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Pilot Implementation of New Resource Road Radio Channels. Morris Bodnar Director, Compliance and Interior Offices Tel: (250) 561-5283 Fax: (250) 561-5290 e-mail: bodnar.morris@ic.gc.ca. History of Resource Road Frequencies.
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Pilot Implementation of New Resource Road Radio Channels Morris Bodnar Director, Compliance and Interior Offices Tel: (250) 561-5283 Fax: (250) 561-5290 e-mail: bodnar.morris@ic.gc.ca
History of Resource Road Frequencies • Started out with few multi-channel radios in the 70s and early 80s • Resource road users didn’t change areas as much • Letters of permission were needed for each road frequency June 12, 2007
History . . .continued • Late 80s saw introduction 16, 32 and then 99 channel radios • Increasing demand for resource road frequencies • User programmable radios an issue June 12, 2007
Why is Change Needed? • Too many different radio frequencies are used on BC resource roads • Frequencies are not exclusive to resource road users interference to safety services and other licenced users • Confusion over the process to legitimize (licence) and need to advise Industry Canada what frequencies are in use, and where June 12, 2007
What is the Solution? • Industry Canada will assemble a block of radio frequencies for exclusive resource road and loading/unloading use • New frequencies will be cleared for resource industry use province wide • Standardized labelling will be used to reduce confusion and improve safety June 12, 2007
What is the Current Status? • Industry Canada has selected frequencies for exclusive resource road and loading use • Industry Canada and its provincial partners are moving forward with pilot implementation in Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast & Tumbler Ridge • 14 new radio frequencies have been identified for use in the two pilot areas June 12, 2007
Pilot Channel Overview • Frequencies vs. Channels • Frequency: portion of electromagnetic spectrum in which radio waves travel • Channel: portion of electromagnetic spectrum with specific: 1)labels, 2) purposes, and 3) technical parameters June 12, 2007
Channel Overview . . . continued • Two new labels; RR = Resource Road LD = Loading/unloading • Tone coded squelch is utilized • Masks non-desired transmissions and noise • Enables shorter re-use distances • Channels are low power, 5 watts maximum • Lower power will reduce “walk-over” June 12, 2007
Channel Overview . . . continued • Channels are narrow band • Two way radios approved under Radio Standard Specification 119, issue 5 (1997) or later are all compliant • Why narrow band? • Limited availability of radio spectrum • Necessity for wide area usage (i.e. BC wide) • US coordination considerations June 12, 2007
IC’s Narrow Banding Strategy • Initially announced October 1998 • All users issued written two-year non-standard notifications in January 2002 • All VHF wide band became non-standard and subject to displacement January 2004 • Industry Canada’s ability to accommodate wide band usages is diminishing June 12, 2007
The Bottom Line . . . • Check with your Radio Equipment Supplier to see if your two way radio(s) are narrow band capable • Utilizing narrow band channels is the only way Industry Canada could locate and designate new resource channels • Many radio systems have already migrated to narrow band or have plans to do so June 12, 2007
Displacements • Many radio communication systems will be displaced to make way for wide area resource channels • Industry Canada has the challenge of identifying new frequencies for displaced systems • Displaced systems will also need to migrate to narrow band operations June 12, 2007
Conditions for Users • New resource channels are specified narrow band with a maximum transmitter power of 5 watts and employ tone coded squelch • *With tones, a channel that sounds clear may in fact be in use • Channels must only be used in locations where specifically posted. Improper usage will result in harmful interference to other resource usages, or priority spectrum users June 12, 2007
Conditions . . . continued • New resource channels will only be posted for use in the Vancouver Island/Sunshine Coast and Tumbler Ridge pilot areas • *Under no circumstance may channels be used outside of the posted locations • Two way radios using resource channels require a mobile radio licence • Amateur, marine or user programmable radios are not permitted June 12, 2007
In Summary • New resource channels are being introduced for road and loading/unloading • New resource channels have specific technical parameters for use • Radio operators must only use resource channels where posted or radio systems will suffer from interference and safety will be compromised June 12, 2007
Questions? • Contact Industry Canada at 1-800-667-3780 June 12, 2007