Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
14 Apr 2004 04:24 PDT
mdoble-ga,
Thanks for geting back to me. I'm going to do something here I've
never done before...a raw data-dump! THIS IS NOT MY ANSWER. I will
still post a formal answer this evening that is cleaned up, organized,
and contains additional information.
But I wanted you to have what I've gotten thus far. That way, you
won't be held up with your work, and you can also (if so moved) get
back to me with feedback on what's most/least useful to you.
So, without further ado, here 'tis in very rough draft format:
==========
I've found a number of articles and papers on emerging strategies and
technologies that are attempting to capitalize on the 4.9 GHz standard
for public safety communications. I've included excerpts or summaries
of the articles below. Unfortunately, I cannot reproduce them in full
due to copyright restrictions.
Where I can, I've included direct links to on-line materials. However,
several of the articles cited are from off-line databases, so I could
not include links for these. However, many libraries can assist you
in accessing the articles yourself, if you want to see them in their
entirety.
If anything here is unclear -- or if you need additional information
-- please let me know before rating this answer. Just post a Request
for Clarification, and I'll be happy to assist you further.
pafalafa-ga
==========
Betting on IP
1 April 2004
Mobile Radio Technology
35
Volume 22; Number 4
In the public-safety arena, communications decisions traditionally
require tough choices: analog or digital; VHF or 800 MHz; voice or
data; and Vendor A or Vendor B, to name a few. The best decisions
often are reached after a healthy dose of compromise. Meanwhile, poor
decisions have resulted in networks that quickly became obsolete and
required replacement, costing millions of dollars.
M/A-COM hopes to change this anxiety-filled exercise with VIDA, the
company's latest offering that is designed to replace the ?or? portion
of these choices with ?and.? Unveiled during last month's IWCE show in
Las Vegas, VIDA ? voice, interoperability, data and access ? features
an IP backbone that allows communications between disparate legacy
networks while providing a clean migration path to the voice and data
offerings of the future, according to John Vaughan, M/A-COM's vice
president and general manager....
...M/A-COM customers are not limited to accessing high-speed data via
the voice network. They also can access data via solutions such as
Wi-Fi, 4.9 GHz or mesh networks, thanks to the heart of the M/A-COM
system: an IP backbone that includes internetworking and application
server layers (see diagram) designed specifically for public safety.
This infrastructure ? available separately via an offering known as
NetworkFirst ? lets M/A-COM offer customers unprecedented voice
interoperability. Because even analog signals are transformed to
digital packets, they can be routed anywhere.
==========
You can read more about M/A-COM at their website:
http://www.macom-wireless.com/news/pressdetail.asp?id=65
which discusses the application of VIDA to public safety
communications, but does not specifically reference 4.9 GHz
capabilities.
==========
http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_panel_ghz_band/
Panel: 4.9 GHz band promising, challenging
IWCE/MRT, Mar 30 2004
Proper engineering standards and area coordination are needed to make
4.9 GHz spectrum dedicated to public safety beneficial to first
responders wanting high-speed data access at affordable prices,
according to a panel convened at last week's IWCE 2004 in Las Vegas.
Currently, the Federal Communications Commission is considering
engineering standards for the emission mask. Public-safety leaders are
hopeful the standards are aligned with the standards for the 500 MHz
of 5 GHz unlicensed airwaves available to all consumers, because this
would let them leverage equipment advances in affordable 802.11a and
802.11j technologies...?Failure to do that could create a niche market
and correspondingly high equipment prices,? ...
One of the challenges associated with the 4.9 GHz band is that it can
be used by all licensed public-safety entities in a region, which
means there are possibilities for interference if the groups don?t
work together, said Steve Devine, patrol frequency coordinator for the
Missouri State Highway Patrol. But a coordinated effort--as well as
the ability to use the 5 GHz spectrum during high-traffic
periods--should provide the kind of performance that will be a boon to
public safety, he said.
==========
http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_ghz_networks_secure/
4.9 GHz Networks More Secure, But a Long Way Off
Mobile Radio Technology, Jan 1, 2004
The public-safety community faces a dilemma: Does it make widespread
Wi-Fi deployments in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band today despite the
security risks or wait for a better solution?
But the effort may be thwarted, because the FCC adopted emission mask
standards that are incompatible with emission standards established by
the 802.11 community. The National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council (NPSTC) and various public-safety agencies are urging the FCC
to adopt a scaled orthogonal frequency division multiplex-based
emission mask that would ensure Cisco and other 802.11 vendors also
would build to the 4.9 GHz band.
?Cisco will not build to this band if the FCC doesn't come up with an
emission mask that is 802.11 compliant,? said Steven Devine, who
chairs the NPSTC's 4.9 GHz Task Force. ?There are manufacturers that
want to build equipment for the 4.9 GHz band.?
==========
[This is a very good, very current white paper. But bear in mind that
it is also pushing one particular technology, so take it with
appropriate grains of salt]
http://www.troposnetworks.com/pdf/Spectrum_Whitepaper.pdf
Broadband Public Safety Data Networks
in the 4.9 GHz Band:
Potential, Pitfalls & Alternatives
A Technology Whitepaper
March, 2004
The Potential of the 4.9 GHz Band for Public Safety
Public safety agencies have high hopes for data communications systems
in the 4.9 GHz
band. The broadband wireless data communications capabilities of Wi-Fi have great
attraction to public safety. As the Association of Public-Safety
Communications Offi cials
(APCO) notes, ?Several agencies around the country are already implementing [Wi-Fi]
?hotspots? to create mobile environment networks to service MDT
(Mobile Data Terminal)
operations providing the work force with connectivity that previously
was limited to the
offi ce. Such things as mug shots and video to and from the vehicle
become possible.?4
Other agencies, such as the San Mateo (California) Police Department
(SMPD) have gone
farther, blanketing their entire downtown area with Wi-Fi coverage...
...While the FCC did not mandate the use of Wi-Fi protocols in
the spectrum (and, in fact, they pointedly declined to mandate any
access standards7), it is
widely believed that the equipment used in the 4.9 GHz band will use a
slightly modifi ed
version of 802.11a. APCO states, ?There are public safety groups
working closely with
the manufacturing community, federal interests, and standards bodies
to create a ?tweaked?
802.11 series standard that includes all of the functionality of
Wi-Fi, but operating at a
frequency that is exclusive to public safety.?...
-----
Pitfalls
While the combination of 802.11a?s theoretical maximum bandwidth of 54 Mbps with
a frequency band that suffers little interference sounds ideal,
regulatory and practical
considerations will impede adoption of modifi ed 802.11a products in
the 4.9 GHz band.
A primary concern is that the emissions mask specifi ed by the FCC,
which defi nes how
much radio power can be transmitted at what frequency, is narrower
than the emissions
mask defi ned by 802.11a/j. As a result, commercial, off-the-shelf
(COTS) 802.11a products
cannot simply be downbanded to run in the 4.9 GHz band. External fi ltering must be
added, requiring costly and time-consuming circuit board level changes
that are custom to
public safety. These emissions mask rules threaten to derail public
safety agencies? ability
to reap the benefi ts of the billions of dollars in research and
development that vendors
have invested in 802.11 and to leverage the huge commercial market for
802.11 products.
...Another serious concern is the suitability of the 4.9 GHz band for
outdoor operation.
The applications that public safety agencies intend to run in the 4.9
GHz band, including
?on-scene wireless networks for streaming video, rapid Internet and
database access,
and transfers of large fi les such as maps, building layouts, medical
fi les, and missing
person images,?10 must run outdoors to be useful. In spite of being
licensed spectrum and,
therefore, being relatively free from interference, the 4.9 GHz band
is far from ideal for
outdoor operation when compared to the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band used by 802.11b.
-----
Tomorrow?s Possibility: Hybrid 802.11a/b/g plus 4.9 GHz Band Systems
The cellular mesh technology used in Tropos Networks products is
spectrum independent.
As a result it can be used in various frequency bands: 2.4 GHz
(802.11b and 802.11g), 5
GHz (802.11a) as well as 4.9 GHz.
In the future, when 4.9 GHz technology is commercially available,
Tropos Networks plans
to make available products that use this frequency band...
==========
[An overview of the potential of wi-fi in the public safety arena,
from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials,
International
http://www.apcointl.org/frequency/4-9GHz/WiFiPS.htm
Wi-Fi with a PS Twist sounds like a new drink and in some ways it can
be very intoxicating. There is no lack of acronyms in the
communications business, but few of them have hit the industry with as
much potential impact as Wi-Fi. Yet many may not be aware of what
Wi-Fi is or how it is already impacting Public Safety...
