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Emission Designator

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Revision as of 15:27, 31 August 2012 by Nd5y (talk | contribs)

An emission designator is a code associated with a frequency that gives information about the frequency's bandwidth and the nature of the signal on the frequency. The code consists of a four character bandwidth code followed by three symbols. The symbols are explained on the FCC emission designator page and in International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Recommendation SM.1138, both of which are listed in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
For scanner users, it can be useful for determining whether a frequency is analog or digital, and even whether the frequency transmits voice and/or data.

Common Emission Designators

Code Description
60H0J2B PSK31
100HN0N Speed Radar (10525 MHz X band; 24150 MHz Ka band)
150HA1A Continuous Wave Telegraphy (manually read Morse Code)
2K80J2B HF RTTY (Radio Teletype)
2K80J2D HF PACTOR-III
2K80J3E Single sideband suppressed carrier voice (USB, LSB)
3K30F1D 6.25 kHz SCADA link (CalAmp Viper SC - 173 MHz)
4K00F1D 6.25 kHz data NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
4K00F1E 6.25 kHz voice NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
4K00F1W 6.25 kHz voice and data NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
4K00F2D 6.25 kHz analog CW ID NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
4K00J1D Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier)
4K00J2D Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier)
4K00J3E Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier) voice
5K60F2D SCADA
5K76G1E P25 Phase I CQPSK voice (typically used for simulcast systems - this is NOT P25 Phase II)
6K00A3E Double sideband AM voice (AM mode in RRDB)
6K00F1D SCADA Carrier Frequency Shift Keying
6K00F2D SCADA Audio Frequency Shift Keying
6K00F3D SCADA Analog data that is not AFSK (variable tone, DTMF, etc.)
7K30F1D Futurecom "MOBEXCOM" DVRS (mobile repeater) data (P25 waveform, slightly narrower occupied bandwidth)
7K30F1E Futurecom "MOBEXCOM" DVRS (mobile repeater) voice (P25 waveform, slightly narrower occupied bandwidth)
7K60FXD 2-slot DMR (Motorola MOTOTRBO) TDMA data
7K60FXE 2-slot DMR (Motorola MOTOTRBO) TDMA voice
8K10F1D P25 Phase I C4FM data
8K10F1E P25 Phase I C4FM voice (typically used for single-site systems; P25 mode in RRDB)
8K10F1W P25 Phase II subscriber units (Harmonized Continuous Phase Modulation - H-CPM)
8K30F1D 12.5 kHz data NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
8K30F1E 12.5 kHz voice NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
8K30F1W P25 Phase I C4FM hybridized voice and data applications (most commonly seen on trunked licenses)
8K30F7W 12.5 kHz voice and data NXDN (IDAS, NEXEDGE)
8K50F9W Harris OpenSky (2 slot narrowband)
8K70D1W P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation ASTRO (9.6 kbps in 12.5 kHz channelspace)
9K30F1D SCADA/ Remote Control
9K80D7W P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA (Harmonized Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keyed modulation - H-DQPSK), per Motorola literature
9K70F1D P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation "WCQPSK" data (per Harris MASTR-V literature)
9K70F1E P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation "WCQPSK" voice (per Harris MASTR-V literature)
9K80F1D P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA H-DQPSK data, per Harris MASTR-V literature
9K80F1E P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA H-DQPSK voice (interpolation of MASTR-V literature)
10K0F1D LTI Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system - LT6 Radio Modem
10K0F1D Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel on narrowband channel
10K0F1D RD-LAP 9.6 kbps data on narowband channel
10K0F1D * Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast data
10K0F1D * Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast control channel
10K0F1E * Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast voice
11K2F3E 2.5 kHz deviation FM "narrowband 12.5 kHz" analog voice (FMN mode in RRDB - may also be 11K0 and 11K3 bandwidth)
12K1F9W Harris OpenSky (NPSPAC - 4 slot)
13K1F9W Harris OpenSky (SMR - 4 slot)
13K6W7W Motorola iDEN (900 MHz)
14K0F1D Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel (NPSPAC)
16K0F1D * Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel
16K0F1D RD-LAP 9.6 kbps NPSPAC
16K0F2D * 4 kHz deviation FM audio frequency shift keying (72 MHz fire alarm boxes)
16K0F3E * 4 kHz deviation FM analog voice (NPSPAC) (FM mode in RRDB)
16K8F1E * Encrypted Quantized Voice (Motorola DVP, DES, DES-XL on NPSPAC)
17K7D7D Motorola HPD High Performance Data - "Astro 25" suite, as Motorola HAI (High performance data Air Interface) - 700/800 MHz - requires 25 kHz channelspace
20K0D1W TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (simultaneous mixed modes - 6.25 kHz equivalency in legacy wideband channelspace)
20K0D1E TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (voice - 6.25 kHz equivalency in legacy wideband channelspace)
20K1D1D TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (data - 6.25 kHz equivalency in legacy wideband channelspace)
20K0F1D RD-LAP 19.2 kbps within a wideband channel (2013 compliant, meets throughput requirement)
20K0F1E * Encrypted Quantized Voice (Motorola DVP, DES, DES-XL - NOT P25 DES-OFB/AES)
20K0F3E * 5 kHz deviation FM "wideband 25 kHz" analog voice (FM mode in RRDB)
20K0G7W Motorola iDEN (800 MHz)
20K0W7W Motorola iDEN (800 MHz)
300KF8E Broadcast FM with Subsidiary Carrier (SCA)
2M40W7D Remote Control Video (digital, non-NTSC)
6M00C7W ATSC Video (Digital TV)
6M25C3F NTSC Video

