Meeting Minutes for April 8, 2008
Web Page: www.wwcic.org
Information Line Phone Number: 425-820-6271
Dates for WWCIC meetings for 2008 Meetings will be held on the 2nd Tuesday like always, with no meeting in August . The current location for regular meetings is the Washington State Patrol Office in Bellevue.
Chairman’s opening
comments: Chairman George Bisso
called the meeting to order at 9:37 am. Introductions were made around the
tables. Attendance today: 11.
Secretary-Treasurer Finance and Correspondence Reports: Starting balance in Checking $292.13, deposit of $40.00 in member dues, ending balance of $332.13. Starting balance in Savings $1882.90, interest not posted yet for the month, ending balance of $1882.90.
Technical Committee
Report:
Suggestions for technical presentations at meetings are always welcome.
Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management will be demonstrating their
Emergency Communications Vehicle at our May meeting. An RFId technology
presentation is being worked on. (OPEN)
Web Site Report:
Nothing new and no problems noted. (OPEN)
The
Seattle (Kirkland) office has a new engineer, Puneet Singh, he worked previously for the
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS).
There has been an increase in enforcement of the rules in regard to
the manufacture and importation of linear amplifiers operating in the (CB) 27
MHz range.
There also has been increased activity around uncertified
transmitters for low power (50-100w) FM broadcast stations. Many lack the proper
filtering circuitry. Hoquiam PD
experienced interference to their speed measuring devices (RADAR) from a local
non-profit low power transmitter that had just come back from factory service.
Considerable energy was emitted up into the microwave region (24 & 54 GHz).
CATV distribution amps in buildings such as apartment complexes
continue to be a problem for wireless services.
150/450 MHz IX: Several
commercial 460 MHz systems experienced interference from land surveyors’
equipment. The FCC made contact with the surveyors to have them switch channels
or cease operation. One is still out there but the signal is weak/distant making
it difficult to find.
Several occurrences of interference to business radios systems in
the 450-470 MHz spectrum were resolved. The FCC located the source of one, the
same that was identified several months ago transmitting data constantly on a
shared channel, in this instance it was running as a carrier squelch operated
repeater. The operator of the system appears to have been misinformed by the
provider of the equipment as to how it could and should be used.
A
private company and several broadcasters reported interference to their traffic
reporting channels. The source has not been located yet. (OPEN)
FRS Issues:
Nothing new to report. (OPEN)
700 MHz Planning &
Meetings:
The new plan has been submitted April 1, no major comments expected during the
comment period ending April, 11. The plan is available on the region 43 web
site. Meeting schedule has been changed to every other (odd) month.
800 MHz IX and Nextel
issues: The
FCC is awaiting replies to a Request for Information on wave 4 rebanding border
area.
The
City of Seattle is finalizing contracts in preparation to negotiate with Nextel
on SCD costs. Using the suggested times in the on the SCD forms, the City has
estimated over 7500 man hours to change out mobiles and portables that need to
be replaced, this does not include reprogramming or administrative costs.
The
rebanding deadline is still June 30 without a waiver for non border areas. (OPEN)
Technical Seminars at
WWCIC Meetings: Suggestions for future
seminars are welcome. Due to illness and
a tight schedule the presentation on RFId for this meeting was canceled. (OPEN)
APCO business or reports
and general frequency coordination news: Washington Chapter Summer Training Conference
June 25-27, 2008, in Wenachee, WA.
The
Washington State Interoperability Executive Committee (SIEC) is proposing a ROIP
standard that will require the users to use a high end IP gateway by also
requiring VOIP be included. This is viewed by some as contrary to the intent of
interoperability since it is requiring them to use equipment that is over and
above what is needed and they are giving in to manufacture lobbying. The
standards had been tabled due to the volume of disagreement but there is
indications the SIEC will be discussing and voting on this at an April 17
meeting. http://www.apcowa.org/ (OPEN)
License-free or
Spread-Spectrum technology issues: As more and more departments from IT to manufacturing
implement License-free and Spread-Spectrum hardware the instances of
interference have gone up. The FCC has issued fines totaling in the millions of
dollars to organizations that are importing non-certified equipment. A
lot of this equipment has problems with out of band emissions.
The
Boeing Co. has established internal protocols to coordinate this type of
equipment as part of their overall spectrum management. Because there is so much
wireless technology in use they even have their own wireless symposiums. They
also have a tip line that anyone can call anonymously to report unusual
occurrences or suspected improper operations of wireless devices. Case reports
run from interference between data networks, personal wireless headsets
interrupting crane operation to employee owned low power FM transmitters for
playing a personal audio device through a stereo receiver shutting down
industrial robots. (OPEN)
Amateur radio activity: Attendance at the 2008 Communications Academy held at the South Seattle Community College, April 5 and 6 was noticeably down. It’s not known if a change in location, fuel prices, weather and other logistics were factors in the reduced participation. (OPEN)
Joint
WCTC/WWCIC Meeting
We will be hosting another
meeting Wednesday June 11. We need to set the agenda by May.
The sustained low snow levels experienced this winter in the state has several agencies and groups evaluating their need for better snow travel resources. Snohomish County (SERS) is one looking at purchasing a snowcat type vehicle, the broadcasters at West Tiger Mtn. are also discussing ideas.
DNR has let a contract for West Tiger Mountain road maintenance. Site users can expect road closures of more than one hour or more for several weeks. Power interruptions may also be necessary.
Moved and seconded to adjourn at 11:40 AM.
Respectfully submitted,