...What if public safety could get the same functionality as Wi-Fi,
but put it in a band of spectrum that is exclusive to public safety?
Sounds great and that is exactly what is happening right now. The FCC
has allocated a significant amount of spectrum at 4.9 GHz for just
this type of implementation. There are public safety groups working
closely with the manufacturing community, federal interests, and
standards bodies to create a ?tweaked? 802.11 series standard that
includes all of the functionality of Wi-Fi, but operating at a
frequency that is exclusive to public safety. ..The potentials are
enormous. Public safety technology usually takes a back seat to the
exploding commercial market in the wireless world. This translates to
significant cost to public safety because public safety can not
provide a market nearly as large as the commercial market. In this
case, public safety can take advantage of the development in the
commercial market and with very little alteration, make it work in our
own field.
==========
This article from Mobile Radio Technology is a recent discussion of
hurdles to adoption of public safety wireless, and mentions some of
the key players in both standards as well as technology.
http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_ghz_networks_secure/
4.9 GHz Networks More Secure, But a Long Way Off
Mobile Radio Technology, Jan 1, 2004
The public-safety community faces a dilemma: Does it make widespread
Wi-Fi deployments in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band today despite the
security risks or wait for a better solution?...
...The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) and
various public-safety agencies are urging the FCC to adopt a scaled
orthogonal frequency division multiplex-based emission mask that would
ensure Cisco and other 802.11 vendors also would build to the 4.9 GHz
band.
..."Cisco will not build to this band if the FCC doesn't come up with
an emission mask that is 802.11 compliant," said Steven Devine, who
chairs the NPSTC's 4.9 GHz Task Force. "There are manufacturers that
want to build equipment for the 4.9 GHz band."
...Japan already supports Wi-Fi in the 4.9 GHz band, while chipsets
are plentiful from global commercial vendors for the 802.11a standard
and HiperLAN standard at 5 GHz, which also can be used in the 4.9 GHz
band.
==========
Here is a link to the FCC's most recent status report and policy
findings on public safety wireless:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-99A1.pdf
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AND THIRD REPORT AND ORDER
Adopted: April 23, 2003
In this Memorandum Opinion and Order and Third Report and Order (MO&O & Third
R&O), we establish licensing and service rules for the 4940-4990 MHz
band (4.9 GHz band).
By this action, we seek to promote effective public safety
communications and innovation
in wireless broadband services in support of public safety. The rules
we adopt herein represent another
step in the Commissions ongoing efforts to develop a regulatory
framework in which to meet the current
and future public safety communications needs. For example, the rules
for the 4.9 GHz band that we
adopt today are intended to accommodate a variety of new broadband
applications such as high-speed
digital technologies and wireless local area networks for incident
scene management, dispatch operations
and vehicular operations. Todays action also fosters interoperability
by providing a regulatory
framework in which traditional public safety entities can pursue
strategic partnerships with both
traditional public safety entities, such as the Federal Government,
and non-traditional public safety
entities, such as utilities and commercial entities, in support of
their missions regarding homeland security
and protection of life and property...
We envision that the 4.9 GHz band will be able to accommodate a
variety of broadband
applications, including technologies and operations requiring varying
bandwidths and operations that are
both temporary and permanent in nature. Consequently, in this MO&O &
Third R&O, we endeavor to
provide 4.9 GHz band licensees with the maximum operational
flexibility practicable and to encourage
effective and efficient utilization of the spectrum...
The major decisions we reach are as follows:
--We limit eligibility for licensing in the 4.9 GHz band to those
entities providing "public
safety services" wherein public safety services are defined as services:
(A) the sole or principal purpose of which is to protect the safety of life,
health, or property;
(B) that are provided
(i) by State or local government entities; or
(ii) by nongovernmental organizations that are authorized by a
government entity whose primary mission is the provision of
such services; and
(C) that are not made commercially available to the public by the provider.
--We permit broadband mobile operations, fixed hotspot use, and
temporary fixed links
on a primary basis in the band. Furthermore, we allow fixed
point-to-point operations
on a secondary basis.
--We establish a "jurisdictional" geographical licensing approach for
operations in the
band, whereby licensees will be authorized to operate in those
geographic areas over
which they have jurisdiction and will be required to cooperate in use
of the spectrum.
