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Our nine-step microwave spectrum management process helps to make wireless design easy to understand and implement. Whether you follow the entire process or utilize only a few steps, you have easy access to the information and services you need to reach your ultimate goal: a fully operational and interference-free microwave system.
- Band Information
- Site Selection
- Equipment Selection
- Feasability Study
- Field Verification
- Frequency Coordination
- Licensing
- Interference Protection
- Installation & Construction
- Band Information: Select a frequency band.
Selecting the right frequency band is critical to the technical specifications and financial ramifications of your system design. Technical specifications impact reliability and capacity. You need to understand the requirements and pending regulatory proceedings that could limit or prohibit the use of a frequency band.
Solution:
To view technical and regulatory information about frequency bands allocated for microwave use BandLocator.
- Site Selection: Locate an existing structure or site acquisition company.
The site selection process determines specifically where antennas will be located, as well as the number of sites needed to relay a signal between two end points. A line-of-sight analysis is typically used to pinpoint obstacles and minimize the total number of sites needed. Site procurement may include purchasing/leasing land, rezoning for tower construction, building a tower, and/or leasing space on an existing tower or building. An existing structure is often favored in order to avoid the potential construction and zoning delays as well as the often greater expense of constructing a new tower.
Solutions:
- To search for site acquisition companies, use VendorLocator.
- Site Selection: Radiation Safety Services, Collocation and Intermodulation Analysis
- Equipment Selection: Locate antenna and radio manufacturers.
After you choose the frequency band and sites, select antenna and radio equipment to be used on your path. You need to understand the equipment to determine system reliability and performance.
Solution:
- VendorLocator
- Feasability Study: Determine reliability and line-of-sight objectives.
To design a microwave system for optimum performance, you need to complete:
- a reliability analysis
- line-of-sight (LOS) analysis
- centerline optimization calculation
A reliability analysis determines the predicted outage time per year, and the corresponding percentage of reliability for a given path. These are critical factors that will determine the successful operation of your path.
The line-of-sight (LOS) analysis determines whether the path clears a user-defined percentage of the first Fresnel zone and is therefore usable. The LOS analysis may be performed during the site selection process or during this feasibility step.
The centerline optimization(CL) calculation is an extension of the LOS analysis. It provides the minimum antenna centerline heights needed to ensure LOS clearance of a user-defined percentage of the first Fresnel zone.
There are several options available for these analyses.
- Comsearch can perform these services for you. Request a quote for a reliability analysis.
- To perform the LOS/CL optimization yourself, you need the ground elevations or path profile between two points.
- You can also utilize a software tool to conduct the analyses. Learn more about Comsearch's path design software product, iQ·link®.
- Field Verification: Verify specifications and performance with an on-site path survey.
Field verification consists of an on-site survey measuring precise and accurate values for parameters related to a path. Specifically, the path survey pinpoints potential obstacles and determines precise coordinates, ground elevations, and required centerlines of a microwave path. Verification of these parameters is critical to a well-engineered and designed microwave path. Accurate path data guarantees regulatory compliance with the FCC, promotes an interference-free environment, and can ultimately mean the difference between cost savings and costly mistakes.
- Frequency Coordination: FCC requirments for notification and operation without causing interference.
Microwave Frequency Coordination Request Form
Frequency coordination is required by the FCC and begins when the system design is complete. An interference analysis is performed to determine frequencies that will not cause harmful interference to other existing and proposed microwave paths and earth stations in a particular band.
Frequency coordination requirements differ based upon the FCC rule section that your service falls under.
Part 101 Services - Operation Fixed Services (OFS), Common Carrier (CC)
Part 74 Services - Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS)
After frequencies are selected, a Prior Coordination Notice (PCN), including a path data sheet, must be sent to all existing microwave users in the area to notify them of the proposed path. The FCC rules state that existing users have 30 days to object to the proposal. Once the 30-day period expires and any objections are resolved, a supplemental showing must be included with your FCC license application. To learn more about the frequency coordination process, download our white paper, Fundamentals of Microwave Frequency Coordination.
Part 78 Services - Cable Antenna Relay Service (CARS)
Comsearch's Microwave Frequency Engineering Services include interference analysis and frequency coordination.
- Licensing: File FCC Form 601 or Form 327.
Locate a telecom attorney.
After you complete the frequency coordination process, you must submit an application for operation to the FCC. All Operational Fixed (OF), Common Carrier (CC), and Broadcast Auxiliary point-to-point microwave operators are required to complete and submit Form 601 to the FCC.
All Cable Antenna Relay Service (CARS) point-to-point microwave operators must submit Form 327 to the FCC.
Both forms must be accompanied by a supplemental showing indicating that the frequency coordination process has been completed. Once the appropriate application is filed, the FCC puts the application on Public Notice for 30 days for the public to comment. If there is no objection and the application meets all FCC filing requirements, the FCC grants the application.
Learn more about ULS ExpressSM, Comsearch's online, interactive FCC Form 601 filing system. It reduces preparation time from hours or even days to just minutes!
You can also have our in-house engineers manage the filing process for you.
Learn more about Comsearch's FCC Form 601 and FCC Form 327 Filing Services.
Other Licensing Considerations:
The licensee is responsible for maintaining records with the FCC after the license is granted. You must notify the FCC of any address or other administrative changes to your system. You must track when a license is due for renewal and submit a timely renewal application. The current renewal period is ten years.
Contact Comsearch for more information about the license renewal process.
Locate Attorneys:
To search for attorneys please use VendorLocator.
- Interference Protection: Protect your licensed system from future interference.
The FCC requires licensees to review and comment upon or object to proposed changes to systems that might interfere with the licensee's existing area and frequency band. With the multitude of filings and proposed changes to systems, this is time-consuming. Many companies retain a technical agent to manage this regulatory compliance process, ensuring that a system will not be interfered with by new or modified systems.
Comsearch can monitor band activity and protect you from future interference risks.
Our service entails reviewing, analyzing and responding to other carriers' coordination notices and filings, and protecting proposed, applied and licensed frequencies from interference. We research systems and clearances and answer technical or procedural questions. We handle standard case resolution without having to get you involved.
Learn more about Comsearch's Interference Protection Services.
- Installation & Construction: Find a company to help with the installation and construction of your system.
After you file an application with the FCC, you may begin the construction phase. Before you can begin operating a system, you must post the FCC grant of license at each licensed station. Under certain well-defined conditions, you may be able to operate your system before the license is granted. This can occur in certain frequency bands and is called Conditional License Availability.
Comsearch offers turnkey EF&I (Engineer Furnish and Install) solutions for microwave communications systems.
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