Emission Designator
From The RadioReference Wiki
- 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.
Contents
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 |
8K00F1D | P25 Phase I C4FM data (per Harris MASTR V type acceptance) |
8K00F1E | P25 Phase I C4FM voice (extrapolated from Harris MASTR V type acceptance) |
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) |
9K20F1D | Zetron-based alphanumeric paging/alerting system (seen in practice using Daniels base stations) |
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 |
9K70D1W | P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation "WCQPSK" data catch-all emission (per Harris MASTR-V 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) |
9K80D7W | P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA H-DQPSK data catch-all emission (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
- FCC Page on Emission Designators
- APCO Page on Emission Designators
- ITU-R SM.1138 - Link to download page for current ITU document.
- What certain non-voice modes sound like - by Gary Kahn, KB9UKD
- Radio Service Code
- FCC Station Class Codes
- 47CFR2.201 Emission, modulation, and transmission characteristics
- 47CFR2.202 Bandwidths
- How Project 25 two-slot TDMA works
- Motorola HPD webpage with links to white papers and other explanatory resources