===========
Here's an example of local/regional government planning efforts in
anticipation of the arrival of 4.9 GHz spectrum technologies:
http://www.rgn6rpc.org/4940main.htm
Public Safety Region 6 (Northern California)
Regional Planning Committee
4940 - 4990 MHz Spectrum Planning
Bill DeCamp
State of Calif., DGS
Telecommunications Div.
601 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95814-0282
+ 916.657.9205 Voice
+ 916.657.9231 FAX
Note the link to the public meeting that was held in 2003:
http://www.rgn6rpc.org/library/First_4940.pdf
==========
Motorola makes brief mention of adopting their technologies to the 4.9
Ghz public safety spectrum:
http://www.motorola.com/mediacenter/news/detail/0,,3149_2582_23,00.html
4.9 Licensed WLAN
WLAN technology has increased in popularity for providing broadband
data access in localized areas. However, much of existing technology
operates on unlicensed spectrum resulting in potentially high levels
of interference and security risk. The FCCs recent adoption of rules
for 4.9 GHz band service represents a critical step in fulfilling the
public safety communitys need for mission-critical radio spectrum.
A planned addition to Motorolas Mission Critical IP platform, 4.9 GHz
Mission Critical WLAN solutions will enable users to access an
Intranet or the Internet in mobile offices, as well as real-time
streaming video. Broadband solutions will also provide agencies with
secure interoperable communications for managing incident and disaster
scenes on dedicated, licensed channels.
For more information on Motorolas Mission Critical IP platform and
applications, visit their booth numbered 923 at the Indiana Convention
Center and RCA Dome or visit Motorolas website at www.motorola.com
==========
http://www.pswn.gov/admin/librarydocs12/4_9_Band_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Public Safetys New Allocation Answering Users Questions on the 4.9 Gigahertz Band
==========
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/action/108-34.pdf
THE SPECTRUM NEEDS OF OUR
NATIONS FIRST RESPONDERS
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
THE INTERNET
JUNE 11, 2003
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
==========
http://www.microsemi.com/news/newsitem.asp?ID=412
1/7/2003
Microsemi Introduces First 3-Stage Power Amplifier
For Portable 4-6 GHz Wireless LAN Applications
Microsemi Corporation (Nasdaq: MSCC - news), a leading manufacturer of
power management integrated circuits, announced today that its
Integrated Products group has introduced the LX5506E , its first
three-stage broadband power amplifier for NIC cards and access points
used in wireless local area network (WLAN) systems. Power amplifiers
are critical in determining the range, data rate performance and power
consumption of WLAN systems.
Microsemi targets the new 4-6 GHz amplifier for 802.11a broadband
applications, HyperLAN2 portable applications, the FCC Unlicensed
National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) band, and the 4.9 GHz band
recently introduced for WLAN applications in Japan.
==========
http://www.leearmstrong.com/DSRC%20Home/Standards%20Programs/North%20American/Previous%20Meetings/October%2003/NPSTC%204.9%20GHz/FCC%20Filings/PROXIM%20ON%20PFR%2000-32.pdf
Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Comments of Proxim to the
Petition For Reconsideration of the
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
Proxim is commenting specifically with
reference to the statement the commission must adopt industry standard
emission masks
from adjacent bands to allow for low cost implementation of equipment
in the 4.9 GHz
band.1 As explained herein, Proxim believes that the FCCs action to require strong
adjacent channel protection for equipment in the 4.9 GHz band was
justifiably taken.
However, Proxim believes that the FCC should amend its rules to accommodate the
desire of the public safety community for the reuse of commercial off-the-shelf
(COTS) equipment.
==========
http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_maxrad_unfurls_new/
MAXRAD unfurls new parabolic line
Mobile Radio Technology, Sep 1, 2003
Antenna manufacturer MAXRAD Inc. announced the addition of a new
series of parabolic grid antennas to their successful WISPerformance
line of affordable wireless Internet antenna solutions
The new antennas, which begin shipping this month to one of the
world's largest chipset manufacturers, are designed for the 2.4, 5.2
and 5.8 GHz wireless LAN frequencies used extensively throughout the
Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as the newly licensed 4.9 GHz
frequency exclusive to Japan.
==========
http://npstc.du.edu/documents/WT%2000-32%20NPSTC%20Recon%20-%20Appendix%20A.pdf
Syracuse Research Corporation
4.9 GHz Mask Issues
==========
http://www.shorecliffcommunications.com/magazine/news.asp?news=1593
Radio Waves Introduces 4.9 GHz Antenna Series
4/25/2003
Radio Waves Inc. has developed a new line of SP microwave antennas for
the new public safety band of 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz), which was
recently allocated by the Federal Communications Commission.
