|
Wide Area Private Business Radio One-way Paging and Speech Systems Licence Information Sheet |
| IMPORTANT – Please note that the Radiocommunications Agency intends to embark on a major programme of frequency changes in the 450-470 MHz band. Customers using or intending to use this band are strongly advised to read information sheet RA410 for further information. |
The Wide Area Private Business Radio (PBR) One-way Paging and Speech Systems licence authorises the use of wide area PBR one-way paging and speech systems.
A wide area PBR one-way paging and speech system transmits tone, numeric and/or alphanumeric non-speech messages and/or speech messages, from a base station to receivers over a given coverage area. Upon receipt of a message a receiver alerts the user by means of coded bleeps, text or speech messages or a combination of these. A system provides fast and easy access to anyone with a receiver within the coverage area.
Wide area PBR one-way paging and speech systems must be for "private" use only; i.e. all the users must form part of the same user group. Systems for third party use are licensed separately.
As transmissions are one-way only, return messages must not be sent to the base station.
The coverage area of a wide area PBR one-way paging and speech system depends on the location of the base and receiver stations, but will typically be between 3 and 30 km in radius from the base station.
The use of the frequency within the coverage area is exclusive to the licensee. However, the demand for channels means that the Agency sometimes has to assign the same frequency to adjacent systems, which may result in interference on the fringes of the coverage area. The use of appropriate ERP levels and antenna heights and signalling systems such as CTCSS, DCS or Selective Calling will reduce such problems.
Wide Area PBR one-way paging and speech systems operate on 25 kHz simplex frequencies in the 153 and 454 MHz bands.
Systems operating on 153 MHz channels must only transmit tone, numeric and/or alphanumeric non-speech messages, whereas systems operating on 454 MHz channels can transmit both non-speech and speech messages.
New licensees in the 450-470 MHz band will be informed in detail about the realignment of the band shortly after their licence is issued.
From the beginning of 2005 the 450-470 MHz band will be realigned to configure with that of our European neighbours.
This process of realignment will begin in January 2005 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is scheduled to take place in a rolling programme lasting several years.
The realignment in Scotland will begin two years later, in 2007.
The realignment of frequencies will require the majority of licensees to adjust or replace their existing equipment.
There is no intention to remove users from the band but to simply change their operational frequency or frequencies. All licensees who so wish will be reallocated frequencies within the 450-470 MHz band.
The Radiocommunications Agency will notify all licensees individually of their new frequency or frequencies and the date upon which this change will be implemented. The intention will be to give six months notice of the date when the change has to be implemented.
When sending speech messages a callsign must be used.
Wide area PBR one-way paging and speech system equipment must comply with IR 2003.
Religious observance and call to prayer systems are no longer licensed by the Wide Area PBR One-way Paging and Speech Systems licence. Such systems are now licensed by the On-site PBR Speech and Data Systems licence. For more information on religious observance and call to prayer systems see the Agency information sheet RA 126.
An application for a Wide Area PBR One-way Paging and Speech Systems licence should be made on the application form RA 30.
You should send the form, with a cheque or postal orders for the licence fee made payable to the Radiocommunications Agency, to your Agency Local Licensing Centre.
For details of where to send your form and the licence fee payable, see the information sheet RA 123. The information sheet is available from the Agency's Library (see below for information on other radio matters).
For further information on the Wide Area PBR One-way Paging and Speech Systems licence contact your Agency Local Licensing Centre (see application procedure above).
The Radiocommunications Agency has produced a range of information sheets, general publications, licence application forms and guidance notes, concerning the use of the radio spectrum. These publications, unless otherwise stated, are available free of charge on a single copy basis and may be obtained from:
The Library and Information Service
Radiocommunications
Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX
Tel: 020 7211 0502/0505
Fax:
020 7211 0507
E-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk
| RA 46 (Rev
6) June 2002 |
 |
