Q -
Are we forced to move to 800 MHz?
A - No. Narrowbanding
does not require moving to another frequency band.
Q -
Will we have to buy new radios?
A - That depends.
Most radios purchased in the last 6-8 years are already narrowband
capable. They only need to be re-programmed.
Q
Will we need to change frequencies?
A No. You merely
reduce the bandwidth of the channel(s) you are now using. (And
change your FCC License emission designator.)
Q
Will that reduce our coverage?
A Probably not. You
may have to survey your system and area of operation. Only a
thorough analysis of your coverage requirements can tell for sure.
Q
Will we have to convert to digital?
A No!
However, many agencies are using this opportunity to upgrade to
digital technology. Most digital radios are dual mode capable and
can operate in wide band analog as well as narrowband analog and
digital. Digital is also more immune from adjacent channel
interference and includes features unavailable in analog.
Q
Why not got ahead and convert to 6.25-Supernarrow now?
A That's something
you need to explore. Some users may not see an advantage, other
users and applications will. Some presently available "6.25
equivalent" radios aren't really 6.25KHz and use a loophole in the
FCC rulemaking, while others (Icom, Kenwood, etc.) presently build
true 6.25KHz digital radios. Analog is an industry standard,
digital isn't yet.
Q
We do not have the money to move to narrowband. Isnt this an
unfunded mandate?
A Note really.
The dates are long enough to ensure most agencies have fully
amortized the value of their current equipment by the time the
mandates kick in. This has been coming since 1997, and the 2012
deadline was issued in 2004. Eight years for equipment with a five
year life cycle is plenty.
