or,
if permitted on the license specifically, from temporary, unspecified points
within the "area of operation" authorized on the license). The fixed point
must be described by its physical location: street address, city, county (but
only for a conventional base station), and state. If this point cannot be
described by a street address, then the direction and distance from some
easily identifiable point may be provided on the application.
A conventional base station (but not a small base station) also must be
described by its geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude, to the
NEAREST SECOND), and by the height above mean sea level of the base of the
mounting structure or building. The maximum antenna height above the ground
level of the base of the structure, and the maximum height of the mounting
structure itself also must be provided. If the height of the antenna exceeds a
certain value, or if this antenna structure is near an airport, the antenna or
its mounting structure may be required to be painted and lighted according to
standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration.
A small base station must employ an antenna whose tip is no more than 20 feet
above the structure (exclusive of a tower, mast or pole) on which that antenna
is mounted.
A conventional base station may license for and may operate with a maximum
transmitter output of 50 watts. A small base station may transmit with no
more than five watts "ERP" (effective radiated power, which includes
consideration of the antenna gain, cable loss, etc.). A small base station
may communicate with any mobile unit, but mobiles are also limited to that
same maximum of five watts ERP when transmitting on the interstitial
frequencies.
From a practical standpoint, a small base station is usually a handheld or
very low power GMRS mobile transceiver. Full power GMRS mobile transceivers
are NOT SUITABLE for use as base stations, because they exceed the power
limitations for a small base station, and because they usually do not have the
more stable frequency-determining elements or circuits required of a
conventional base station.
Control Stations
A GMRS control station is a land station whose operator communicates with a
mobile unit through a repeater (in FCC language, a "mobile relay station").
Control stations transmit on the 467 MHz frequency of the channel pair(s)
assigned on the FCC license.
Most control stations are required to employ a DIRECTIONAL antenna (pointed
toward the repeater through which they are communicating), and to REDUCE their
transmitter output power according to measurements specified in the FCC Rules.
These additional requirements are intended to minimize the interference to any
repeater other than the one through which that particular control station is
communicating. (Because control stations frequently employ antennas mounted
on the building rooftop, their transmissions can often interfere with distant
repeaters. Even a distant control station, if it fails to reduce it power and
especially if it fails to use a directional antenna, can block a local mobile
station's signal into a repeater.)
The FCC is expected soon to consider a change in the rules that will require
that ALL control stations comply with the power restrictions and antenna
requirements mentioned in this paragraph. Currently, some control stations do
not need to reduce their transmitter power levels, and do not need to employ
directional antennas. (However, such unrestricted operation risks causing
interference to other repeaters on the same channel.)
The permissible transmitter frequency tolerance for a control station is +/-
0.0005% (or 5 parts per million).
Your control station may communicate only through the repeater (mobile relay)
station shown on your license, or through a repeater station with whose
licensee you have a written contract for the non-profit operation of that
station. Your control station may NOT communicate through ANY other repeater
station.
Control stations located north of Line A or east of Line C (these are
treaty-defined lines near the US/Canadian border; see Appendix A of these
LICENSING GUIDELINES) may transmit with an effective radiated power of not
more than 5 watts. This condition applies even if the license itself
authorizes a higher transmitter output power level.
Just as with base stations, there are two kinds of control stations, a
"conventional" control station, and a "small" control station. The latter
(small control station) is by far the more common. (Less than 1% of control
stations are conventional control stations.) In the FCC rules, reference to a
"control station" is to both types of control stations, unless the reference
is specifically to a small control station.
A control station may operate only from the point authorized on the license
(or, if permitted on the license specifically, from temporary, unspecified
points within the "area of operation" authorized on the license). The fixed
point must be described by its physical location: street address, city, county
(but only for a conventional control station), and state. If this point
cannot be described by a street address, then the direction and distance from
some easily identifiable point must be provided on the application.
A conventional control station (but not a small control station) must also be
described by its geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude, to the
NEAREST second), and by the height above mean sea level of the base of the
mounting structure or building. The maximum antenna height above the ground
level of the base of the structure, and the maximum height of the mounting
structure itself also must be provided. If the height of the antenna exceeds
a certain value, or if this antenna structure is near an airport, the antenna
or its mounting structure may be required to be painted and lighted according
to standards established by the Federal Aviation Administration.
A small control station may employ an antenna whose tip is no more than 20
feet above the structure (exclusive of a tower, mast or pole) on which it is
mounted. A conventional control station may employ a higher antenna.
From a practical standpoint, most small control stations are a handheld or low
power GMRS mobile transceiver. Full power GMRS mobile transceivers are
usually not suitable for use as a control station, because they would exceed
the permissible power (and thus cause interference to other repeaters).
Repeater Stations
A repeater station (in FCC language, a "mobile relay station") is a special
kind of base station. In most current systems, a repeater station monitors
its assigned 467 MHz frequency, and simultaneously and automatically
retransmits certain communications on the corresponding and assigned 462 MHz
frequency. Most repeaters are located atop a tower, a tall building, a hill,
or another advantageous site, so as to achieve a greater communications range.
Most repeaters retransmit only those signals that are accompanied by a
particular subaudible control tone. These control codes are used both for
remote control for selectively calling just particular radios (or groups of
radios).
The value of repeaters in the GMRS is in their ability to extend the area of
communications. A handheld radio may have a half-mile to two-mile
communications range with a similar handheld radio, but be able to communicate
to an advantageously sited repeater as much as 10, 20 or even more miles away.
If that repeater has a circular communications coverage of 15 miles (a typical
range), it can enable communications between mobile units anywhere within that
coverage range. In the example of a repeater with a 15-mile radius of
coverage, the mobile units might be at opposite ends of the coverage range (30
miles apart from each other), and still be able to communicate through that
repeater.
Repeaters are typically the most expensive component of a GMRS operating
system. It is usually desirable to maximize the repeater station's
performance (especially, its RECEIVER SENSITIVITY), since all users of that
station will enjoy the benefits of superior performance. However, obtaining
access to a truly advantageous repeater site can be expensive. For repeater
operation in a major metropolitan area, it is not unusual for the repeater
licensee to be charged $300 to $600 PER MONTH for site rental! Over the
longer term, repeater site rental can be the most expensive aspect of
constructing and operating a communications system!
There is also a new kind of repeater system that will likely come into greater
use in the GMRS in the future. In this kind of situation, the repeater is
actually just a base station with a "store and forward" type of recording
capability. In such a case, the signals received are retransmitted not
simultaneously upon receipt, but are delayed (for instance, until the channel
is clear).
The FCC Rules do not yet address this new kind of operation specifically, but
this concept will certainly be considered in detail in the next round of FCC
rulemaking activity (late 1993).
Section 3C: Changing Station Types
Just one radio can sometimes serve as more than just one type of station.
Many GMRS licensees use a single radio that serves both as a control station
(when it transmits on the 467 MHz frequency of the assigned channel pair, to
communicate through a repeater station to a mobile unit) and as a base station
(when it transmits on the 462 MHz frequency of the assigned channel pair, to
communicate directly to a mobile unit).
Some licensees use a mobile transceiver (normally intended instead for
vehicular mounting) as both a mobile unit and as a combination base/control
station (as described in the previous paragraph).
However, most mobile transceivers are not suitable for this kind of dual use.
When used as a base station (transmitting on the 462 MHz frequency), they
either have a transmitter power that exceeds that permissible for a small base
station, or they have a transmitter frequency stability that is insufficient
to be used as a conventional base station. When used as a control station
(transmitting on the 467 MHz frequency), they may have a transmitter output
power that exceeds that permissible for a control station.
A better combination is when a HANDHELD radio is also used as a combination
base/control station. Most handheld radios can be connected to an external
antenna, and many can be powered from a separate supply that plugs into the
normal household electrical supply.
This duality of function raises a predicament: HOW DO YOU DEFINE WHEN A MOBILE
STATION BECOMES A LAND STATION?
When a transceiver is connected to an antenna that is not mounted on the
vehicle within which that radio is mounted, or is not being carried on the
physical person of the operator carrying the radio, or is not physically
integral to the housing of the transceiver itself, the FCC considers it to
have become a land station (a base station when it transmits on the 462 MHz
frequency, or a control station when it transmits on the 467 MHz frequency).
In addition, when a transceiver derives its operating power other than
directly from the vehicle within which that radio is mounted, other than from
a supply being carried on the physical person of the operator carrying the
radio, or other than from a self-contained battery supply, then the FCC also
considers that radio to have become a land station.
A typical mobile-type transceiver is frequently NOT SUITABLE for use as a land
station. When a mobile-type transceiver transmitting on a 462 MHz frequency
in the GMRS ceases to be a mobile station (described in the second paragraph
previous), it becomes a base station and must employ a tighter frequency
stability than is required for a conventional mobile station. Alternatively,
it must reduce its power to not more than 5 watts ERP (effective radiated
power, including any antenna gain), to be a small base station. (Small base
stations are permitted to have the same frequency stability of a mobile unit.
The greater frequency stability for a conventional base station is not
required.)
When a mobile-type transceiver transmitting on a 467 MHz frequency in the GMRS
ceases to be a mobile station (described in the second paragraph previous), it
becomes a control station and must usually also reduce its power and use a
directional antenna, according to FCC rules.
In either case, the license under which that mobile-type unit operates must
also authorize the respective kind of land station operation (base or control
station). If that operation is not at a fixed point identified on the
license, then the license also needs to authorize operation of that kind of
land station at temporary, unspecified locations within the range of operation
specified on the FCC license.
Section 3D: Land Stations at Temporary, Unspecified Locations
Land stations are normally licensed for operation at SPECIFIC locations.
However, the FCC Rules also permit a land station to be authorized on a GMRS
license to be operated at a TEMPORARY location for up to a year. Once that
station has been operated from that location for a year, the licensee must
modify his or her license to authorize that station's operation from that
particular location.
If you anticipate recurrently operating a land station from a particular
point, even if that operation may not be continuous for an entire year, you
should include that specific point on your application.
Some licensees have abused this provision (for operating a land station at a
temporary location not otherwise specified on the license) by claiming to take
their land station temporarily out of service, alleging that this "restarts
the clock" on the permissible time for operation from that location. Other
licensees apparently believe they can conceal the actual location of their
stations, or can avoid having to calculate the coordinates and heights of
these stations, by licensing and operating land stations only at these
temporary, unspecified locations.
One national publication even encouraged its readers to show ALL land stations
ONLY at temporary, unspecified locations.
The Commission considers this practice to be contrary to the intent of the
rules, and has actually canceled or declined to renew some licenses because of
this abuse. Furthermore, the FCC will soon consider imposing additional
restrictions and additional logging and identification requirements for land
stations authorized to be operated at temporary, unspecified locations.
You should request an authorization for operation of land stations
at ALL known locations anticipated during the five-year lifetime of the
license. You should request authorization for operation of a land station at
temporary, unspecified locations only when those operations will be
TEMPORARY and NON-RECURRENT.
Following this advice may also save you the expense of having to modify your
license prematurely (and spending another $45!) merely to comply with new
Commission rulings or interpretations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | |
| Type of Station ---->> | mobile | small |conventional| control |
| | | base | base | (small |
| | | | | or conven.)|
| | | | | |
|Type of station with which| mobile | mobile | mobile | not |
| may communicate on a|conv. base| | | permitted |
|462 MHz frequency assigned|small base| | | |
| on the license| | | | |
| | | | | |
| Maximum permissible power| 50 watts | 5 watts | 50 watts | N/A |
| | | ERP | | |
| | | | | |
|Type of station with which| mobile | 5 watts | not | not |
| may communicate on a|small base| ERP | permitted | permitted |
| 462 MHz interstitial| | | | |
| frequency| | | | |
| | | | | |
| Maximum permissible power| 5 watts | 5 watts | N/A | N/A |
| | ERP | ERP | | |
| | | | | |
|Type of station with which| mobile | not | not | mobile |
| may communicate through a| control |permitted| permitted | |
| repeater on a 467 MHz| | | | |
| frequency assigned on the| | | | |
| license| | | | |
| | | | | |
| Maximum permissible power| 50 watts | N/A | N/A | reduced |
| | | | | by FCC |
| | | | | require- |
| | | | | ments |
| |
| Table 3.1. Permissible GMRS Communications Points. |
| |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
Chapter 4: Completing the Individual Items on the FCC Form 574
Section 4A: Before You Start Filling in the FCC Form 574
Section 4B: Distinguishing Land Stations Operated at Fixed Sites
from Other Stations
Section 4C: The Individual Questions
Items 1 through 11
Items 12 and 13
Items 14 through 17
Items 18 through 25
Items 26 through 29
Items 30 through 38
Final Items
Section 4D: Functional System Diagram
Section 4E: Completeness
The FCC Form 574 is used to apply for new or modified radio station
authorizations in more than a dozen different radio services. To assist
applicants in filling out this form, the FCC has written FCC FORM 574
INSTRUCTIONS. However, even the most recent revision of this publication
(August 1989) is somewhat out of date. Some information and recommendations
in this FCC publication pertain only to applicants in services OTHER THAN the
GMRS, and some recommendations that should be considered by GMRS applicants
have not been included.
The PRSG has prepared these LICENSING GUIDELINES to help applicants in
obtaining or modifying their PERSONAL GMRS licenses.
Section 4A: Before You Start Filling in the FCC Form 574
Before you start filling in the FCC Form 574, you should plan your overall
GMRS system and station configuration. The nine samples included at the
beginning of these GUIDELINES show a variety of basic licensing alternatives
and many of the available options.
Some applicants have used a different scheme to organize the information on
their applications. For instance, for a two-channel application, some
applicants have preferred to group all stations on the first channel (pair)
together, and then all stations on the second channel (pair). Although the
FCC's applications processors can usually figure out what kind of system
design you are requesting, deviating from the normal format (as shown in the
samples earlier) risks confusion. This may result in your license grant being
delayed until FCC personnel can call or write to you to clarify any potential
confusion.
Section 4B. Distinguishing Land Stations Operated at Fixed Sites
from Other Stations
In Chapter 3 of these GUIDELINES, we describe the various kinds of stations
that can be licensed and operated in the GMRS. A single FCC Form 574 can be
used to request an authorization for certain GMRS land stations (repeaters,
conventional base stations, and conventional control stations) to be operated
at up to SIX specific locations. (This limit should suffice for most GMRS
applications.)
If you need to license for operation of these land stations at more than six
specific locations, you will need to fill out a SECOND FCC Form 574 (and
submit a SECOND $45 application fee). A second callsign will be issued for
the additional stations.
On the FCC Form 574, the leftmost column under items 1 through 11, items 14
through 17, and items 26 through 29 is used to designate (with letters A
through F) the separate locations for these stations (repeaters, conventional
base stations, and conventional control stations) to be operated at FIXED
sites. The letter A is preprinted on the first line under items 1 through 11.
The letters A through F have been preprinted under items 14 through 17 and
items 26 through 29.
The letters A through F should be used to designate ONLY these (up to six)
specific sites for these stations (repeaters, conventional base stations, and
conventional control stations). The letters G and continuing should be used
ONLY for GMRS stations OTHER THAN repeaters, conventional base stations, and
conventional control stations to be operated at fixed sites. If you need to
use a second Form 574 to include all of the station-and-channel combinations,
the lettering sequence for the land stations at fixed locations starts over at
A on the second (and any subsequent) forms.
This may sound confusing, but it is demonstrated in the samples included with
these GUIDELINES. Just keep the following concept in mind:
>> Letters A through F identify the sites at FIXED locations.
>> Letters G and continuing identify all other stations.
If, at any particular site, there are two or more different STRUCTURES (see
item 27) on which these antennas will be mounted (other than antennas not more
than 20 feet above a structure exclusive of the tower, mast or pole on which
it is mounted, for small base or small control stations), then a separate
fixed-site designator letter (A through F) must be used.
For example, if you have a conventional base station whose antenna will be
mounted on the rooftop of your house, and a separate repeater station whose
antenna will be mounted on a tower near the house, then you need to use TWO
site designations (although the street address and coordinates may be the
same), and distinguish between these in all questions (items 1 through 6, 8
through 11, 14 through 17, and 26 through 29) on your application.
Section 4C: The Individual Questions
Questions on the FCC Form 574 are grouped according to general content. The
information in some groups (for instance, the station designations
A through F) will need to be related to the comparable in formation
in other groups.
Items 1 through 11
You need to provide information in items 1 through 5 for ALL stations being
requested on your application. In addition, item 6 can be completed for small
base stations. Items 6 and 8 through 11 should be completed for all
repeaters, conventional base stations, and conventional control stations
(i.e., those that are designated with letters A through F) for operation at
fixed sites. No GMRS station needs to be described in item 7.
Item 1: Frequencies.
The frequencies available for the various classes of GMRS stations are
described in Chapter 2 of these LICENSING GUIDELINES. The various samples
show how they should be entered on the FCC Form 574.
If a particular station will operate on more than just one frequency, each
frequency must be listed on a separate line. For the mobile units in a
two-channel-pair system, for example, this would require FOUR lines. See
Sample 2 for the simplest GMRS system of this type.
Under item 1, you must request at least ONE of the primary frequencies at
least for mobile units. The minimum acceptable application is shown in Sample
1. However, we do not recommend this minimal configuration. Even if you
anticipate only single-channel operation and only mobile radios, we recommend
that you also request a small base station. (See Sample 3.)
You should NOT request any of the interstitial frequencies specifically, even
if your GMRS radios can transmit ONLY on those frequencies. Instead,
permission for you to transmit on these special, low-power, non-repeater
frequencies is conveyed by the FCC Rules directly. See the discussion in
Chapter 2.
Item 2: Station Class.
The FCC's INSTRUCTIONS describe a dozen and a half station classes. The only
ones that may be licensed in the GMRS are those which are shown in Table 4.1.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Class of Station Code |
| |
| (Conventional) Base Station FB |
| Small Base Station FBA |
| Repeater (Mobile Relay), One Licensee FB2 |
| Repeater (Mobile Relay), Multiple Licensees FB4* |
| Control Station (either Conventional or Small) FX1 |
| Mobile Stations MO |
| |
| Table 4.1. Classes of Stations Which may be Licensed in the GMRS. |
| |
| NOTE: Each licensee of a repeater station is responsible for its |
| proper operation, and each must be able to control it |
| (namely, to be able to disable its transmitter if it should |
| operate improperly or without permission). However, you |
| need not be the licensee of a repeater station in order to |
| use it. FCC Rule Para. 95.33 provides for the cooperative |
| sharing of GMRS stations. The PRSG recommends (and the FCC |
| is expected to consider requiring in the future) that each |
| repeater station have just a SINGLE licensee. This single |
| licensee is then the only party who must assume the |
| responsibility for ALL transmissions of that station. If |
| you wish to operate through someone else's repeater station |
| (and that other person already has a license for that |
| station), we recommend that you enter into a written |
| contract for that station's use (under the provisions of |
| Para. 95.33), rather than to license for that station |
| yourself (under the provisions of Para. 95.35). We |
| therefore recommend AGAINST licensing repeater stations as |
| class FB4 in the GMRS. |
| |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The first five station classes shown in Table 4.1 above are for LAND stations.
If you wish to operate a land station at TEMPORARY, UNSPECIFIED locations,
append the letter T to the respective designation(s). For instance, a small
base station to be operated at temporary locations would be designated FBAT.
A control station (whether a conventional or a small control station) to be
operated at temporary, unspecified locations would be designated FX1T. Samples
6 and 9 show how to include this request on your application.
To operate a mobile repeater (namely, a repeater in your vehicle), you would
use the designation FB2T, not the MO3 designation shown in the FCC
INSTRUCTIONS. (This is a special kind of repeater station, and not many GMRS
licensees use this type.)
Item 3: Number of Units.
Indicate the number of actual transmitters at each specific location (letters
A through F) or for each class of station (letters G and on). For a land
station at a permanent location (base station, control station, repeater),
normally there is only one transmitter at each site. If there is a second one
that serves solely as a backup (and does not operate simultaneously), the FCC
still considers that to be a single transmitter.
For transmitters OTHER THAN repeaters, conventional base stations and
conventional control stations to be operated at fixed sites, the number shown
in item 3 should be the total of all such stations on each frequency. All
small base stations and all small control stations should be combined onto a
SINGLE line entry for EACH frequency, if the maximum transmitter output power
for all stations within each entry is the same. (Their specific addresses
will be shown in item 18, NOT in items 14 through 17.)
All mobile station units (even those with different transmitter output power)
can be shown on the same line for each specific transmitter frequency, and can
be shown with the maximum transmitter power permitted in the GMRS (50 watts).
A separate line must be used for EACH different specific frequency. The
number of mobile units shown should be the total of the separate entries (in
item 12) for vehicular, portable, aircraft and marine units. The number of
pagers in item 12 is NOT included in the mobile total here in item 3.
The various examples show how to list the possible combinations of mobile
units. The FCC does not normally authorize more than a total of FIFTEEN
mobile units on any new or modified GMRS license issued to an individual
person. The FCC will soon consider also authorizing no more than FIVE mobiles
in any SINGLE category (vehicular, portable, aircraft and marine), as well as
the 15-unit total. If there are more than five members in your immediate
family residing in the same household, and if you want to request more than
five units in any single mobile category (item 12), you should state this fact
on your application.
A portable (person-carried) transceiver carried aboard a vehicle, airplane or
ship is still a portable unit. Vehicular, aircraft and marine units are those
that are physically mounted to that vehicle, aircraft or ship.
GMRS mobile transceivers (even just handheld units) may NOT be operated aboard
commercial aircraft when the craft is in "controlled airspace." Even the
captain of the aircraft does not have the authority to grant you permission to
operate there. These prohibitions are established by FAA (Federal Aviation
Administration) regulations, which are much more restrictive than FCC
regulations in this regard. The electrical emissions of communications
transceivers, even just the coincidental radiation of the RECEIVER itself, can
interfere with the super-sensitive communications and navigation equipment on
the aircraft. "Controlled airspace" is anytime when the aircraft is not
docked to the terminal for loading and unloading.
Item 4: Emission Designator.
Only voice communications are permitted in the GMRS, except those specific
signals intended to establish and to maintain a voice communications. A
non-voice GMRS emission is permissible only for selective calling or for
tone-operated squelch to establish or to continue voice communications. (See
Para. 95.627(a).)
A non-voice transmission may be used to control a GMRS station authorized to
be operated by remote control. Any transmission, including those non-voice
transmissions permitted above, must still be identified by FCC callsign (see
Para. 95.119). Non-voice transmissions for reporting on the status of a
transmitter are not permitted. Repeater controllers that provide a status
report of the station by transmitting a series of tone signals are NOT
permissible to use in the GMRS.
For all stations and for all lines used in items 1 through 11, you should use
the emission designator 20K0F3E. Although the rules (see Para. 95.627) permit
other emissions, all transmitters which are currently type accepted for use in
the GMRS employ this emission mode.
Item 5: Output Power.
No GMRS station may transmit with more than 50 watts output power. However,
the power entered in this column should be the minimum required for
satisfactory operations. Small control stations located north of Line A or
east of Line C (treaty-defined lines in the United States near the US/Canadian
border; see Appendix A of these GUIDELINES), and ALL small base stations, may
transmit with no more than five watts ERP (effective radiated power). See
Appendix C for a description of how to calculate ERP.
The transmitter output power of control stations (land stations that transmit
on the 467 MHz frequencies of their assigned channels, in order to communicate
through and to control repeaters) must be reduced as necessary to comply with
power limits established in Appendix A of the FCC Rules. We recommend (and
the FCC may soon consider requiring) that ALL small control stations be
limited to a maximum of five watts ERP. If you need more than five watts ERP
for any particular control station, in the future it may be required to be
licensed as a conventional control station (with coordinates, heights, etc.).
Item 6: E.R.P. (Effective Radiated Power).
This information is required for those land stations that must be separately
identified (repeaters, and conventional base and control stations, authorized
to operate at fixed locations) by letters A through F. (See Section 4B above,
"Distinguishing Land Stations Operated at Fixed Sites from Other Stations.")
ERP is not required for land stations requested to be authorized for operation
at temporary, unspecified locations.
Transmitter ERP is also limited by the FCC Rules for all small base stations,
for mobile units when they transmit on the interstitial frequencies, and for
certain small control stations. ERP limits need not be shown for these
stations on the FCC Form 574. Although not required, we recommend that ERP
also be shown for all small base stations, and for all small control stations
located north of Line A or east of Line C. (See Appendix A of these
GUIDELINES for a description of the areas included within the Line A and Line
C designations.)
Effective Radiated Power is the effective power considering all antenna gains
and all losses (transmission line, filters, duplexers, circulators, etc.).
The method of calculating ERP is discussed in Appendix C of these GUIDELINES.
Item 7: A.A.T. (Antenna Height Above Average Terrain).
This information is NOT currently required for any GMRS station. This column
should be left BLANK for ALL GMRS stations. This information is sometimes
also referred to as "HAAT" (height above average terrain).
Item 8: Ground Elevation.
This refers to the ground elevation (height above mean sea level, sometimes
also abbreviated as "HAMSL") at the base of the structure on which the antenna
is mounted.
The FCC requests that this information (in feet) be entered to the NEAREST
FOOT for those land stations that must be separately identified (repeaters,
and conventional base and control stations, authorized to operate at fixed
locations) by letters A through F. (See Section 4B above, "Distinguishing Land
Stations Operated at Fixed Sites from Other Stations.") This information is
NOT required for those land stations (if any) which you request be authorized
for operation at temporary, unspecified locations, nor for small base stations
nor for small control stations.
From a practical standpoint, it may not be possible to determine this
measurement any greater than can be interpolated from the topographic
quadrangle map with the maximum resolution for your area. For most areas,
these maps are available in 7.5-minute quadrangles, and have a resolution of
five to twenty feet in height.
Unless the station will be within five miles of an airport listed in the FAA's
(Federal Aviation Administration's) "Airport Facilities Directory," or near an
airport or heliport operated by the Department of Defense, a resolution of
plus-or-minus five feet is currently considered acceptable by the FCC.
Topographic maps may be purchased at the U.S. Geological Survey's offices in
Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, and from selected other locations.
Topographic maps of the local areas are available in many public libraries.
Information about ground elevations also may be available from your local city
or county surveyor. (More information about topographic quadrangle maps is in
Appendix D of these LICENSING GUIDELINES.)
If the mounting structure is a building and if there is some variation in the
HAMSL at various points around its perimeter, you should use that point which
is the HIGHEST above mean sea level. Whatever point you choose, you should
use the same one for determining the information required in item 9 as well.
Item 9: Ant. Hgt. To Tip (Antenna Height to Tip).
This is also sometimes abbreviated as "AHTT" (but not to be confused with AAT
or HAAT; see item 7 above).
The FCC requests that you provide this information to the NEAREST FOOT for
those land stations that must be separately identified (repeaters, and
conventional base and control stations, authorized to operate at fixed
locations) by letters A through F. (See Section 4B above, "Distinguishing Land
Stations Operated at Fixed Sites from Other Stations.") This information is
NOT required for land stations requested to be authorized for operation at
temporary, unspecified locations, nor for small base stations nor for small
control stations.
This measurement should be from the base of the mounting structure (or, as
discussed in the last paragraph under item 8 above, the highest HAMSL for the
perimeter around a large structure) to the highest point of the antenna. This
would be the height of the antenna structure (inclusive of the tower, mast, or
pole) plus the non-overlapping height of the antenna if top mounted, or the
tip of the antenna if side mounted on that structure. On the reverse side of
the FCC Form 574 are examples of how these measurements should be made.
If your request is for a station to be located within five miles of an airport
listed in the FAA's (Federal Aviation Administration's) "Airport Facilities
Directory," or near an airport or heliport operated by the Department of
Defense, it is CRITICAL that this AHTT measurement be accurate. If the
station antenna is found to exceed the height limit later, or if the structure
is required by the FAA to be painted and lighted and the painting or lighting
does not meet the strict FAA standards, you (along with every other licensee
for that site) could face SUBSTANTIAL monetary fines.
Item 10: Antenna Latitude.
Item 11: Antenna Longitude.
The FCC currently requires that this information (in degrees, minutes and
seconds, accurate to the NEAREST SECOND!) be entered for those land stations
that must be separately identified (repeaters, and conventional base and
control stations, authorized to operate at fixed locations) by letters A
through F. (See Section 4B previously, "Distinguishing Land Stations Operated
at Fixed Sites from Other Stations.") It is not required for land stations
requested to be authorized for operation at temporary, unspecified locations,
nor for small base stations nor for small control stations.
This information can be calculated from the topographic quadrangle map for
your area, but must be based on the North American Datum (NAD27). For most
areas, these maps are available in 7.5-minute quadrangles. Topographic maps
may be purchased at the U.S. Geological Survey's offices in Washington, D.C.
and Denver, Colorado, and from selected other locations. Topographic maps of
the local areas are available in many public libraries. Information about
ground elevations also may be available from your local city or county
surveyor. (More information about topographic quadrangle maps is in Appendix
D of these LICENSING GUIDELINES.)
See Appendix D of these GUIDELINES for instructions on how to measure and
calculate this information (geographic coordinates and height above mean sea
level) from a topographic quadrangle map. The PRSG electronic BBS (bulletin
board system) also has information available from a database of more than
120,000 geopolitical entities in the Continental U.S. The information from
this electronic database may help you to confirm that your calculations are at
least in the general area. (More than a third of all topographic coordinates
in the FCC database are suspect or inconsistent with prior measurements
nominally for the same location!)
These entries must be appended by the letter designator for the direction from
the reference. For the Continental U.S., this would be N for North Latitude,
and W for West Longitude.
If you miscalculate any coordinates required to be supplied on your
application, the FCC may require later that you amend your license (and pay
another $45 application fee!) to correct this information. It's better to get
it right in the first place!
Items 12 and 13
Every GMRS system contains mobile stations. Items 12 and 13 identify the
number of the various categories of mobiles, and (nominally) their area of
operation.
Item 12: Number of Mobiles by Category.
Enter the total number of mobile units in each category: vehicular, portable,
aircraft and marine. A portable (person-carried) transceiver carried aboard a
vehicle, airplane or ship is still a portable unit. Vehicular, aircraft and
marine units are those that are physically mounted to that vehicle, aircraft
or ship.
The total of these four categories should be the number shown on the
respective lines under item 3. Pagers should NOT be included in the number
given in item 3. This is demonstrated in Sample 5.
The various examples demonstrate how to list the possible combinations of
mobile units. The FCC does not normally authorize more than a total of
FIFTEEN mobile units on any new or modified GMRS license issued to an
individual person. The FCC may soon consider also authorizing no more than
FIVE mobiles in any SINGLE category (vehicular, portable, aircraft and
marine), as well as the 15-unit total. If there are more than five members in
your immediate family residing in the same household, and if you want to
request more than five units in any single mobile category in item 12, you
should state this fact on your application.
A NOTE ABOUT PAGERS: Under the current FCC rules, only a GMRS BASE STATION may
transmit a signal intended for receipt by a pager. Transmitting a signal
intended to activate a paging receiver from or through any other GMRS station
(a control station, a repeater, a mobile unit) is NOT permitted.
The FCC expects you to pad the numbers shown in item 12 to permit anticipated
system growth or expansion within the five-year period of the license. For
instance, if you initially plan to purchase 3 units in any single category,
but you may purchase more later, you probably should show 4 or 5 in this item
12.
Item 13: Area of Operation.
The FCC Rules (Para. 95.23) permit a GMRS mobile unit to transmit from any
point within or over any areas where radio services are regulated by the FCC,
EXCEPT where additional considerations apply (see Para. 95.37 through Para.
95.49). The area of operation is also limited by any restriction imposed on
the license grant.
(This differs from most of the other private land mobile radio services.
Licensees there, unless authorized specifically for "itinerant operation," are
permitted to operate their mobile units ONLY in the area authorized on the
license.)
For instance, if the license grants authorization to operate mobile units at
any location in the Continental U.S. south of Line A, this arguably
constitutes a restriction that prohibits you from operating in those areas
near the US/Canadian border that are north of Line A. On the other hand, if
the license grants an authorization to operate your mobile units in the Cook
County, Illinois, the license itself would contain no Line A restriction. The
operation of your mobile station units in areas north of Line A would then be
governed by whether the FCC restricts mobile operations in that specific area.
From a practical standpoint, the main impact of the area-of-operation
restrictions in the GMRS is on LAND stations authorized to be operated at
TEMPORARY, UNSPECIFIED locations (see FCC Rule Para. 95.25(a)(2)).
The PRSG recommends that applicants for mobile stations to be operated in the
GMRS request only a LOCAL area of operation (for instance, the local county or
its immediately adjacent counties) that represents the routine, daily travel
of the licensee and his or her immediate family members who reside in the same
household. This avoids having the FCC impose any Line A or Line C limitations
on your mobile operations. The only exception for this should be if you are
also requesting an authorization to operate any land stations at temporary,
unspecified locations. (Land stations are base stations, control stations,
and repeaters.) In this case, the area of operation requested on the
application must include any areas for these LAND stations.
NOTE: You do NOT need to be licensed for operation of a repeater at temporary,
unspecified locations merely to be able to use someone else's repeater away
from your normal home operating area. This concept was developed under a
long-ago modified set of rules, and is no longer valid.
There are six options available on the Form 574 for showing the area of
operation.
1) Within a circular area, the center of which is the location of the land
station designated as A in items 1 through 11 (etc.). This is the simplest
and most commonly used method, IF you have a land station at site A on your
application. If you don't have a land station A, then this method should
NOT be used.
2) Within a circular area, the center of which is specified by the coordinates
separately given in this item 13. This also requires that you specify the
county and the state within which those coordinates are located.
3) Within the specified county. You also must specify the state within which
that county is located.
4) Statewide within the specified state.
5) Nationwide. (However, see the discussion above about the limitations that
the FCC may impose.) If you check this box, the FCC also requests that you
indicate "South of Line A" on the application. If any of your stations is
licensed for more than 5 watts, the FCC will impose the Line A restriction
on your license grant anyway!
6) Other. This could be a metropolitan area, within multiple (specified)
states, etc.
The FCC recommends that if the area of operation cannot be defined as the same
for all mobile frequencies, the area of operation should be described in the
"Other" block. In case different mobile frequencies have different areas of
operation, you may show the corresponding letters of the mobile frequencies(s)
before each area of operation in the "Other" block.
However, these FCC recommendations pertain primarily to the OTHER private land
mobile radio services, NOT to the GMRS. In the other services, the
permissible area of mobile operation must be specific, and nationwide
operation is generally NOT permitted. GMRS differs in that nationwide
operation generally IS permitted (see the discussion above).
If you need additional space to describe your area of operation, you may
continue the description in the unneeded space (if any) at the bottom of items
1 through 11. You also may continue on the reverse side of the application,
but you should so indicate on the front. (Including any significant
information on the reverse side of the FCC Form 574 risks that it will be
overlooked during the screening process, and will not be included on the final
license grant.)
Each of the Samples 1 through 9 shows a different way to specify the area of
operation.
Sample 1: within a specific county.
Sample 2: within a designated radius (MIRA=mile radius) of a particular
city.
Sample 3: throughout a specific state.
Sample 4: in multiple counties within a state.
Sample 5: within a radius of station A.
Sample 6: within a radius of specified coordinates.
Sample 7: throughout multiple, specified states.
Sample 8: in portions of two states.
Sample 9: nationwide south of Line A. The comparable, treaty-defined area
in Alaska is delimited by Line C. (I.e., Alaska west of Line
C.)
The significance of the Line A/Line C restrictions for GMRS licensees?
Probably none, at least insofar as MOBILE operations are concerned (although
the FCC won't admit it!). The primary significance will be on land stations,
and especially on the permissible output power and ERP for small control
stations operated in those areas (near the US/Canadian border).
In Appendix A of these LICENSING GUIDELINES is a more comprehensive
description of the areas near and north of Line A and east of Line C. The
treaty-defined line is described, the counties wholly or partially included
are listed, and the major highways are described.
A NOTE ABOUT GMRS OPERATION IN CANADA:
Canada has a General Radio Service, but it is the counterpart (same channels
and power) of the Citizens Band Radio Service in the US. Canada has no
personal radio service comparable to the GMRS in the 460 MHz band. (Nor does
Mexico.)
The United States and Canada have developed certain agreements about
permitting licensees of each others' radio services to operate MOBILE units in
the other country. In general, here are the rules, as applicable to
US-licensed GMRS mobile units when operating in Canada:
1) When a GMRS mobile unit is in Canada, it may communicate with a licensed
Canadian LAND station.
2) When a GMRS mobile unit is in Canada, it may NOT communicate with another
GMRS mobile unit (whether that second unit is in Canada or in the US).
3) When a GMRS mobile is in Canada, it may NOT communicate across the
US/Canadian border with any GMRS station or unit in the United States.
4) A GMRS land station may not operate in Canada unless it is specifically
licensed by the Canadian government for such operation.
When a GMRS mobile unit is in Canada, it is a "foreign" station under the FCC
rules. GMRS stations or mobile units in the United States are prohibited from
communicating with these foreign stations. Neither US (FCC) nor Canadian
local government officials have the authority to waive this requirement or
restriction (although some have mistakenly thought this was a local option).
Canadian authorities have been known on occasion to deny entry of GMRS-
equipped vehicles into Canada, or to require that the radios be tagged and
sealed (and sometimes, that the microphones be retained at that particular
border crossing). US authorities could presumably do the same to foreign
stations entering this country.
GMRS licensees anticipating travel in Canada should check first with the
respective Canadian authorities, or with other GMRS licensees who have
recently traveled in Canada through the same border crossing points.
(A WORD OF CAUTION: There are restrictions regarding the transport of certain
goods, materials and personnel across the US/Canadian border. Persons
traveling near this international border who have communications equipment in
their vehicles can be suspected of being involved in coordinating this illicit
cross-border transportation.)
Items 14 through 17
These items identify the location of those land stations that will operate
from fixed (specified) locations.
Item 14: Station Address or Geographic Location.
For each station designated A through F on this application, enter the street
address or the specific geographic description for the transmitter antenna
location. (See Section 4B above, "Distinguishing Land Stations Operated at
Fixed Sites from Other Stations.") A PO Box or geographic coordinates are NOT
acceptable. Various options are shown on the Examples included with these
GUIDELINES.
Item 15: City.
For each station designated A through F on this application, enter the name of
the city, town, village, or other recognized geopolitical designation within
the SAME county (if any) and state (or possession) within which the
transmitter antenna is located. For rural or unincorporated areas, enter the
NEAREST city, town, village, or other recognized geopolitical DESIGNATION
WITHIN the same county and state as the point at which the transmitter antenna
is located.
Item 16: County.
For each station designated A through F on this application, enter the name of
the county within which the antenna is located. If the antenna location is
not within a state-recognized county (or parish in Louisiana), leave this
entry blank.
Some antennas are located very close to the boundary between two counties.
Some licensees have previously shown the county into which the primary service
coverage of the licensee is anticipated. This is NOT correct. The specific
county of the antenna's ACTUAL location must be shown, even if the service
area or residential location is in a different (adjacent) county.
Item 17: State.
For each station designated A through F on this application, enter the
two-letter postal abbreviation of the state or U.S. possession within which
the antenna is located. A list of the acceptable two-letter abbreviations is
shown in the table below.
AL Alabama NV Nevada
AK Alaska NH New Hampshire
AZ Arizona NJ New Jersey
AR Arkansas NM New Mexico
CA California NY New York
CO Colorado NC North Carolina
CT Connecticut ND North Dakota
DE Delaware OH Ohio
DC District OK Oklahoma
of Columbia OR Oregon
FL Florida PA Pennsylvania
GA Georgia RI Rhode Island
GM Gulf of Mexico SC South Carolina
HI Hawaii SD South Dakota
ID Idaho TN Tennessee
IL Illinois TX Texas
IN Indiana UT Utah
IA Iowa VT Vermont
KS Kansas VA Virginia
KY Kentucky WA Washington
LA Louisiana WV West Virginia
ME Maine WI Wisconsin
MD Maryland WY Wyoming
MA Massachusetts AS American Somoa
MI Michigan GU Guam
MN Minnesota UM Midway Island
MS Mississippi MP Northern Mariana Islands
MO Missouri PR Puerto Rico
MT Montana VI Virgin Islands
NE Nebraska UM Wake Island
Table 4.2. Abbreviations for States, Jurisdictions and Areas.
Items 18 through 25
This information concerns the locations of control points, and the applicant's
mailing address.
Item 18: Location of Primary Control Point.
The Form 574 requests the location of the PRIMARY control point and the
associated telephone number. This item 18 also requests the location of all
small control stations (with antennas under 20 feet exclusive of the tower,
mast or pole on which they are mounted). Conventional control stations (with
antennas over 20 feet above structure) must instead be listed as a station A
through F above. Finally, this item also requests the locations of all small
base stations, to be preceded by the designation FBA.
This item 18 is more complex than its lengthy title suggests. These
requirements are much more rigorous for GMRS stations than for those in the
other private land mobile radio services, or in the Amateur Radio Service.
To understand the information that you must enter on your application,
three concepts must first be distinguished: control POINT, control LINK, and
control STATION.
1) Control POINT:
A control point is the point from which an operator controls a station. Every
GMRS station must have a control point, and that point must be at the site of
the transmitter unless that station is authorized specifically for remote
control. (See Para. 95.125.)
Whenever a GMRS station transmits, there must be an eligible operator at the
control point for that station. That operator must be able to cause that
station to transmit and to CEASE transmitting, and to perform all of the other
duties required of a GMRS station operator. (See Para. 95.127 and Para.
95.171.) The station operator must be able to turn the transmitter off, or to
keep it from transmitting in the first place.
If no point for remote control is identified on the license, then the station
is not authorized to be remotely controlled. A station not authorized to be
remotely controlled may transmit ONLY when an eligible station operator is
physically present at that station.
Some persons (including even some FCC employees) have claimed that the word
"may" (the eighth word in subparagraph Para. 95.127(a) of the FCC Rules) means
that the requirement (stated in the previous three paragraphs above) for a
control point does not apply to a remotely controlled station. According to
those who actually wrote the FCC Rules, that is an incorrect interpretation.
Instead, this subparagraph Para. 95.127(a) establishes that you may opt to
control a station remotely instead of locally, but IF you do so, you MUST have
that control LINK and the capability of shutting the station down (discussed
below).
2) Control LINK:
If a GMRS station is authorized to be controlled from a remote point, there
must be a control link through which the operator can perform the required
duties. (See Para. 95.127.) The control link may be either a wireline
control link, or a radio control link. In either case, the operator must be
able to cause the transmitter to CEASE transmitting or to PREVENT it from
transmitting, through this control link.
The remotely controlled transmitter may not make any unauthorized
transmissions. (See Para. 95.127.)
