FYi:
Hams aren't the only ones with strange interference issues. Here's a
couple in the 800 band some of you might be interested in and may affect
the 902 band.
73,
de ed -K0iL
-----Original Message-----
From: IBN.Editors
Subject: [incident-briefing-network] IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION:
COMMUNICATIONS - WARNING (FCC) - 21FEB02
[Editors Note: Following the warning is a report that provides an actual
example of the problem. This is a issue that potentially affects
Emergency
Response communications. As the writer suggests, please give this wide
distribution.]
>From the FCC:
Released: 02/21/2002. WARNING ON USE OF FLASHING CELLULAR ANTENNA
DISPLAYS. (DA No. 02-401). EB. Contact: Brett Greenwalt at (202)
418-1303. News Media Contact: John Winston at (202) 418-7450
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-401A1.doc>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-401A1.pdf>
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-401A1.txt>
I've encountered one of these already. All public safety and Nextel
systems died in a steel building during a crowded electronics
convention.
I noticed my public safety radio was in Control Channel scan which lead
me
to check my Nextel that reported no signal. Both had worked fine the
day
before in the same building. Lucky for me, I had my Public Safety
radio
configured to beep when it goes to CC scan. Otherwise, I would have
been in
a dead zone until I actually needed to communicate. The signal was
wiped
out in all of the building, about 100'x500' Florida State Troopers in
the
room had no idea they had been out of radio service during this period.
You really don't know until you need it.
Thanks to the 800interference mailing list and a message a few weeks
ago, I
had a hunch. I gathered everyone in person and gave them a BOLO for a
display for lighted cellular antennas. We coordinated on a VHF
channel
(un-effected) many of us carried also. Within about 5 minutes, there
were
about 10 of us in front of a table with one of these devices. The
cellular
accessory vendor, now rather nervous, gladly disconnected it. All 800
MHz
communication came back to normal. He promised to leave the device
disconnected for the reminder of the show. We warned him about the
legal
problem with this device and the danger it causes, and he promised to
check
into it. Now we have an official FCC notice to hand someone next time.
Here are pictures of the offending devices:
http://www.rayvaughan.com/images/12display.jpg
http://www.rayvaughan.com/images/12display.jpg
Also be aware that there are imported intentional 800 MHz jammers being
used
in public buildings, like movie theaters. A Miami TV station did a
totally
pro-jammer demo on live TV at a movie theater. They thought it was a
great
idea to jam everything in a crowded theater so cell phones wouldn't
ring.
If I remember right, they're made in Israel. Totally illegal in the
US,
but many are being imported anyway. Not often that you get to see an
FCC
violation on live TV. These devices may be even more dangerous to the
public's safety by jamming Public Safety radios. They don't
discriminate... everything on (at least) 800 MHz is jammed.
I would suggest that everyone print out this Public Notice, keep it in
your
notebook, and give it to the business owner when you see one of these
devices. Especially be aware of this in retail situations... have your
users check for signal at all of your major malls. For example, fire
inspections should now include radio signal checks. In an emergency,
the
radios being able to work will be just as important as any other system
you're there to inspect. Really want a jammer in your place of
business?
Be ready to lose your CO for interfering with life safety equipment.
Please
forward this e-mail to your Inspection division if you're on, or
considering
800 MHz radios for Fire or Police. Explain to them how to tell when
they've lost the control channel on their radios. Explain to them that
this
means their firefighters are on their own, literally, in these areas.
Sorry for the wide distribution, but I think this is an important issue
that
could effect many of us.
Thanks.
Ray J. Vaughan, MS, CBTE, CERT
KD4BBM PG-7-15266
ray@rayvaughan.com
http://www.rayvaughan.com/
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