University of New Hampshire - Wireless Systems Laboratory

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY

Applicant Name

Name of Applicant:

University of New Hampshire - Wireless Systems Laboratory

Address

Attention:	Nicholas Kirsch
Street Address:	33 Academic Way, Kingsbury Hall W213
P.O. Box:
City:	Durham
State:	NH
Zip Code:	03824
Country:
E-Mail Address:	[email protected]

Best Contact

Give the following information of person who can best handle inquiries pertaining to this application:   Last Name: Kirsch First Name: Nicholas Title: Assistant Professor Phone Number: 603-862-0142

Explanation

Please explain in the area below why an STA is necessary: Broadband Internet access has become an essential part of everyday life. However, many areas of the country do not have direct access to broadband Internet. Many of these people live in rural areas where low population densities has made it economically infeasible to install the wired infrastructure necessary to support broadband speeds. In order to achieve broadband ubiquity, wireless options must be examined. Television White Spaces (TVWS) have become a strong contender to serve these rural areas. Companies have begun rolling out equipment that will do just that. We are in the middle of a trial of the FCC approved Carlson RuralConnect radios. During this trial, we are monitoring performance of the network, as well as assessing ease of installation. A key for making this a viable solution is to reduce overall cost of installation and operation. Early on in the trial, it was determined that RF planning is necessary to simplify installation, by being able to predict performance at a given site. There are propagation models that were developed for other uses that are said to work in the UHF frequency range available in our area, but to determine if these models do indeed apply, path loss measurements need to be performed. The RuralConnect Radios are using time division duplexing to communicate on the same channel. This makes synching the signal with a spectrum analyzer very difficult, forcing the use of a peak hold mode to capture the signal in the channel. This removes a lot of the small scale fading, or shadowing, information that is necessary to assess these models. Further, we aim to increase the knowledge base of TVWS propagation for rural and semi-rural environments

Purpose of Operation

Please explain the purpose of operation:

Propagation testing We would like to transmit the continuous wave carrier in a small set of available TVWS channels in the Durham, New Hampshire area. Regulations of height and power limits will be followed to reduce any potential interference to other opportunistic users. Our trial of the RuralConnect Radios gives us an active antenna installed at roughly 28 meters above average ground which is below the 30 meter limit. Using the FCC HAAT calculator, it is determined that the 28 meter antenna height at this location gives a HAAT of 18 meters. The use of this antenna will allow us to test the propagation models from a real life installation setup. According to Google’s Spectrum Database, there are 14 available TVWS channels at the transmitter location. We would want to test in a range of frequencies, so choosing a low, high and some median channel has been decided. Of the available channels, we would like to test in channel 5 (center frequency of 79 MHz), 24 (center frequency of 533 MHz), and 50 (center frequency of 689 MHz). These channels each have at least one adjacent channel open for use which should help minimize potential interference. Additionally, since we are only transmitting a CW carrier, there will be no danger of side lobe energy in another channel. Since the power limitation is 4W, or 36 dBm in these channels and our antenna has a maximum gain of 10.4 dBi, we could safely transmit 24 dBm, which is the power of the active RuralConnect Radios, and stay under the limit. To further protect this limit, we will reduce our CW transmission power to 14dBm or 25mW. With antenna gains, this will effectively be an EIRP of 24.4 dBm, well below the 36dBm limit. Additionally, since this only needs to be transmitting during active measurements, the transmission will be on the order of minutes, over a couple of weeks, rather than a 24/7 transmission. This will further help prevent interference with opportunistic and licensed users alike. Transmitting this signal will allow us to quickly and accurately measure path loss in the suburban/rural area that is the seacoast region of New Hampshire. With this information, we can make a better assessment on available propagation models to help simplify future installations of similar networks that can help achieve broadband ubiquity.

Information

Callsign:	WI9XCN
Class of Station:	FX
Nature of Service:	Experimental

Requested Period of Operation

Operation Start Date:	12/01/2014
Operation End Date:	04/30/2015

Manufacturer

List below transmitting equipment to be installed (if experimental, so state) if additional rows are required, please submit equipment list as an exhibit:
Manufacturer	Model Number	No. Of Units	Experimental
Hewlett Packard	E4432B	1	No
Carlson Wireless	053-470-786-REF	1	No

Certification

Neither the applicant nor any other party to the application is subject to a denial of Federal benefits that includes FCC benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. Section 862, because of a conviction for possession or distribution of a controlled substance. The applicant hereby waives any claim to the use of any particular frequency or electromagnetic spectrum as against the regulatory power of the United States because of the prvious use of the same, whether by license or otherwise, and requests authorization in accordance with this application. (See Section 304 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.) The applicant acknowledges that all statements made in this application and attached exhibits are considered material representations, and that all the exhibits part hereof and are incorporated herein as if set out in full in this application; undersigned certifies that all statements in this application are true, complete and correct to the best of his/her knowledge and belief and are made in good faith. Applicant certifies that construction of the station would NOT be an action which is likely to have a significant environmental effect. See the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR1.1301-1.1319.

Signature of Applicant (Authorized person filing form):	Nicholas J. Kirsch
Title of Applicant (if any):	Assistant Professor
Date:	2014-11-19 00:00:00.0

Station Location

	City	State	Latitude	Longitude	Mobile	Radius of Operation
	Durham	New Hampshire	North  43  8  2	West  70  56  5

Datum:  NAD 83 Is a directional antenna (other than radar) used?   Yes Exhibit submitted:   No (a) Width of beam in degrees at the half-power point:   120.00 (b) Orientation in horizontal plane:   90.00 (c) Orientation in vertical plane:   Will the antenna extend more than 6 meters above the ground, or if mounted on an existing building, will it extend more than 6 meters above the building, or will the proposed antenna be mounted on an existing structure other than a building?   Yes (a) Overall height above ground to tip of antenna in meters:   29.00 (b) Elevation of ground at antenna site above mean sea level in meters:   24.00 (c) Distance to nearest aircraft landing area in kilometers:   9.50 (d) List any natural formations of existing man-made structures (hills, trees, water tanks, towers, etc.) which, in the opinion of the applicant, would tend to shield the antenna from aircraft: The area in between antenna and landing area is filled with many trees both deciduous and coniferous. Additionally, the aircraft landing area is 140° counter-clockwise from the direction of beam. The reflector on the antenna greatly reduces propagation in this direction.

Action	Frequency	Station Class	Output Power/ERP	Mean Peak	Frequency Tolerance (+/-)	Emission Designator	Modulating Signal
New	530.00000000-536.00000000 MHz	FX	25.000000 mW 250.000000 mW	P	1.00000000 %	N0N

Action	Frequency	Station Class	Output Power/ERP	Mean Peak	Frequency Tolerance (+/-)	Emission Designator	Modulating Signal
New	686.00000000-692.00000000 MHz	FX	25.000000 mW 250.000000 mW	P	1.00000000 %	N0N

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