If a remote control point is authorized on the license (to permit the station
to be remotely controlled) but there is no radio control link authorized on
the license, then the FCC rules require that the control link be a wireline
link. This wireline link may be either a dial-up or a dedicated link, but it
must be accessible at all times. (A dial-up wireline link may not otherwise
interconnect the public switched telephone service with the remotely
controlled GMRS station. What that means is that the wireline link may not
pass audio through to the GMRS channel on which that remotely controlled
station transmits.)
3) Control Station:
A control station is a land station that transmits on the 467 MHz frequency of
the assigned channel, specifically and exclusively to communicate through a
repeater. A control station may communicate ONLY through a repeater
authorized to transmit on the same channel pair.
There are only two kinds of repeaters through which the operator of a control
station may communicate.
a) Through a repeater authorized on the same license as that control
station.
b) Through a repeater not authorized on the same license, but with whose
licensee the control station licensee has a written contract for the
shared, cooperative use of that station. (See Para. 95.33, 95.53,
95.57 and 95.59.)
A control station may NOT communicate through any other repeater. A control
station may NOT communicate with ANY OTHER CONTROL STATION, nor with any base
station, nor with any mobile unit except through the repeater.
Many control stations must employ a directional antenna, must limit their
transmitter antenna height, and must reduce their transmitter output power, in
accordance with Para. 95.25, 95.47, 95.51 and Appendix A of the FCC Rules.
A control station need not necessarily be a control point for a remotely sited
repeater. The operator of a control station must be able to perform the
duties required of a station operator (see Para. 95.173) for that control
station. That operator is not required to be able to perform the duties of a
station operator for a remotely located repeater, unless that control station
is also a control point for that remotely located repeater.
With this distinction between a control point, a control link, and a control
station, the following information must be provided in item 18.
FIRST, enter the precise street address (or the specific geographic
description), city, state and telephone number of the primary control point.
This should be the specific location (and telephone number) where someone who
is responsible for the operation of the stations requested on this application
can be personally contacted during normal daytime business hours.
This control point may be either by wireline or by radio. (If it is by
wireline, you should state "wireline" after the entry.) If the control point
is in a large building, you should describe the point within that building.
This description of the control point location must be in sufficient detail to
enable someone unfamiliar with the area to locate your control point. If the
control point is to be located at temporary, unspecified locations and you do
not have a permanently located control point, you must still provide an
address and a telephone number where a person responsible for the radio
operations can be reached.
ALL applications must show a primary control point, even those applications
without any land stations. For instance, see Samples 1 and 2.
SECOND, enter the comparable address information for each radio control point
in addition to the primary control point. Each radio control point must be
shown. (The location of a wireline control point, if it is not the primary
control point, need not be shown.) An eligible station operator must be
present at one or more of these control points whenever the remotely
controlled station transmits. The telephone numbers of the radio control
points other than the primary control point are not required.
A station may be authorized to be controlled both locally and remotely. The
PRIMARY control point (whether local or remote) should still be SHOWN
FIRST. The address of all radio control points should be listed next.
third, enter the street address or the geographic description, city and state
for each small control station to be operated at a fixed location. (Each
conventional control station must be described in items 1 through 6, 8 through
11, and 14 through 17, and need not be further described in item 18 unless it
is also the primary control point.) All small control stations to be operated
at fixed locations can be summarized on a single line under items 1 through 5
for each transmitter frequency. See Samples 8 and 9.
FOURTH, enter "FBA" and the street address or the geographic description, city
and state for each small base station to be operated at a fixed location.
(Each conventional base station must instead be described in items 1 through
6, 8 through 11, and 14 through 17.) All small base stations to be operated
at fixed locations can be summarized on a single line under items 1 through 5
for each transmitter frequency. See Samples 8 and 9.
The FCC assumes that the primary control point on an application serves as the
primary control point for all stations on that application proposed to be
remotely controlled. If there will be different primary control points for
the various stations intended to be remotely controlled, you should submit a
FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM DIAGRAM (FSD) that identifies the location of EACH land
station, the specific frequencies on which that land station transmits, and
the method and location of the primary control point for that station.
The FSD must clearly show which stations are to be remotely controlled, how
and where (the points from which) they will be controlled, and that the
application does not propose or request a capability for a station operator at
one land station to communicate on GMRS frequencies with the operator at any
other land station (whether the other land station is included on this
license, or under any other license).
A simple FSD can be merely a block diagram, with each station (and
all mobile units cumulatively) shown in their own block, and the blocks
connected with lines showing the radio frequencies (if and as appropriate).
Item 19: Freq. Advisory Comm. No.
There is no frequency advisory committee for the GMRS. This item should
always be left blank.
Item 20: Radio Service.
The code for GMRS is ZA.
Item 21: Applicant/Licensee Name.
Only an individual person is eligible to obtain a new license in the GMRS.
Licenses issued to entities other than individual persons before July 30,
1987, and not significantly modified since then (see Para. 95.71(e)), may be
renewed but may not be modified. Those entities should instead consult the
FCC INSTRUCTIONS, rather than these LICENSING GUIDELINES.
Under a license issued to an individual person, the only other parties
who are eligible to be station operators are the members of the licensee's
IMMEDIATE FAMILY residing in the SAME HOUSEHOLD. (See Para. 95.179.)
Enter your personal name in the following format:
LASTNAME, Firstname Middlename
For the Firstname or Middlename entry (but NOT for both), you may use a
single-letter abbreviation. If your legal first name and your legal middle
name are both single letters, you should submit a signed statement to that
effect with your application.
Item 22: Mailing Address (Number & Street, P.O. Box or Rt. No.).
Complete the ATTN line if the name of an individual other than the applicant
is necessary to assure mail delivery. The ATTN line should also be used for
the subdivision, department, or other mail routing instruction beyond the
street address, PO Box or route number.
NOTE: Failure to provide the FCC with a current and valid mailing address in
the United States, and subsequent failure to respond to Commission
correspondence sent to the specified address, may result in revocation of your
authorization to operate a radio station. Furthermore, the address provided
must be the applicant's LEGAL address, and not the address of the radio
equipment supplier, service shop, or some other third party.
There is no licensing fee required for you to change your mailing address
later, unless there are also modifications to the stations on the license
itself.
Item 23: City.
Enter the city of your mailing address.
Item 24: State.
Enter the state of your mailing address.
Item 25: ZIP Code.
Enter the ZIP Code of your mailing address. This is required.
Items 26 through 29
These items provide the information about the antenna structures needed to
determine if special painting or lighting requirements will be imposed.
Item 26: Antenna Structure.
If the antenna for the respective station (designations A through F) will be
mounted on a structure with an existing antenna licensed for that site, place
an X in the box below "Yes". If YES, enter the callsign and the two-letter
code for the radio service of one existing licensee using this structure. The
two-letter codes for the names of the private land mobile radio services are
shown below in Table 4.3. For other licensed radio services, you may use the
part number of the FCC rules (from Title 47 of the US Code of Federal
Regulations), or the full name of the radio service. Additional space for
showing the full name of the radio service can be provided on the reverse side
of the FCC Form 574.
Part I: All frequencies except 800 and 900 MHz Bands
Industrial:
IB Business
IF Forest Products
IM Motion Picture
IP Petroleum
IS Special Industrial
IT Telephone Maintenance
IW Power
IX Manufacturers
IY Relay Press
Land Transportation:
LA Automobile Emergency
LR Railroad
LX Taxicab
Motor Carrier:
LI Interurban Passenger
LJ Interurban Property
LU Passenger
LV Urban Property
Public Safety:
PF Fire
PH Highway Maintenance
PL Local Government
PP Police
PO Forestry Conservation
Other:
PS Special Emergency
RS Radiolocation
ZA General Mobile
Part II: 806-821 and 851-866 MHz Bands.
Conventional Trunked
Business GB YB
Industrial/Land
Transportation GO YO
Public Safety/Special
Emergency GP YP
Commercial (SMRS) GX YX
Part III: 821-824 and 866-869 MHz Bands.
Public Safety/Special
Emergency GF YF
(National Plan)
Part IV: 929-930 MHz Band.
Private carrier paging
systems (PCPS) GS
(All other applicants use the code for the radio service
in which eligibility is claimed. See Part I of this Table.)
Part V: 896-901 and 935-940 MHz Bands.
Business GU YU
Industrial/Land
Transportation GI YI
Public Safety/Special
Emergency GA YA
Commercial (SMRS) GR YS
Table 4.3. Codes and Names of the Private Land Mobile Radio Services.
If you propose to construct a new structure, or to use one that has no
existing licensees, check the box below "No" and leave the remainder of the
respective line in item 26 blank.
Item 27: Structure Description.
The Form 574 requests that you describe the structure on which your antenna
will be mounted, and the height above ground to the top of the structure.
Indicate the type of structure (for instance: building, pole or tower) for the
respective station on which the antenna for that specific site (designations A
through F) is to be mounted. Give the height above ground to the highest
point of this supporting structure only, not the height to the antenna tip.
(That latter information is instead in item 9.) This figure should NOT
include the antenna, the tower (if the tower is mounted on another structure),
or the pole, mast or pipe used to mount the antenna to the supporting
structure. Figures 1 through 3 on the reverse side of the FCC Form 574 show
how to calculate the height.
This item 27 should be completed for ALL sites designated A through F that
have been used in items 1 through 11.
Item 28: Nearby Aircraft Landing Area.
The Form 574 requests that you provide the name of the nearest aircraft
landing area, and the distance and direction to the nearest runway.
You do not need to complete this item 28 (nor the following item 29) if the
antenna height to tip for the corresponding site (designation A through F), as
shown in item 9 previously, is less than 20 feet above ground, or is less than
20 feet above the building structure (exclusive of the tower, mast, pipe or
pole), as shown in item 27, on which it is mounted.
The reference to airports pertains only to those listed in the FAA's (Federal
Aviation Administration's) "Airport Facilities Directory", or near an airport
or heliport operated by the Department of Defense. If the distance for the
respective station (designations A through F) is less than 5 miles, provide
the distance measurement in sufficient detail to enable the FCC to determine
if the antenna or its support structure fall within the zones of protection
(sometimes called "the protected glide slopes") described in Para. 95.51(d).
If your description is insufficient and your proposed antenna is near (within
6 miles of) such an airport, the FCC or FAA may impose structure painting and
lighting requirements. The expense of painting and lighting a tower to FAA
standards, and maintaining compliance with those requirements over the life of
the tower, can more than TRIPLE the cost of the tower over its lifetime! If
you feel that the FCC should not impose painting or lighting requirements on
your antenna or structure because of prior, higher towers or structures in the
immediate vicinity), you need to provide ample documentation. It is much more
difficult to have painting and lighting requirements removed from your license
AFTER it has been granted, than to argue that they are unnecessary BEFORE the
license is granted in the first place.
Item 29: Notice of Construction.
The Form 574 asks if you have filed a notice of construction or alteration
with the FAA. If YES, give the date filed, the name under which filed, and
the FAA office where filed.
Failing to provide the information requested here can substantially prolong
the processing time to screen your application. Place an X in the appropriate
space for the respective station (designations A through F) to indicate
whether a "Notice of Construction or Alteration" has been filed with the FAA.
You must notify the Federal Aviation Administration on FAA Form 7460-1
(available from any FAA office), with certain limited exceptions as set forth
in Part 17 of the FCC Rules and Part 77 of the FAA Rules, of any of the
following construction or alterations of an antenna structure:
(1) Construction of any new antenna structure or alteration of any existing
antenna structure, which would result in the top of the antenna or the
antenna structure exceeding a height of 200 feet above the ground level at
the antenna site.
(2) Construction of any new antenna structure or alteration of any existing
antenna structure, which would result in the top of the antenna or the
antenna structure exceeding a height of an imaginary surface extending
outward and upward at one of the following slopes:
(a) 100 to 1 for a horizontal distance of 20,000 feet from the nearest
point of the nearest runway of each airport with at least one runway
more than 3,200 feet in length, excluding helicopter and seaplane
bases with specified boundaries, if that airport is either listed in
the Airport Directory of the current "Airman's Information Manual"
or is operated by a Federal military agency.
(b) 50 to 1 for a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet from the nearest
point of the nearest runway of each airport with its longest runway
3,200 feet or less in length, excluding helicopter and seaplane bases
with specified boundaries, if that airport is either listed in the
Airport Directory of the current "Airman's Information Manual" or is
operated by a Federal military agency.
(c) 25 to 1 for a horizontal distance of 5,000 feet from the nearest
point of the nearest landing and takeoff area of each heliport listed
in the Airport Directory of the current "Airman's Information Manual."
(3) The construction of any antenna structure (or any alteration of an
antenna structure that would increase its height) on an airport listed in
the Airport Directory of the current "Airman's Information Manual."
(4) When requested by the FAA, any construction or alteration that would be in
an instrument approach area (defined in the FAA standards governing
instrument approach procedures) and available information indicates that
it might exceed an obstruction standard of the FAA. If you intend to
install towers of unusual height or at locations in close proximity to
aircraft landing areas, it will be to your advantage to discuss the
location and height of the antenna in detail with the appropriate FAA area
office before filing your application. If you entered "YES" on any line
(designations A through F) in the first column of item 29, enter the date
on which that filing was submitted to the FAA, the name under which the
filing was made, the name of the FAA office where the filing was made, and
the FAA number.
Proper antenna locations and full compliance with any painting and lighting
requirements is a top priority for FCC and FAA enforcement. Licensees who
neglect their tower-painting/lighting obligations have been fined many
thousands of dollars APIECE. In one recent instance, EACH licensee of EACH
antenna on a tower with improper painting and lighting was fined several
thousand dollars APIECE, although there was only one tower involved.
Recent changes in FCC procedures now permit the FCC to seek enforcement or
penalties against the tower owner, even if he or she is not a current radio
licensee. However, the radio licensees on that tower can still have a
potential liability.
This tower liability is just one of the several reasons why a GMRS applicant
should NOT include a repeater on his or her application, if he or she will not
be the primary licensee who (under FCC Rules) must assume the full
responsibility for the correct operation of that repeater station.
Items 30 through 38
The information in these items qualifies the applicant for this radio service,
and identifies the purpose of the application.
Item 30: Applicant Classification.
Only INDIVIDUAL PERSONS are eligible to obtain a new license or to
significantly modify an existing license in the GMRS. Entities already
licensed in the GMRS should use the FCC's INSTRUCTIONS instead of these
LICENSING GUIDELINES.
