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[Nathan Riddle]

I see a used ULXD4Q for sale for a killer price.
Really nice to have 4 RF channels in 1RU.

If my understanding is correct; duplex gap should stay available for wireless and white space devices?
Unlicensed wireless units can operate from 657-663MHz

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/wireless-microphones

I doubt i'll ever be running more than 20 wireless systems.
WWB6 looks reasonable.

Is this a really dumb idea?

[Mark Cadwallader]

Correction:  What Henry says below.  I did not recall correctly.

[Henry Cohen]

I see a used ULXD4Q for sale for a killer price.
Really nice to have 4 RF channels in 1RU.

If my understanding is correct; duplex gap should stay available for wireless and white space devices?
Unlicensed wireless units can operate from 657-663MHz

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/wireless-microphones

I doubt i'll ever be running more than 20 wireless systems.
WWB6 looks reasonable.

The actual FCC rules require that wireless microphone equipment that can operate in the 600MHz duplex gap be prohibited from tuning to other portions of the 600MHz band no longer available to wireless microphone operations. Any existing equipment for which the OEM does not offer band restricting firmware/software modification, and is not in fact updated, will automatically lose FCC certification at the conclusion of the transition period (July 13, 2020). So the first thing you'll need to do is update to the latest firmware for the UXLD to restrict operation outside of the permitted frequency range (653-663 MHz).

As for permitted operations in the duplex gap, 653-657 MHz requires a Part 74 license; 657-663 MHz is license free (Part 15H).

[Nathan Riddle]

The actual FCC rules require that wireless microphone equipment that can operate in the 600MHz duplex gap be prohibited from tuning to other portions of the 600MHz band no longer available to wireless microphone operations. Any existing equipment for which the OEM does not offer band restricting firmware/software modification, and is not in fact updated, will automatically lose FCC certification at the conclusion of the transition period (July 13, 2020). So the first thing you'll need to do is update to the latest firmware for the UXLD to restrict operation outside of the permitted frequency range (653-663 MHz).

As for permitted operations in the duplex gap, 653-657 MHz requires a Part 74 license; 657-663 MHz is license free (Part 15H).

Thanks Henry!

Good to know I read the FCC rules correctly.
And yes, first thing I would do is update to L50A spectrum for deployment and those frequencies would get set and probably never move.

Beyond following the rules, is this a bad idea?

I scanned the area with my RF Explorer and seems like I have a TV station that hasn't moved?

Anyways, doesn't look like a good idea anymore.

[Scott Helmke]

Every bit of spectrum left will be more and more valuable, so yes having that L50A can be useful.  We're keeping a few channels of ULXD-L50A and PSM1000 L8A (or whatever the hobbled band is called) for the same reason.

[Tim McCulloch]

Thanks Henry!

Good to know I read the FCC rules correctly.
And yes, first thing I would do is update to L50A spectrum for deployment and those frequencies would get set and probably never move.

Beyond following the rules, is this a bad idea?

I scanned the area with my RF Explorer and seems like I have a TV station that hasn't moved?

Anyways, doesn't look like a good idea anymore.

Yeah, if there is available spectrum elsewhere, go there... but with directional receive antennae this is potentially usable.

Is the repack 100% complete AND final in that market?  Henry probably has a better idea, but I'm guessing at least 15% of moved TV channels are operating on frequencies, at heights and RF output via STA (special temporary authorization; that differ from final licensing) until they can get tower space, new antenna & feed line, or wait for other broadcasters to get their relocations done.  IOW, this could change tomorrow or next week, or presumably past this summer in some markets.  Paging Dr Cohen....

[Henry Cohen]

Is the repack 100% complete AND final in that market?  Henry probably has a better idea, but I'm guessing at least 15% of moved TV channels are operating on frequencies, at heights and RF output via STA (special temporary authorization; that differ from final licensing) until they can get tower space, new antenna & feed line, or wait for other broadcasters to get their relocations done.  IOW, this could change tomorrow or next week, or presumably past this summer in some markets.  Paging Dr Cohen....

Best source to determine a given market's repack status.

Take two and call in the morning.

[Ike Zimbel]

Yeah, if there is available spectrum elsewhere, go there... but with directional receive antennae this is potentially usable.

