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NTIA Report TR-99-370

An Evaluation of the Proposed Railroad VHF Band Channel Plan

September 1999

J.M. Vanderau, E.J. Haakinson

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Abstract: As a result of the Federal Communications Commission’s radio spectrum realignment initiative, land mobile radio manufacturers are being encouraged to incorporate narrowband and trunking technologies into their designs in order to efficiently utilize the radio spectrum. As new equipment designs become available in the marketplace, users must infuse these new systems into their existing land mobile radio infrastructures. The railroad industry is developing a strategy to accomplish this migration. This strategy includes defining a band plan for the efficient use of the railroad VHF spectrum. In this report, the authors evaluate the railroad industry’s rechannelization strategy, offer an alternate approach, and conclude with comments regarding the efficacy of both railroad VHF band plans.

Keywords: band plan; channel plan; land mobile radio; WCTF; Project 25; railroad; spectrum realignment; TIA-102; VHF

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software are identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

To request a reprint of this report, contact:
Margaret Luebs, Publications Officer
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
Voice: (303) 497-3572
info@its.bldrdoc.gov

For technical information concerning this report, contact:
John Vanderau, Electronics Engineer
Institute for Telecommunication Sciences
Voice: (303) 497-3506
jvanderau@its.bldrdoc.gov

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