Item 31: Eligibility (Describe Activity):
The following statement should be used:
Applicant is over the age of eighteen years, and is
not the representative of a foreign government. The
only persons to operate under the authority of this
license will be the members of this applicant's
immediate family residing in the same household.
In the box label "Give Rule Section," enter: 95.5.
Item 32: Application is for (check one): . . .
"New Station": Check this box if you are not already licensed for any of the
stations and channels shown on the application. A GMRS licensee may apply
for an additional license (whether on the same or on different channels
from his/her existing license(s)) ONLY if no base or repeater station
proposed under the application is within 40 miles (64.4 kilometers) of any
base or repeater station authorized to the same person under an existing
GMRS license. If the FCC finds that you were granted a license that
authorizes base or repeater stations too close to those on your prior
license, the FCC will revoke one or the other license (and potentially,
BOTH or ALL of your GMRS licenses!). A person found to have fraudulently
submitted an application for such an overlapping system can also be denied
ANY future FCC license!
"Modification": Check this box if you wish to modify the terms and conditions
of an existing GMRS license, or one that has expired within the past six
months. Also indicate in item 35 the nature of the changes being
requested. Enter the callsign of that license in item 36. The FCC Form
574 should be completed anew, not relying on or referencing any information
from any previous application or license grant. Once a license has been
modified, all previous copies of that same license are no longer valid,
regardless of the expiration date shown thereon.
"Assignment": No GMRS license may be transferred, assigned, sold, or given to
any other person or entity, except for a transfer of control of a
corporation. (Para. 95.109 and Para. 95.111.)
"Reinstatement": You may request that an expired GMRS license be reinstated if
the application is filed within SIX MONTHS of the date of expiration. The
Form 574 must otherwise be completed as if for a new license. The callsign
of the expired license must be provided in item 36. Licenses which are
expired for more six months or more cannot be reinstated. The FCC may
consider reducing this grace period from six months to ONE month, to make
it consistent with that in the other Private Land Mobile Radio Services.
"Renewal": Check this box ONLY if you are merely renewing the license, and you
are not requesting any further modification. We recommend that licenses
issued to individual persons NOT be merely renewed. Instead, you should
modify the license to incorporate enhancements that have become available
only since the license was most recently granted.
Item 33: Does application include the complete system?
System licensing is REQUIRED in the GMRS. Your application should not include
any repeaters already licensed by someone else, if you have a written contract
for their shared, cooperative use. Checking NO under this item 33 should (but
unfortunately, sometimes doesn't) cause the FCC to ask why you are not
complying with this requirement.
Item 34: Significant Environmental Impact.
The Form 574 asks if a grant of your application would be an action that may
have a significant environmental effect as defined by Section 1.1307 of the
Commission's Rules. If you answer YES, submit the statement as required by
Sections 1.1308 and 1.1311 of the FCC Rules (Title 47, US Code).
Such actions include:
(a) a new antenna or structure (including any appurtenances or lighting)
located in a residential area, or a change to any such structure, which
results in FAA imposition of a requirement (or an option) to employ high
intensity white hazard lighting;
(b) facilities that are to be located in an officially designated wilderness
area, wildlife preserve, or floodplain;
(c) facilities that will affect sites significant in American history;
(d) construction that involves extensive changes in surface features.
Further details may be found in Sections 1.1306 and 1.1307 of the Commission's
Rules.
If the answer to item 34 is YES, submit the required Environmental
Assessment (EA) along with the application. The EA includes:
a) a description of the facilities (including height and special design
features, access roads and power lines), a description of the site, the
surrounding area and its uses, and a discussion of the environmental and
other considerations that led to its selection;
b) the zoning classification of the site (if any) and communication with or
proceedings before zoning, planning, environmental, or other local, state
or federal authorities on matters relating to environmental effect;
c) a statement as to whether construction of the facilities has become a
source of controversy on environmental grounds in the local community;
d) a discussion of the nature and extent of any unavoidable adverse
environmental effects perceived by the applicant, and (where adverse
effects are present) a discussion of any efforts made to minimize such
effects and of any alternative routes, sites or facilities that have been
or might reasonably be considered.
Further details may be found in Sections 1.1308 and 1.1311 of the Commission's
Rules.
Item 35: Specification of item(s) modified, if applicable.
If this application is intended to modify a current license or group of
licenses (to consolidate into one license), indicate the modification(s)
desired and the callsign(s) affected. If additional space is required, use
the back of the Form 574. If you have previously filed a Form 574, you may
reference the item number. For examples, if changing the output power of the
station listed on line A of the current application, cite "4A".
An application to modify an existing authorization must include ALL current
station information, in addition to all items being modified, and must be for
the complete system.
Licenses issued to entities other than individual persons may not be
significantly modified. See Para. 95.71e.
Item 36: If other than new station, list callsign(s) of existing
station(s) to be modified, combined or reinstated.
If you are requesting to modify or to reinstate a GMRS license, list the
existing (prior) callsign assigned to that station. If there are several
licenses that you seek to consolidate, list FIRST the one (by callsign) that
you want for the combined system, followed by the others.
If your application is for a new station, leave item 36 BLANK.
Item 37: Individual completing this application form(s).
Provide the name and telephone number (including Area Code) of the person who
has completed the application. This is probably the person (if not the
applicant) whom the FCC will call if there is any question or confusion about
this application. Provide this information even if you have completed this
application form yourself.
Item 38: Supplemental Information for Trunked and Conventional Systems
806-824/851-869 and 896-901/935-940 MHz frequency bands.
This item 38 is NOT applicable to the GMRS and should be left entirely BLANK.
Final Items.
Certification (Type/Printed Name, Telephone, Signature, Date):
The typed or printed name must be CLEARLY LEGIBLE, and must be the same as
that of the applicant. Currently, FCC Rules require that the application bear
an ORIGINAL signature (i.e., NOT a photocopy, facsimile, stamp or electronic
reproduction). (The FCC is currently considering certain changes in its Rules
that would allow applicants to file their applications electronically. If and
when these changes are fully implemented, applications would not need to have
an original signature.) The telephone number and area code of the applicant
must be provided, even if this information merely duplicates that which may
have been shown in items 18 or 37 previously.
Section 4D: Functional System Diagram.
If your application includes land stations (other than just repeaters) at FOUR
or more locations, you must file a FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM DIAGRAM (FSD). (See
Para. 95.77.) The FSD must show ALL communications links and frequencies
which you are requesting on this application, or which involve any other radio
licenses in the GMRS or in any other Private Land Mobile Radio Service.
A GMRS land station may not communicate with any other GMRS land station,
whether at a fixed or a temporary, unspecified location. If your application
is for a system that includes land stations (other than just repeaters) at two
or more locations, you should certify that these land stations will not
communicate with each other on GMRS radio frequencies.
Section 4E: Completeness.
Each GMRS application must be complete by itself, and must not rely on any
prior license, application, correspondence or attachment.
The exception is if you are returning a preprinted Form 574-R (Application for
Renewal) sent to you directly by the FCC. All that is required is just the
signed and dated Form 574-R itself. However, personal licensees now have
licensing alternatives and enhancements (such as small base stations) that
were not available when the now-expiring license was most recently granted or
modified (five years ago). Merely renewing will not take advantage of those
possible enhancements.
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Chapter 5: Submitting the Completed Application.
Section 5A: Before Submitting Your Application
Section 5B: Make and Keep a Copy of the Application
Section 5C: The Filing Fee
Section 5D: The User Fee
Special Treatment for Non-Profit Licensees
Section 5E: The Mailing Address for the Application
Same Mailing Address for New GMRS Licensees
New Mailing Address for GMRS License Modifications
GMRS License Renewal -- Several Options
Section 5F: Available Payment Methods
FCC Publication Describes Payment Methods
Section 5A: Before Submitting Your Application
The processing ("turn-around") time of your application will depend on several
factors, but primarily if there is any confusion or inconsistency in your
entries. FCC personnel who screen GMRS applications frequently attempt to
contact the person who completed the application (from item 37) or the
applicant by telephone if there are any points of confusion.
A longer time is often also needed if the application proposes a new antenna
structure that is more than 200 feet tall or is within 6 miles of an airport
listed in the Airport Directory of the current "Airman's Information Manual."
To help applicants, the PRSG can review your proposed application and make
suggestions for changes. Make a photocopy of your application (you keep the
original!) and mail it to:
Personal Radio Steering Group
Applications Review
PO Box 2851
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
Follow this up with a telephone call to our Michigan office (313/662-4533) at
least five days later. (Best times to reach us are mid or late evenings
Eastern Time, although we generally try to cover the phones from late
afternoon on.) If PRSG staff have received your letter and if they have had a
chance to review the 574, we may be able to make recommendations that will
speed up the turn-around of your application.
If you have a computer and a modem, you can also call the PRSG electronic
bulletin board system to see if we have a message for you. It operates 24
hours per day: (313) 995-2100.
Section 5B: Make and Keep a Copy of the Application
The PRSG recommends that you always make a photocopy of your final
application, and that you keep it with the other station records that the FCC
requires you to maintain. The FCC rules also require this in some
circumstances (see Para. 95.113(b)(6)). Your authority to operate in the GMRS
is limited (in part) by what you proposed on the application (see Para.
95.101), even if the final license would seem to grant a broader authority.
Section 5C: The Filing Fee
The FCC currently imposes a $45 filing fee for each application for a new,
modified, or renewed license in the GMRS. The methods of payment are
discussed later.
If you are requesting an authorization to operate certain land stations
(repeaters, conventional base stations, or conventional control stations) at
more than six permanent locations, you will need to use a second FCC Form 574.
The FCC will charge you an additional $45 filing fee for each such subsequent
application. However, if you are requesting these land stations at not more
than six permanent locations (even if you need a second Form 574 to include
all of the stations), then the additional $45 filing is not required. See
Sample 9.
The $45 application fee is not required for merely changing the mailing
address of the licensee. However, any other change in the authorizations of
the stations (for instance, to move a control point) requires the $45 fee.
Section 5D: The User Fee
Effective for GMRS applications filed on or after July 18, 1994, the FCC
imposes an "administrative fee" (more commonly known as a "user fee") for each
new or renewal application. This fee is $7 per year ($35 for a five-year
license). Except as noted below, this brings the total cost of the GMRS
license to $80 (the $45 application fee, plus the $35 user fee).
Although the $45 application fee is imposed on a licensing modification, the
user fee is not imposed. However, the date of expiration on the original
license grant is retained.
Special Treatment for Non-Profit Licensees
With the new rules and fees, the FCC now exempts those grandfathered GMRS
licenses issued to non-profit organizations, local government units, and
public safety entities from payment of the new $35 user fee. (These entities
are not eligible to obtain a new GMRS license, nor to significantly modify an
existing one.)
These entities must still pay the $45 "application fee," whether for a
permissible modification or for merely a renewal. (See 95.71(e) for a list of
impermissible modifications.)
Section 5E: The Mailing Address for the Application
When the "application fee" was increased and the new "user fee" was
implemented, the FCC also made some other changes in the licensing process.
Included among these were adding new mailing addresses for some applications,
creating a "payment code" to be used on some applications, and enabling new
payment options.
Same Mailing Address for New GMRS Licenses
Applications for a new GMRS license, along with the total $80 in fees, should
continue to be sent to the address which has been used for several years now:
Federal Communications Commission
General Mobile Radio Service
PO Box 358230
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5230
The "payment code" for an application for a new license is PALR. (The use of
this code will be explained below.)
New Mailing Address for GMRS License Modifications
Applications requesting to modify an existing GMRS license will be assessed
only the $45 processing fee, and not the new $35 user fee. However, the
expiration date of the modified license (if it is subsequently granted) will
be the same as was on the license grant already in effect.
Applications to modify an existing GMRS license must be made on an FCC Form
574, but should now be sent (along with that $45 fee) to the following
address:
Federal Communications Commission
General Mobile Radio Service
PO Box 358745
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5745
The "payment code" for an application to modify an existing license is PALM.
GMRS License Renewal -- Several Options
About 90 days before a GMRS license's expiration (if the license is eligible
to be renewed), the FCC usually sends the licensee an FCC Form 574R. (However,
the PRSG receives occasional reports from licensees who do not receive their
Form 574R.)
If you are eligible to renew your GMRS license, you may return the 574R if you
have no modifications to make to your license. However, you should also
review your present license carefully to see if there might be some
enhancements or modifications that you should consider. (Most licenses could
use some modification: adding a small base station, deleting a multiply
licensed repeater, adding a second channel pair, etc. These recommendations
have been discussed in several recent PRSG newsletter issues.)
If you have not received an FCC Form 574R by 30 days before your license
expires, you may also file an FCC Form 405A merely to renew it.
If you use either the FCC Form 574R or the FCC Form 405A, you should send your
renewal application and the $80 payment to:
Federal Communications Commission
574R/405A Station Renewal
PO Box 358245
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-5245
You can also renew your existing GMRS license by using the conventional FCC
Form 574. However, you will have to supply all information on this
application. (The 574R and 405A renewal applications present only a summary
of the license grant, and you do not need to provide the missing information.)
If you use the 574 for merely a renewal, use the PO Box 358230 as if applying
for a new application.
The "payment code" for an application merely to renew an existing GMRS license
is PALR. For a "grandfathered" non-profit entity or another user-fee-exempted
entity, the same addresses should be used, but the "payment code" is PALM, and
only the $45 application fee should be submitted.
Section 5F: Available Payment Methods
You can now pay for your application and regulatory fees by credit card. A
new FCC Form 159, "FCC Remittance Advice," replaces the previous FCC Form 155,
and permits the payment of most FCC fees by a variety of alternative methods.
Additional information can also be provided on FCC Form 159-C, "Advice
(Continuation Sheet)."
For instance, you can now charge your fees to your MasterCard or VISA account
(those are the only two credit cards which will be accepted), or you can pay
for multiple applications with a single check.
For paying your $35 "regulatory fee" (namely, the new user fee) along with
your $45 application fee, you can submit a single check for $80 with your
application, and you do not need to use the FCC Form 159. If you wish to pay
the fees for multiple applications with a single check, or if you wish to
charge the fees for one or more applications to your charge card, then you
must submit the FCC Form 159 (and if necessary, the FCC Form 159-C
Continuation Sheet) along with your application (FCC Forms 574, 574R or 405A).
There are also provisions for paying by Western Union "Quick Collect," and by
wire transfer (although additional requirements apply) by using the FCC Form
159.
The new FCC Form 159 requires the entry of the "payment code," a new
four-character code (usually "PALM" or "PALR" for GMRS) which will likely be
required on all future FCC forms (including the anticipated revision to the
venerable FCC Form 574).
FCC Publication Describes Payment Methods
A new FCC publication ("Private Radio Bureau Fee Filing Guide, Effective July
1994") describes the various fees which this Bureau is authorized to collect
from applicants in the various private radio services. It also includes an
FCC Form 159 ("FCC Remittance Advice"), Form 159C ("Advice Continuation
Sheet"), and "Instructions for Using FCC Form 159."
A copy of this publication can be requested from the FCC's Consumer Assistance
Branch at their Gettysburg, PA office (717/337-1212). PRSG subscribers can
obtain a copy just of the "Instructions," and of Forms 159 and 159C, from the
PRSG directly for a 52-cent SASE. Copies are also available to non-PRSG
subscribers or without an SASE for $3.00.
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Chapter 6: Practical Guidelines for Operating Your GMRS Stations
(These requirements apply to GMRS licenses first issued in or since 1989, and
to all licenses issued to individual persons before 1989. Older non-personal
licensees have additional restrictions and requirements.)
Q: How Must I Identify?
A: You must identify by your FCC-assigned callsign at the end of each
transmission or exchange of transmissions, or once each fifteen minutes of a
continuous exchange. Each letter and each digit must be separately and
distinctly pronounced. See Para. 95.119.
Q: Who May Operate Under My Callsign?
A: You may allow your immediate family members living in the same household
to operate under your GMRS license. Others must obtain and operate under
their own licenses. See Para. 95.179.
Q: What Communications May I Transmit?
A: You and your immediate family members may communicate messages about the
personal and business activities of the licensee. See Para. 95.179. You may
not provide communications service to any other person or entity.
Q: On What Channels May I Transmit?
A: You may communicate on the frequencies shown on your FCC license. You
may communicate from a low-power mobile station to a small base station or to
another mobile station on any of the seven interstitial (in-between)
frequencies in the 462 MHz GMRS band. You may communicate from your mobile
unit on the "675 channel" for the purpose of soliciting or rendering
assistance to a traveler, or for communicating in an emergency pertaining to
the immediate safety of life or the immediate protection of property. See
Para. 95.29.
Q: May I Transmit Through Someone Else's Repeater?
A: You may transmit only on the frequencies which were described above. You
may transmit from your mobile station units through someone else's repeater on
one of these channels, but only with their permission and approval. See Para.
95.57.
Q: With Whom May I Communicate?
A: You may communicate with the station operator of any other GMRS system.
You may not communicate (except emergency messages) to any Amateur Radio
station, to any unlicensed station, or to any foreign station. See Para.
95.181.
Q: With What Stations May I Communicate?
A: This depends on the station from which you are transmitting.
From your base station:
You may communicate from your base station ONLY to mobile station
units or to paging receivers.
From your control station:
You may communicate from your control station only through a repeater,
and then ONLY to mobile station units. The only repeater through
which your control station may communicate is one shown on your
license, or one with whose licensee you have a written contract for
the use of that station.
From your mobile units:
You may communicate from your mobile station units to any base
station, to any other mobile station unit, or (through a repeater) to
any control station permitted to communicate through that repeater.
See Para. 95.51 through Para. 95.61.
Q: Where May I Operate My Mobile Units?
A: Your mobile station units may transmit from any point within or over any
areas where radios services are regulated by the FCC, unless there is some
restriction on your license. See Para. 95.23. You may not operate your mobile
station units while aboard any commercial airline. (FAA regulations.)
Q: How Do I Cooperate With Other Licensees?
A: GMRS frequencies are not assigned for the exclusive use of any one
licensee. You must monitor before transmitting, and you must wait if your
transmission would interfere with any ongoing or emergency communication. See
Para. 95.175.
A Recommendation:
When calling for assistance or to report an emergency, first identify your
station by FCC callsign, briefly state your exact location, and then
describe the nature of your communications request. Keep your
communications as brief as possible. Stay on channel so that you can
provide any further information needed.
For more information, call or write:
Personal Radio Steering Group, Inc.
PO Box 2851
Ann Arbor, MI 48106
(313) MOBILE 3 (voice)
(313) 995-2100 (BBS)
The Personal Radio Steering Group is a not-for-profit national GMRS users
group. The PRSG publishes a monthly newsletter (the PERSONAL RADIO EXCHANGE)
and other materials of interest to all GMRS licensees. The PRSG's most
popular publication is the GMRS NATIONAL REPEATER GUIDE, which lists repeaters
and base stations on ALL GMRS channels and in ALL states. Many of these can be
used by the GMRS-equipped traveler to request local assistance or to report
local emergencies. The PRSG also can offer licensing assistance to new users.
The PRSG electronic bulletin board service (BBS) is accessible 24 hours per
day. The BBS has additional files about the GMRS and about the various other
publications and subscription services of the PRSG. The BBS can also be used
to inquire about other GMRS licensees.
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Chapter 7: Possible Future Directions for the GMRS (A Summary)
The GMRS is currently experiencing a rapid influx of new users. This is
attributable primarily to the increase in public awareness of this service
because of the increased availability of inexpensive GMRS transceivers through
local electronics stores and national mail order outlets.
Recent articles in electronics-oriented consumer publications have also
contributed significantly to this growth.
In many areas (but especially around the main population centers), the radio
channels available to the GMRS and to the other private land mobile radio
services are congested. The FCC has proposed to require changes in the
underlying radio technology, to evolve to new hardware and to DIGITAL
technologies which will permit more communications links to coexist within the
same spectrum and within the same area.
This proposal would eventually require the phasing out of all existing FM
transceivers, including those gaining wide popularity among new GMRS users.
The speed with which this transition to new technologies will probably not be
as rapid as the FCC has proposed. (The FCC believes that some new digital
systems might be online within just a couple of years!)
There are alternative courses of evolution that could delay the mandatory
implementation of the new digital technologies for a decade or more, and that
might even permit the continuing use of low-power, FM GMRS handheld
transceivers indefinitely into the future.
The future of GMRS will be discussed extensively in the future issues of the
PRSG's monthly newsletter, the PERSONAL RADIO EXCHANGE. Subscriptions are
available for $30 per year.
To understand where the GMRS is heading, it can also be instructive to
understand where it has been. The PRSG has also published information about
the origin and evolution of the GMRS during the 1970s and 1980s. Parts 1 and 2
"Personal Radio in the 1980's" are available from the PRSG ($4), and trace the
recent evolution of this personal radio service.
==============================================================================
==============================================================================
Appendix A: Definition of the Areas Included North of Line A
and East of Line C
Below is described, on a state-by-state basis, the areas that are north of
Line A (or east of Line C in Alaska). The formal, legal treaty definition is
given first. The general area within the state is described next, and all
counties that are partially or wholly included are listed. Finally, those
portions of MAJOR highways north of Line A or east of Line C are described.
The following states have portions that are north of Line A or east of Line C:
Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire,
New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
ALASKA
Treaty definition: The area east of the line from the intersection of latitude
70 degrees N and longitude 144 degrees W, by great circle arc to the
intersection of latitude 60 degrees N and longitude 143 degrees W.
In general: The area within 75 miles of the US/Canadian border, plus all of
the Alaskan Panhandle. This includes the following major highways:
Alaska State Route 2 from its junction with Alaska State Route 1 at
Tanacross east to the US/Canadian border.
All highways in the Alaskan Panhandle.
IDAHO
Treaty definition: The area north of the latitude 48 degrees N (approximately
72 miles south of the US/Canadian border).
In general: All areas north of the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. This
includes the following major highways:
US 2 along its entire length.
US 95 from Granite north to the US/Canadian border.
State Route 200 along its entire length.
This includes portions or all of the following Idaho counties:
Bonner, Boundary, Shoshone
INDIANA
Treaty definition: The area east of longitude 85 degrees W (approximately 10
miles east of the Indiana/Ohio border) and north of latitude 41 degrees N
(approximately 5 miles south of the center of Fort Wayne, IN).
In general: The area within 10 miles of the Indiana/Ohio border, and within 53
miles of the Indiana/Michigan border. This includes the following major
highways:
I-69 from the Indiana/Michigan border south to I-80/90 (Indiana Toll
Road).
I-80/90 (Indiana Toll Road) from I-69 (Exit 12, mile marker 144) east to
the Indiana/Ohio border.
US 6 from Waterloo east to the Indiana/Ohio border.
US 20 from Angola east to the Indiana/Ohio border.
This includes portions or all of the following Indiana counties:
Allen, De Kalb, Steuben
MAINE
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from latitude 41 degrees N,
longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH) by great circle arc to Bangor, ME.
Then by great circle arc to Searsport, ME.
In general, the northern two-thirds of the state. This includes the following
major highway:
I-95 from Augusta, ME north to the US/Canadian border.
This includes portions or all of the following Maine counties:
Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis,
Somerset, Waldo, Washington
MICHIGAN
Treaty definition: The area north and east of a line from the southern-most
point of Duluth, MN, via great circle arc to latitude 45 degrees N, longitude
85 degrees W (about 5 miles north of Mancelona), then south along longitude 85
degrees to the Michigan/Indiana border.
In general: This includes nearly ALL of the Upper Peninsula (except the
southern tip), and those portions of the Lower Peninsula east of a north/south
line through Ionia (about midway between Lansing and Grand Rapids).
In the Upper Peninsula, this includes all major highways EXCEPT US 41 from the
junction of US 2 south to the Michigan/Wisconsin border.
In the Lower Peninsula, this includes the following major highways:
I-69 for its entire length.
I-75 (including I-275, I-375 and I-475) along their entire lengths.
I-94 from the Marshall Exit (mile marker 110) east to the US/Canadian
border.
I-96 (including I-696) from the Portland Exit (mile marker 73) east to the
US/Canadian border.
US 10 from Lake southeast to the US/Canadian border.
US 12 from the junction with I-69 east to the US/Canadian border.
US 23, US 27 and US 127 along their entire lengths.
US 31 from Eastport northeast to its end.
US 131 from Alba north to the US/Canadian border.
This includes portions or all of the following Michigan counties:
Alcona, Alger, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Bay, Branch, Calhoun,
Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Claire, Clinton, Crawford, Delta,
Dickinson, Eaton, Emmett, Genesee, Gladwin, Gogebic, Gratiot, Hillsdale,
Houghton, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalkaska,
Keweenaw, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb,
Marquette, Menominee, Midland, Missaukee, Monroe, Montcalm, Montmorency,
Oakland, Ogemaw, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon,
Saginaw, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Tuscola, Washtenaw,
Wayne
MINNESOTA
Treaty definition: The area north of latitude 48 degrees N (approximately 75
miles south of the US/Canadian border), plus the area north of a great circle
arc from the intersection of latitude 48 degrees N and longitude 95 degrees W
(about 5 miles north of Mancelona, MI) west through the southern end of
Duluth.
In general: the northern quarter of the state. This includes the following
major highways:
US 53 from and including Duluth northwest to the US/Canadian border.
US 59 from Plummer north to the US/Canadian border.
US 61 from and including Duluth northeast to the US/Canadian border.
US 71 from Funkley northeast to the US/Canadian border.
US 75 from Euclid north to the US/Canadian border.
US 169 from Bovey northeast to its terminus.
This includes portions or all of the following Minnesota counties:
Beltrami, Carlton, Clearwater, Cook, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake,
Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Roseau, St. Louis
MONTANA
Treaty definition: The area north of latitude 48 degrees N (approximately 75
miles south of the US/Canadian border).
In general: the northern quarter of the state. This includes the following
major highways:
I-15 from the Brady Exit (mile marker 328) north to the US/Canadian
border.
US 2 along its entire length.
US 87 from Loma north to the US/Canadian border.
US 89 From Bynum north to the US/Canadian border.
US 93 from Lakeside (northern end of Flathead Lake) north to the
US/Canadian border.
This area includes portions or all of the following Montana counties:
Blaine, Chouteau, Daniels, Flathead, Glacier, Hill, Lake, Liberty,
Lincoln, McCone, Phillips, Pondera, Richland, Roosevelt, Sanders, Teton,
Toole, Valley
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from the junction of latitude 41
degrees N and longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH) by great circle arc to
Bangor, Maine.
In general: the northern half of the state. This area includes the following
major highway:
I-93 from Plymouth north to the New Hampshire/Vermont border.
This area includes portions or all of the following New Hampshire counties:
Carroll, Coos, Grafton
NEW YORK
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from the junction of latitude 41
degrees N and longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH) by great circle arc to
Bangor, Maine.
In general: only the far northwestern corner of the state. This area includes
the following major highways:
I-81 from Cortland north to the US/Canadian border.
I-87 from Warrensburg north to the US/Canadian border.
I-90 (the New York State Thruway), including I-190 and I-490, from the New
York/Pennsylvania border east to Utica.
I-390 along its entire length.
NY State Route 17 from Bath west to the New York/Pennsylvania border.
This area includes portions or all of the following New York counties:
Alleghany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautaugua, Clinton, Erie, Essex,
Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston,
Madison, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego,
Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
NORTH DAKOTA
Treaty definition: The area north of latitude 48 degrees N (approximately 75
miles south of the US/Canadian border).
In general: the northern third of the state. This includes the following
major highways:
I-29 from the junction of US 81 north to the US/Canadian border.
US 2 from Niagara west to the North Dakota/Montana border.
US 52 from Velva northwest to the US/Canadian border.
US 83 from the east/west line through Velva (on US 52) north to the
US/Canadian border.
US 281 from the junction of State Highway 57 north to the US/Canadian
border.
This area includes portions or all of the following North Dakota counties:
Benson, Bottineau, Burke, Cavalier, Divide, Grand Forks, McHenry,
McKenzie, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette,
Towner, Walsh, Ward, Williams
OHIO
Treaty definition: The area north of latitude 41 degrees N from the Indiana
line east to longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH), and north by great circle
arc to Bangor, Maine.
In general, the northern quarter of the state. This includes the following
major highways:
I-71 (including I-271) from the junction with I-76 north to its terminus
I-75 from 2 miles north of Findlay to the Ohio/Michigan border.
I-77 from Akron north to its terminus.
I-80 (the Ohio Turnpike) from Exit 14 (Niles) west to the Ohio/Indiana
border.
I-90 (the Ohio Turnpike, and then the Northeast Extension) along its
entire length.
US 23 from Carey (junction of State Route 15) north to the Ohio/Michigan
border.
US 24 along its entire length.
US 127 from Scott north to the Ohio/Michigan border.
This includes portions or all of the following Ohio counties:
Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Geauga, Hancock,
Henry, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Medina, Ottawa, Paulding, Portage,
Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Summit, Trumbull, Williams, Woods
PENNSYLVANIA:
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from the junction of latitude 41
degrees N and longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH), and north by great
circle arc to Bangor, Maine.
In general: only the far northwestern corner of the state. This area includes
the following major highways
I-79 From Custards (Exit 35) north to its terminus.
I-90 along its entire length.
US 6 from Warren west to the Pennsylvania/Ohio border.
This includes portions or all of the following Pennsylvania counties:
Crawford, Erie, Warren
VERMONT
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from the junction of latitude 41
degrees N and longitude 82 degrees W (near Lodi, OH), and north by great
circle arc to Bangor, Maine.
In general: the northern two-thirds of the state. This area includes the
following major highways:
I-89 along its entire length.
I-91 from its junction with I-89 north to the US/Canadian border.
This area includes portions or all of the following Vermont counties;
Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Frankilin, Grand Isle, Lamoille,
Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windsor
WASHINGTON
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from Aberdeen, by great circle arc
to the intersection of latitude 48 degrees N, longitude 120 degrees W (near
Methow, WA), then along latitude 48 degrees N.
In general: the northern 40% of the state. This includes the following major
highways:
I-5 from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport Exit (mile marker 152) north to the
US/Canadian border.
I-90 from the Issaquah Exit (mile marker 25) west to its terminus.
I-405 along its entire length around Seattle.
US 2 from Milan northeast to the Washington/Idaho border.
US 97 from the junction of State Highway 17 north to the US/Canadian
border.
US 395 from Loon Lake north to the US/Canadian border.
This includes portions or all of the following Washington counties:
Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King,
Kitsap, Mason, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit,
Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Whatcom
WISCONSIN
Treaty definition: The area north of a line from the southern most point of
Duluth, by great circle arc to the junction of latitude 45 degrees N and
longitude 85 degrees W (about 5 miles north of Mancelona, MI).
In general: only the northern fringe of the state. This includes the
following major highway:
US 2 along its entire length.
This area includes portions or all of the following Wisconsin counties:
Ashland, Bayfield, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Vilas
=============================================================================
=============================================================================
Appendix B: Definition of the Areas in the National Radio Quiet Zone
The NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY (NRAO) is located near Green Bank,
Pocahontas County, West Virginia. The National Radio Quiet Zone is a
restricted area of operation within Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland in
the vicinity of the NRAO. The Zone is bounded by:
Latitude 39 degrees 15 minutes N on the north,
Longitude 78 degrees 30 minutes W on the east,
Latitude 37 degrees 30 minutes N on the south, and
Longitude 80 degrees 30 minutes W on the west.
Land stations proposed to be constructed within this area should be checked
for compliance with Rule Sections Para. 95.41 and Para. 95.79.
If you propose to locate a permanent station within this area, your
application must be accompanied by a copy of a request for clearance sent to
the NRAO, or by a statement indicating that the NRAO has been notified of the
intent to file an application.
A request for clearance should be sent to:
Director, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
PO Box 2
Green Bank, WV 24944
A GMRS license for a land station to operate within the Zone will be granted
only if the NRAO files no objection to the station.
============================================================================
============================================================================
Appendix C: How to Calculate Effective Radiated Power (ERP)
Step 1: Determine Antenna Gain
Step 2: Determine Feedline Losses
Step 3: Determine Device/Component Loss
Step 4: Sum the Losses
Step 5: Calculate Overall Gain/Loss
Step 6: Apply the Gain/Loss Factor
Other Points to Remember
Effective Radiated Power (ERP) is the radio frequency power (stated in watts)
needed at the feedpoint of a half-wave dipole antenna in order for it to
radiate a signal just as strong as the strongest part of the signal from the
actual station antenna being rated. ERP is calculated using information on
the characteristics of the transmitter, the antenna, its feedline, and the
various devices (if any) along its feedline.
The information needed for this calculation should be available from the
equipment manufacturer or supplier. For some system components, this
information can also be measured directly.
Antennas do not radiate uniformly in all directions. The theoretical
"isotropic radiator" (uniform radiation in all directions and dimensions) is
not achievable in practice, nor (for purposes of mobile communications) would
it be particularly desirable.
Mobile communications signals should generally be focused at the horizon,
since radio energy directed downward toward earth (except for special,
range-limiting, downward-directed antennas at very high sites) or upward into
space (unless communicating with aircraft or spacecraft!) would be merely
wasted in our horizontally-oriented world. Antennas intended to achieve this
compression-at-the-horizon effect both the signal actually radiated by the
antenna, and the electromagnetic energy received by the antenna coming from
other radio frequency radiating sources. In other words, antenna gain
benefits both transmitting and receiving.
Unfortunately, the gain ratings of most antennas are made NOT at the horizon
(where the usable signal should be focused) but in that plane or cone where
the maximum gain takes place. This can confuse the comparison between
antennas, since using gain alone (without reference to the angle of radiation)
is like "comparing apples versus oranges."
Step 1. Determine Antenna Gain.
Determine the station antenna gain (compared to the reference half-wave
dipole). This figure is in decibels (dB). This information should be
available from the antenna manufacturer. However, be sure that this figure of
merit is a comparison to the power output of a half-wave dipole, NOT a
comparison to an isotropic radiator. Using the latter reference artificially
inflates the gain rating, for instance for marketing purposes.
Measuring the gain on your own is difficult, and you will probably have to
rely on the manufacturer's ratings. However, Table C.1 below summarizes the
usable gain for antennas commonly used at the 460 MHz frequencies available in
the GMRS. These figures are already generous. Any claims for significantly
greater performance should be considered suspect.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Highly Directional Land Station Antennas |
| |
| Corner Reflector 8 to 10 dB |
| 2- or 3-element Yagi 2.0 to 3.0 dB |
| 5-element Yagi 6.0 to 8.0 dB |
| 7-element Yagi 7.5 to 10.0 dB |
| 10-element Yagi 9.0 to 12.0 dB |
| |
| Omni- or Semi-Directional Land Station Antennas |
| |
|NOTE: Semi-directional patterns can be achieved by side mounting these |
|antennas on a tower structure. The gain is modest (1 or 2 dB) and broad, |
|but the null can be considerable (5 to 15 dB) and very narrow. |
| |
| 1/4 wave ground plane: |
| 9" height 0.0 dB |
| |
| Exposed collinear array: |
| 3' height 0.0 to 2.5 dB |
| 7' height 4.5 to 6.0 dB |
| |
| Fiberglass enclosed (collinear) array: |
| 3' height 0.0 to 2.0 dB |
| 5' height 2.5 to 3.5 dB |
| 7' height 4.5 to 5.5 dB |
| 10' height 6.0 to 6.5 dB |
| 13' height 7.0 to 8.0 dB |
| 17' height 6.0 to 8.5 dB |
| 22' height 9.0 to 10.0 dB |
| |
| Exposed dipole array: |
| 2 elements, stacked (in-line) 4.5 to 5.0 dB |
| (Produces an offset gain.) |
| 4 elements, 2@ (opposed) at 3.0 to 5.0 dB |
| each of 2 levels |
| (Produces circular or |
| elliptical pattern.) |
| 4 elements, stacked (in-line) 6.0 to 9.0 dB |
| (Produces an offset gain. |
| On the backside of the array, |
| the gain is negligible, and |
| can actually be a deep null |
| if side mounted on a tower.) |
| 8 elements, 2@ (opposed) at 4.0 to 8.0 dB |
| each of 4 levels |
| (Produces circular or |
| elliptical pattern.) |
| 8 elements, stacked (in-line) 10.5 to 12.0 dB |
| (Produces an offset gain. |
| On the backside of the array, |
| the gain is negligible, and |
| can actually be a deep null |
| if side mounted on a tower.) |
| 16 elements, 2@ (opposed at 6.0 to 10.0 dB |
| each of 8 levels |
| (Produces circular or |
| elliptical pattern.) |
| |
| Mobile Station Antennas |
| |
|NOTE: These measurements do NOT include any losses from the attached |
|coaxial cable. Those losses must be separately calculated. |
| |
| 1/4 wave whip (6" height) 0 dB |
| 5/8 wave whip (15" height) 3 dB |
| Double-stacked 5/8 wave whip (30" height) 5.0 to 5.5 dB |
| |
| Portable Station Antennas |
| |
|NOTE: The negative gains shown mean a net loss. |
| |
| 1/4 wave metallic whip (6" height) -2 to 0 dB |
| 6" "rubber duckie" -4 to -1 dB |
| 3" "stubbie duckie" -8 to -5 dB |
| |
| |
| TABLE C.1. Gain of Typical GMRS Antennas. |
| |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 2. Determine Feedline Losses.
Determine the loss in the one or more sections of feedline between the
transmitter final amplifier and the antenna. Again, this figure is in
decibels.
This information should be available from the manufacturer of the feedline,
and will be dependent on the frequency range and on the length of the
feedline. Feedline losses are generally greater at higher frequencies.
Typical losses for various types of feedlines at GMRS frequencies are
summarized in Table C.2 below.
----------------------------------------------------
| |
| RG-8/U -5.0 to -5.5 dB |
| RG-11/U -4.5 to -5.0 dB |
| RG-58/U -11.0 to -14.0 dB |
| 3/8" foam -2.55 dB |
| 1/2" foam -1.55 to -2.15 dB |
| 7/8" foam -0.88 to -1.36 dB |
| |
| TABLE C.2. Losses of Common Feedlines |
| @ 460 MHz (per 100' length). |
| |
| NOTE: These are optimal figures. Some |
| inexpensive types can actually |
| have an even greater loss. That |
| makes for a lossy and lousy feedline, |
| but an excellent deliberate signal |
| attenuator! |
| |
----------------------------------------------------
Unlike the situation for antennas, it IS possible to measure feedline loss.
If you have a wattmeter and a fully-absorbing load (such as a non-radiating
"dummy" load suitable for use at 460 MHz), you can measure this loss (in
watts). First, connect the wattmeter directly to the transmitter output, the
feedline segment(s) (in series) to the wattmeter output, and finally the
non-radiating load to the end of feedline. It is important that the final
load be the correct impedance, and that it be designed to absorb ALL of the
radiated energy and reflect NONE back down the feedline.
With this assembly, measure the transmitter output power.
Next, move the wattmeter from before the feedline segment(s) to after the
segment(s) (i.e., to just before the fully absorbing load) and measure the
power passed through the wattmeter again.
Calculate from these two measurements the percentage of loss through the
feedline segments, and determine the decibels of loss from the Decibel
Conversion Table below.
-----------------------------------------
| |
| Net Gain Gain |
| (in dB) Factor |
| |
| 10.0 10.00 |
| 9.5 8.93 |
| 9.0 7.94 |
| 8.5 7.09 |
| 8.0 6.31 |
| 7.5 5.62 |
| 7.0 5.01 |
| 6.5 4.46 |
| 6.0 3.97 |
| 5.5 3.55 |
| 5.0 3.16 |
| 4.5 2.82 |
| 4.0 2.51 |
| 3.5 2.24 |
| 3.0 1.99 |
| 2.5 1.78 |
| 2.0 1.59 |
| 1.5 1.41 |
| 1.0 1.26 |
| 0.5 1.12 |
| 0.0 1.00 |
| |
| Net Loss Loss |
| (in dB) Factor |
| |
| -0.0 1.00 |
| -0.5 0.893 |
| -1.0 0.794 |
| -1.5 0.709 |
| -2.0 0.631 |
| -2.5 0.562 |
| -3.0 0.501 |
| -3.5 0.446 |
| -4.0 0.397 |
| -4.5 0.355 |
| -5.0 0.316 |
| -5.5 0.282 |
| -6.0 0.251 |
| -6.5 0.224 |
| -7.0 0.199 |
| -7.5 0.178 |
| -8.0 0.159 |
| -8.5 0.141 |
| -9.0 0.126 |
| -9.5 0.112 |
| -10.0 0.100 |
| |
| |
| Table C.3. Decibel Conversion Table. |
| |
-----------------------------------------
Step 3. Determine Device/Component Loss.
Determine the loss from all devices or components, if any, which will be
inserted into the feedline. The devices would include any filters,
circulators, duplexers, etc.
Information about these losses should be available from the manufacturer.
However, you can also measure the losses directly by incorporating them into
the testing procedure previously described for Step 2.
In Table C.4 below are summarized typical losses in these devices.
----------------------------------------------------------
| |
| Device Typical Range |
| of Loss |
| |
| Duplexers: |
| 3-cavity bandpass 1.3 dB |
| 4-cavity bandpass 1.5 dB |
| Miniature mobile-type 0.7 dB |
| Band-reject 0.8 dB |
| Pass/notch 1.2 dB |
| |
| Filters: |
| Band-Pass and Pass-Notch Filters 0.5 to 3.0 dB |
| per cavity |
| |
| Circulator/isolators: |
| Typically 0.3 to 0.5 dB |
| per stage |
| |
| Transmitter combiners: |
| Typically 2.5 to 4.0 dB |
| per stage |
| |
| |
| Table C.4. Typical Losses of Feedline Devices |
| |
----------------------------------------------------------
Step 4. Sum the Losses.
Sum up the total losses of the feedline and the inserted devices by adding the
negative dB determined in Steps 2 and 3 above.
Step 5. Calculate Overall System Gain or Loss.
Calculate the overall system gain (or loss) by adding the NEGATIVE value
determined in Step 4 (in dB) to the positive value (in dB), if any, determined
in Step 1 (for antenna gain).
With this cumulative dB value, find the "Gain Factor" (if the dB is greater
than 0) or the "Loss Factor" (if the dB is less than 0) from the Decibel
Conversion Table (Table C.3) above.
Step 6. Apply the Gain/Loss Factor
Finally, calculate the transmitter/feed-line/antenna-system ERP by multiplying
this cumulative Gain Factor or Loss Factor (from Step 5) by the actual
transmitter output power (from the final amplifier stage).
It is rare for a GMRS base or repeater station to have more than 300 watts ERP
for a 50-watt transmitter output power, once all these factors are calculated.
The FCC sets a nominal limit of 500 watts ERP, unless the applicant can show
that more is actually achieved in the hardware.
Whatever ERP is authorized on the license, the transmitter final amplifier
(before any duplexer, or any filter not an integral part of the final
amplifier assembly) may emit no more than 50 watts MAXIMUM, despite how much
loss is in the feedline and inserted devices.