Is the repack 100% complete AND final in that market?  Henry probably has a better idea, but I'm guessing at least 15% of moved TV channels are operating on frequencies, at heights and RF output via STA (special temporary authorization; that differ from final licensing) until they can get tower space, new antenna & feed line, or wait for other broadcasters to get their relocations done.  IOW, this could change tomorrow or next week, or presumably past this summer in some markets.  Paging Dr Cohen....

I'll have to dig around to find it, but I read a piece in one of the broadcast industry trades that said that the re-pack has been a rushed mess. The gist of it was that broadcasters are being hustled to their new DTV channels and that the crews and infrastructure required to facilitate the moves are in very short supply. The result is all kinds of temporary (STA) arrangements that get the station on to their new channel, but not at the power, height etc that they will ultimately be (and were previously at), as Tim points out here. So, the takeaway is that the end results of the re-pack are still years away. Note that this could go either way in terms of the local RF picture. For example, say a station has had to use a temporary transmitter on the roof of their studio until they can get back on to their tower, ten miles out of town. If your venue happens to be a club or theater near the TV studio, you may be seeing that DTV channel at a significant level right now, but it may diminish after the tower move. Or...it could get worse.

[Philip Roberts]

I'll have to dig around to find it, but I read a piece in one of the broadcast industry trades that said that the re-pack has been a rushed mess. The gist of it was that broadcasters are being hustled to their new DTV channels and that the crews and infrastructure required to facilitate the moves are in very short supply. The result is all kinds of temporary (STA) arrangements that get the station on to their new channel, but not at the power, height etc that they will ultimately be (and were previously at), as Tim points out here.

I've heard this also, once specific example is that I understand a bunch of Chicago stations haven't been able to get things setup yet to broadcast off the Willis (Sears) tower so are currently broadcasting using their auxiliary/backup equipment from the John Hancock Center.

[Henry Cohen]

The rabbitears.info form 387 search provides the current status for each TV station: still on their old channel; testing; operating under STA; fully moved, etc. The broadcasters are required to keep this information current with FCC.

[Ike Zimbel]

I'll have to dig around to find it, but I read a piece in one of the broadcast industry trades that said that the re-pack has been a rushed mess. The gist of it was that broadcasters are being hustled to their new DTV channels and that the crews and infrastructure required to facilitate the moves are in very short supply. The result is all kinds of temporary (STA) arrangements that get the station on to their new channel, but not at the power, height etc that they will ultimately be (and were previously at), as Tim points out here. So, the takeaway is that the end results of the re-pack are still years away. Note that this could go either way in terms of the local RF picture. For example, say a station has had to use a temporary transmitter on the roof of their studio until they can get back on to their tower, ten miles out of town. If your venue happens to be a club or theater near the TV studio, you may be seeing that DTV channel at a significant level right now, but it may diminish after the tower move. Or...it could get worse.

And here's the link: https://www.tvtechnology.com/repack/fcc-says-repack-progressing-nicely-others-disagree

[Ike Zimbel]

I scanned the area with my RF Explorer and seems like I have a TV station that hasn't moved?

Anyways, doesn't look like a good idea anymore.

Hi Nathan, I was just scrolling through this thread and re-read this one. This DTV station will absolutely move as there will be NO DTV above Ch-36 going forward. Not sure where you are located, so can't look up the re-pack info for you, but this DTV channel should not be a detriment to your plan to use a properly re-banded system in the duplex gap if you meet all the other criteria that Henry mentioned.

[Nathan Riddle]

Hi Nathan, I was just scrolling through this thread and re-read this one. This DTV station will absolutely move as there will be NO DTV above Ch-36 going forward. Not sure where you are located, so can't look up the re-pack info for you, but this DTV channel should not be a detriment to your plan to use a properly re-banded system in the duplex gap if you meet all the other criteria that Henry mentioned.

Thanks Ike, I appreciate the response.

While I vacillated the unit sold. And I bought more qlx-d g50 band. The 1U would have been lovely, but I'm content with 8ch of qlx-d for now

[Scott Helmke]

It's channel 45, WVUP-CD in Tallahassee.  Scheduled for phase 8, which means it'll probably move (to channel 30) in March.

[ProSoundWeb Community]