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FCC REGULATIONS

6 posts
  1. Knauss Marshall
    Knauss Marshall avatar
    9/13/2011 10:09 AM
    I HAVE AN OLDER OSMAC SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES TO BE FORCED INTO A FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR UPGRADE. TORO HAS US BY THE BALLS AND THEY KNOW IT. ANYONE FOUND A WAY AROUND IT YET?



  2. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    9/13/2011 12:09 PM
    Are you talking about going from wide band to narrow band? How old is the system?



  3. Knauss Marshall
    Knauss Marshall avatar
    9/13/2011 2:09 PM
    IT'S PRETTY OLD, TWENTY YEARS OR SO. STILL WORKS FINE. YES I AM TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND TO NARROWBAND. JUST THINK THERE SHOULD BE A CHEAPER WAY.



  4. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    9/13/2011 2:09 PM
    I think 1996 was the year that all equipment had to be manufactured to be narrow band capable. If you system was prior to that, than you might have to upgrade. Some manufacturers made their equipment narrow band capable prior to the deadline, so there may be a few years where your equipment was produced and meets that capability. Otherwise, an upgrade is required. But, you have until 2013 to comply, which gives you a little bit of time to look at upgrades. Unfortunately, this is an FCC mandate which began in 1991, and not from Toro, so it's nothing new. But, I'm with you, Toro - and others - should find a better solution instead of a full blown upgrade, especially since they, as well as you, have had this long to figure out a better way.

    If you can send a radio off to a radio dealer, they can tell you if it can be reprogrammed to a narrow band frequency. If so, you'll have to obtain a new FCC license for the new frequencies.

    You might also just look at replacing the radios? Can't remember exactly what Osmac requires, but I know with our LTC+, we can replace individual radios at each satellite and at the FIU for a few hundred a piece.



  5. Witthuhn Toby R
    Witthuhn Toby R avatar
    9/28/2011 7:09 AM
    Just out of curiosity how do they check this? How would will they know if you don't comply by 2013?



  6. Andy Jorgensen
    Andy Jorgensen avatar
    1 posts
    9/28/2011 8:09 AM
    twitthuhn said: Just out of curiosity how do they check this? How would will they know if you don't comply by 2013?


    If you know your frequency, see if the 4th digit after the period ends in a 5. Something like this: 464.3755. If it is, than you are already on narrow band. Wide band looks like this 464.3750 or 464.375.

    Really, the FCC won't know you are operating unless their is an interference problems with somebody that has the license to operate on your same frequency. Then you would be the one in trouble since you are not licensed. Your next license renewal cycle will also force you to switch to narrow band, as the FCC isn't relicensing the wide band frequencies.

    We just had to upgrade our repeater and about 45 handheld radios to meet this requirement. The cost was $15 each to reprogram them plus another small fee for the new license. Our 5 irrigation systems were already up to date.



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