Other Points to Remember
> Interstitial Limits:
No station may transmit on a GMRS interstitial frequency with a power greater
than 5 watts ERP (including antenna gain). That includes mobile units.
From a practical standpoint, this limits the use of the interstitial
frequencies only to handheld units, and to those vehicular-mounted units that
have a low-power (2- to 5-watt) capability.
> Control Station Limits:
Control stations north of Line A or east of Line C must transmit with no more
than 5 watts ERP. Use of a conventional vehicular-type unit as a small
control station would usually produce too much power.
Control stations at many other locations other than in areas north of Line A
or east of Line C must also reduce their power in accordance with FCC
regulations. (See Para. 95.47.)
> Variations in Quality:
Coaxial feedline cables vary in such qualitative parameters as loss (per unit
length), durability (especially its susceptibility to deterioration from
ultraviolet light), flexibility, and permeability (the extent of inward or
outward leakage, affected especially by gaps or other insufficiencies in the
cable shield).
High quality coaxial cable (preferably double-shielded coax) should be used in
all high- or multiple-RF environments, including in ANY repeater installation.
This is especially important for any connecting cables before the final
transmitter amplifier. These links are very susceptible to absorbing
radio-frequency energy from other sources, energy that can then (if allowed to
seep in) be amplified in the final amplifier itself and radiated as
"inter-mod" products.
> Connectors:
Some favorite connectors (such as PL-259s and SO-239s) do not have a constant
impedance across the spectrum. These so-called "UHF" fittings do not have a
50-ohm impedance at 460 MHz, which creates an impedance "bump" in the
feed-line.
Under some circumstances, this feed-line bump can negatively impact
transmitter coupling to the feedline/device/antenna assembly. This can
"detune" some duplexers and other feedline devices (especially those using a
"lumped capacitance" to achieve a frequency notching), requiring retuning of
the devices once all feedline components have been assembled and connected in
their final configuration. (Experienced radio installers recognize that
retuning after final installation is a good idea anyway, if you have the
required test equipment.)
It's better to use constant-impedance connectors (such as BNCs, TNCs, or
N-type connectors) at GMRS and higher frequencies whenever possible,
especially on feedlines that carry any significant transmitter power (more
than 5 or 10 watts).
============================================================================
============================================================================
Appendix D: How to Calculate Coordinates and
Height Above Mean Sea Level with
a Topographic Quadrangle Map
I: What Are Topographic Quadrangle Maps
II: Determining Geographic Coordinates
III: Determining Height above Mean Sea Level
IV: Where to Find Topographic Quadrangle Maps
V: Other Sources of Information on Geographic Coordinates
VI: The Problem with Inaccuracies
The FCC requires that applicants for certain GMRS land stations (repeaters,
conventional base stations, and conventional control stations) to be operated
at fixed sites must provide additional information about those sites. This
additional information includes the geographic coordinates (the latitude and
the longitude, in degrees/minutes/seconds to the nearest second) and the
height above mean sea level (HAMSL) at the base of the mounting structure.
Ascertaining the coordinates and HAMSL of a site can take some time and
effort, but the information can be obtained from topographic quadrangle maps
available in many public libraries.
I: What Are Topographic Quadrangle Maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes topographic quadrangle maps of the United
States. These "topo" or "contour" maps (as they are also known) cover most
areas of the contiguous 48 states in 7.5 minute (1/8 degree) increments (i.e.,
7.5 minutes of latitude and longitude on each side). Other series also exist,
including (for many areas) 7.5 by 15 minutes, 15 by 15 minutes, 30 by 60
minutes, and 1 degree by 2 degrees. In some areas, the topos of greatest
detail are 7.5 by 15 minute series, or 15 by 15 minute series.
A 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle map uses a scale of 1:24,000. That is to
say, one inch of map surface length represents 24,000 inches (or 2,000 feet)
of actual territorial length. The other topographic quadrangle map series use
larger scales that show more territory, but that provide less detail. This
makes them more difficult to use to calculate accurately the coordinates to
the required nearest second.
These maps contain a wealth of information about topographic and geological
features, and reading and interpreting these maps is a real art. (The author
of this chapter of the LICENSING GUIDELINES is a sometimes amateur geologist
who has spent more than three decades studying topographic maps and relating
them to real-world landform features.)
However, even the novice can easily use these maps to determine such basic
information as geographic coordinates and heights above mean sea level.
The instructions presented below will presume that you have the appropriate
7.5 minute topographic map, plus a yard stick (or preferably, a meter stick),
and a calculator (or at least a sheet of paper on which to make calculations).
II: Determining Geographic Coordinates.
The reference point on a topographic quadrangle map is always the lower right
corner. This is the point of minimum longitude (which ascends as you move
left across the map surface) and minimum latitude (which ascends as you move
upward across the map surface), or the southeastern most extent of the map.
For a 7.5 minute map, the projection covers 450 seconds of latitude and 450
seconds of longitude. ([7.5 minutes] times [60 seconds per minute] equals 450
seconds.) Distances of latitude always remain constant, and a 7.5 minute
topographic map with a 1:24,000 scale will always measure about 22 3/4 inches
tall (plus the top and bottom margins).
Measures of longitude, on the other hand, vary with the distance from the
North Pole. A measure of longitude is maximum at the equator, and reduces to
infinitely small as you arrive at the Pole.
Topographic maps include overprints of "culture" (meaning, man-built or
man-modified structures and landforms). However, cultural additions and
modifications are made more frequently than the topographic maps themselves
are updated. Therefore, the map of your area might not include the latest
man-made alterations, such as streets and designated urban areas or
structures.
To calculate the coordinates of a particular address or building, you must
first locate that site on the topographic map. You could mark the spot will a
small pencil dot, although this author has a personal aversion to drawing
anything on these maps that cannot and will not be erased as soon as possible.
Once the point has been located, calculating its coordinates is a matter of
determining the relative proportion of distance from the right-most or
bottom-most map printed edge to the point, relative to the entire distance to
the opposite printed edge of the map.
Because these measurements involve proportions, using a meter stick instead of
a yard stick can simplify the calculations (and avoid having to deal with
compound fractions). You need merely to read the distance from the reference
side (the bottom edge line of the map for the latitude, the right edge line of
the map for the longitude), and compare it with the total measured distance to
the opposite printed map edge.
From these two measures each in the right-to-left and bottom-to-top
dimensions, you can then calculate the proportion.
For instance, if the distance from the right printed edge of the map to the
marked site is precisely 6 inches, and if the printed surface of the map is
precisely 18 inches wide at that latitude, you can calculate that the
longitude is 6/18 or 1/3 of the distance from the reference (right-side)
longitude to the opposite (left-side) longitude. One-third of the 450 seconds
of arc is precisely 150 seconds of arc. If you add this 150 seconds to the
reference longitude (and then adjust the total for the number of seconds [60]
per minute), you arrive at the longitude of the site.
In the example above, if the reference longitude (at the right edge of the
map) was precisely 41 degrees, 30 minutes, when you add the 150 seconds, you
arrive at 41 degrees 30 minutes and 150 seconds. Since there are 60 seconds
in a minute of arc, the 150 seconds are equivalent to 2 minutes (i.e., 120
seconds) plus 30 seconds. The final calculation of the longitude is therefore
41 degrees, 32 minutes, 30 seconds.
Life is rarely so simple! Your measurements are much more likely NOT to be
whole numbers, and are much more likely not to produce such a simple fraction.
In the example above, if the measurement from the right-edge reference line to
the site was 13 1/8 inches, and the distance from the right-edge reference
line to the left-edge line was 16 13/16 inches, the calculated increment in
longitude above the right-side reference longitude would be:
1
13 -
8
------ x 450 seconds
13
16 --
16
When you reduce this compound fraction, you have:
210
--- x 450 seconds
269
(or 0.78066914 x 450 seconds [the decimal equivalent]).
This calculates to be approximately 351.301 seconds. This would be the same
as 5 minutes (=300 seconds) and 51.3 seconds. (Seconds can be rounded to the
nearest whole second for FCC purposes.)
With the same starting reference longitude of 41 degrees, 30 minutes, your
calculated longitude (to the nearest second) would then be 41 degrees, 35
minutes, 51 seconds.
III: Determining Height above Mean Sea Level.
Topographic quadrangle maps also have contour lines. These imaginary lines
follow the land surface at a constant elevation. You could think of the
contour as the outline of the shoreline if the area flooded and the water
level increased to the depth equivalent to that HAMSL.
The contour interval is stated at the bottom of the topo map, and is the
incremental change in HAMSL between adjacent contour lines. The contour
interval is chosen based on the map scale and on the local relief (changes in
elevation). A small contour interval is used for flat areas; larger intervals
are used for mountainous terrain. Typical contour intervals for 7.5 minute
topos range from five or ten feet (most are in the ten or twenty foot range),
but can be as high as 80 or 100 feet or more.
Typically every fifth contour line is slightly thicker. This enables the
viewer to rapidly scan the map for an overview of the topography, and reduces
the confusion when contour lines converge (indicating a rapid change in HAMSL,
such as a steep slope or a cliff). The HAMSL of these heavier lines is
periodically identified on the map.
To determine the HAMSL of a specific point on the topographic map, first
locate the nearest thicker contour line to that point, and follow it around to
find its HAMSL. Make a note of that value.
Then you should go back to the point of inquiry, and count the number of
regular, non-repeating contour lines (i.e., those that do not loop back on
themselves) between that point and the thicker one whose HAMSL you have noted.
Multiply the number of those small contour lines (if any) by the contour
interval. That calculated value will be the height above or below the thicker
contour line's HAMSL.
To determine whether your point of inquiry is above or below that
thicker contour line, examine other features on the map. For instance,
check the HAMSL of the next adjacent thicker contour line. That will
indicate the direction of the slope. Also look on the map for streams
or rivers (which always flow downhill).
If your point of inquiry is located part way between adjacent contour lines
(which is frequently the case), you can interpolate the distance between the
two contour lines. For instance, if the contour interval is twenty feet, and
your point of inquiry is one-third of the way from the lower contour line to
the next higher one immediately next to your point of inquiry, then the HAMSL
of that point can be estimated to be one-third of twenty feet (about 7 feet)
above the lower one.
There are other height indicators on most topos, although they are usually not
as frequent as the HAMSL identifications of the thicker contour lines. For
instance, the topo probably will show one or more "bench marks" (labeled "BM"
plus its HAMSL).
IV: Where to Find Topographic Quadrangle Maps
Many public libraries, especially those that serve county-wide clientele, have
topographic quadrangle maps of the local area that you can view in their
facilities. Some public and college libraries are designated as map
depository libraries. Personnel at these libraries are specialists in
advising patrons on coverage and availability of maps and cartographic
products.
Since these maps come in a variety of scales, you want to make sure to use the
7.5-minute (scale 1:24,000) series. You also want to make sure that the
reference data from which the information is drawn is based on the North
American Datum (NAD27) standard. (This will be indicated on the map itself.)
You also might consider purchasing topo maps of your own. They have
information that can be valuable in planning your station locations and
predicting your coverage, since antenna height is so critical in maximizing
performance at UHF frequencies. Many local sporting goods stores, especially
those with camping and hiking supplies, also have these maps for sale.
Topo maps are also available for sale directly from the U.S. Geological
Survey. You may want to preview maps before ordering them, to make sure they
contain the scope and scale that you want.
To determine the names of the topographic quadrangle maps for your area (the
names frequently refer to some local prominent geographic feature or to a
local geopolitical subdivision), you need to consult an index for your state.
Unlike the topo maps themselves, these indices are available for free from the
U.S. Geological Survey. They can be requested by phone from either of these
two numbers:
(202) 208-4047 (in Washington, DC),
(303) 236-7477 (in Denver, CO)
Once you determine the names of the topos that you need, you can order them by
mail (no phone orders are accepted), prepaid, from the following address:
Map Distribution
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25286, Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
The 7.5-minute maps cost $2.50 apiece. Many local map stores have these maps
(at least for the local areas) in their inventory. The cost at a local store
will invariably be higher, but you won't have the delay in mailing.
The maps are also available for over-the-counter sale from the following
USGS offices:
Public Inquiries Office
U.S. Geological Survey
169 Federal Building
1961 Stout Street
Denver, CO
Public Inquiries Office
U.S. Geological Survey
1C402 National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA
Public Inquiries Office
U.S. Geological Survey
8105 Federal Building
125 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT
Public Inquiries Office
U.S. Geological Survey
1028 General Services Administration Building
19th & F Streets, NW
Washington, DC
The USGS also publishes a helpful information brochure about how to use these
maps. The brochure explains the various symbols printed on the maps, but
(unfortunately) does NOT explain how to calculate coordinates.
For each state, the USGS also published an "Index to Topographic and Other Map
Coverage," and its companion publication, "Catalog of Topographic and Other
Published Maps." These are also available free for the telephone call.
V: Other Sources of Information on Geographic Coordinates.
Information about geographic coordinates and ground elevations may also be
available from your local city or county surveyor. If you are applying for a
station to be operated at a site with pre-existent, licensed radio
transmitters, the site information should already have been calculated and
should be available on those other licenses. However, the applicant is still
responsible for assuring the accuracy of the site information. You should
recalculate the coordinates, even if just to verify the accuracy of the
information on those pre-existent licenses.
The PRSG electronic BBS (bulletin board system) also has information available
from a database of more than 120,000 geopolitical entities in the Continental
U.S. The information from this electronic database is not in sufficient
detail to substitute for your calculating your local coordinates, but it may
be able to confirm that your calculations are not wildly inaccurate. (More
than half of the topographic coordinates in the FCC database are suspect or
inconsistent with other measurements allegedly for the same location!)
VI: The Problem with Inaccuracies.
If you miscalculate any coordinates or heights required to be supplied on your
application, the FCC may require later that you amend your license (and pay
another application fee!) to correct this information. If the error results
in the imposition of tower painting or lighting requirements because of the
proximity to an airport, you can also face a substantial (5-digit!) monetary
fine for having constructed or for operating on a tower that fails to meet FAA
standards.
It's better to get it right in the first place!
HAPPY MAPPING! With a little exposure to the marvelous world of topographic
quadrangle maps, maybe you'll be bitten by the same bug that has so afflicted
this author! And you'll soon discover (perhaps to your family's chagrin) that
topographic quadrangle maps make marvelous wallpaper!
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