The new SP microwave dishes are available in all sizes, ranging from
one foot to eight feet in diameter.
==========
http://www.mobilevillage.com/news/2003.08.24/motorola.htm
Motorola's new wireless IP platform targets public safety use
APCO Conference, Indianapolis, August 12, 2003 -- (MobileVillage) --
Motorola (NYSE:MOT) today unveiled Mission Critical IP, which it
claims is the public safety industry's first technology that provides
both Project 25 voice and advanced wireless data communications using
a single platform.
In addition to supporting advanced Project 25 voice capabilities, the
Mission Critical IP platform enables multiple data applications to
operate at varying data rates across both wide and local areas. It
aims to optimize network performance and allows users to move across
the coverage area without interruption to their applications.
Motorola's Mission Critical IP platform accommodates ASTRO Integrated
Voice and Data, as well as High Performance Data solutions. The
company says that new capabilities will continue to be built on the
Mission Critical IP platform including offerings in the 700 MHz
wideband spectrum, as well as the 4.9 GHz frequencies.
==========
RCR Wireless News
April 12, 2004
NYC issues RFP on public-safety system at 4.9 GHz
New York City, still recovering from the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people and highlighted a disjointed
communications infrastructure that proved grossly inadequate, plans to
upgrade its 911 system and build a cutting-edge public-safety wireless
network in untested frequencies for which federally approved equipment
does not yet exist.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg's pursuit of a citywide public-safety wireless
network-representing one of several lucrative tech contracts at a time
when tech capital spending remains tight-could become a model for
other cities. Or it could end up a costly mistake that other mayors
can learn from in trying to bolster homeland security at the local
level.
Designing a public-safety radio system capable of supporting
interoperable communications, high-speed data and video applications
is more than a technological challenge for New York City and other
cities throughout America. There are bureaucratic and financial
hurdles as well, the kind Bloomberg is wrestling with these days...
... Motorola Inc. and the City of Chicago hold experimental FCC
licenses at 4.9 GHz...MeshNetworks Inc., of Maitland, Fla., has an
application for an experimental 4.9 GHz license pending at the FCC.
...Stu Overby, director of global spectrum standards and technology
assets strategy at Motorola, said the fact that 50 megahertz was
dedicated for public safety at 4.9 GHz and that robust reliability is
routinely built into radio systems used by police, firefighters and
medics inherently limits the risk of the new band...In addition,
Overby said commercial unlicensed wireless technology at 5 GHz can be
leveraged to operate in the 4.9 GHz band.
==========
Communications Daily
December 19, 2003
Motorola told the FCC that 4.9 GHz products from Japan couldn't be
used in the U.S. without modifications...
...Motorola told the FCC this week it planned to leverage commercial
off-the-shelf technology for 4.9 GHz and had issued a request for
proposals to 7 802.11a chipset vendors on the compatibility of their
systems with 4.9 GHz rules. Motorola said 4 of the 7 indicated they
could support a tightened emission mask with existing chipsets, with
only software changes required in some cases. Motorola said it tested
commercial off-the-shelf chipsets with an additional external filter
to validate the feasibility of using that technology to meet spectral
mask requirements. As for Japanese 4.9 GHz products, Motorola said
that band was used differently in Japan than in the U.S., including
different channels. It also pointed out that maximum power levels
allowed were 19 dB below U.S. levels.
==========
ECN
November 15, 2003
RF Module Simplifies Design and Saves Space
The Epcos R005 RF module enables simplified designs for 802.11 a/b/g.
It operates in frequency bands from 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz and from 4.9
GHz to 5.9 GHz.
==========
[Just so you can see the overlap between the 4.9GHz public safety
spectrum, and the existing use of 4.9 GHz technologies in Japan...}
ECN
August 1, 2003
Quad-Band Internal Antennas
Ethertronics has announced its quad-band wireless LAN internal
antennas for global applications using the 802.11 a/b/g standards.
These antennas are designed for the 2.4, 5.2 and 5.8 GHz wireless LAN
frequencies used extensively throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia,
as well as the newly licensed 4.9 GHz frequency exclusive to Japan.
www.ethertronics.com
[You can see more about their 4.9 GHz atenna here:
http://www.ethertronics.com/nav.php?section=3&page=38
==========