* When used between 136 - 512 MHz in Part 90 use, this technology is not compliant with 2013 narrowbanding requirements and must be discontinued by January 1, 2013. As of January 1, 2011, this emission may no longer be applied for between 136 - 512 MHz in Part 90 use, unless it fits within the existing contours of an already licensed system. These emissions may not appear on a new license or be used to extend the footprint of an already licensed wideband system beyond what existed prior to January 1, 2011.

Note that an emission designator identifies the characteristics of the signal and is not unique to only one type of technology or manufacturer. More than one type of deployed technology may use the same emission designator.

F1D, F2D, or F3D?

Each of these suffixes denote data, but choosing or interpreting the appropriate characteristic from the ITU definitions may be confusing. In very simple terms:

F1D = data transmission employing frequency shift keying (FSK) where the carrier frequency itself shifts.

F2D = data transmission employing audio frequency shift keying (AFSK) such as amateur radio 1.2 kbps packet or Zetron Model 26 fire station alerting.

F3D = data transmission employing analog information, such as DTMF tones, as in Whelen tornado sirens or Knox Box activation, or a tone whose pitch varies with the process being measured. Although two-tone volunteer or station alerting may be considered analog information, a single F3E suffix should suffice for incidental use when tone/voice "paging" (alerting) is employed.

C4FM or CQPSK? Flavors of P25 Phase I

The following forum discussion outlines the nuances between P25 Phase I using 8K10F1E and 5K76G1E emissions, when they are used, and why they are used: http://forums.radioreference.com/digital-voice-formats/165679-c4fm-cqpsk-2.html

Use of F9W Suffix

Some license application preparers have used the suffix F9W to indicate that multiple different emissions within the specified bandwidth are possible. This simplifies filling information into the FCC 601 form, but does not reflect each specific modulation type. For example, 11K2F9W may indicate that the system toggles between narrowband analog voice and P25 (or some other) digital emission, but not at the same time. A strict interpretation of ITU emissions indicates that the F9W suffix is both analog and digital simultaneously, and is therefore incorrect. A properly completed 601 form should itemize each discrete emission intended so the technologies used may be easily identified.

The exception to using F9W is Harris OpenSky, which has been certificated by the FCC as F9W, although F7W may be better descriptive.

Related Links