Actually, the FCC (via letter from Bill Cross) has recently (within the last year) declared a D-Star repeater to be specifically DATA, and subject only to the same rules as are used for other digital stations and digipeaters.
They have said they are not subject to the same rules as voice repeaters - including the frequency selection - AKA the repeater sub-bands in Part 97. Many expect that ruling to be overturned, but as it stands right now they are not voice repeaters - they are data repeaters. Joe M. Gary wrote: > > The FCC does not consider digitized audio such as P25 or D-Star digitized > audio to be a data emission instead they consider it to be phone (I'm > referring to voice only transmissions). The C4FM modulation type currently > used with phase I 12.5Khz P25 voice signals is still FM and while it has a > different emission designator (8K10F1E) than analog narrowband FM it is still > phone according to the FCC. > Gary > > Nate Bargmann wrote: > > > Here is the relevant portion for FCC jurisdictions: > > ----- > > §97.309 RTTY and data emission codes. > > > > (b) Where authorized by §§ 97.305(c) and 97.307(f) of this part, a > > station may transmit a RTTY or data emission using an unspecified > > digital code, except to a station in a country with which the United > > States does not have an agreement permitting the code to be used. RTTY > > and data emissions using unspecified digital codes must not be > > transmitted for the purpose of obscuring the meaning of any > > communication. When deemed necessary by a District Director to assure > > compliance with the FCC Rules, a station must: > > > > (1) Cease the transmission using the unspecified digital code; > > > > (2) Restrict transmissions of any digital code to the extent > > instructed; > > > > (3) Maintain a record, convertible to the original information, > > of all digital communications transmitted. > > ----- > > Looks like to me that P25 is legal above 50.1 MHz noting the bandwidth > > restrictions of 97.307(f)(5) and 97.307(f)(6). From 33cm and shorter > > wavelengths, there are no bandwidth restrictions--97.307(f)(7). > > > > 73, de Nate >> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >
