FCC Rules For RPU

A local LPFM station is planning to do remote broadcasts, and doesn't want to use cell phone/Skype, etc.
They're looking at used Marti/Mosley RPU receiver-transmitter stuff......(yes -- they're trying to do this via the "cheap-but-effective" path....!)
Is a SEPARATE license still required by a broadcast station for this service?
My attempts to find an (easy) answer to this have led me in circles!!
IF a separate license IS still required.....could someone post a link for an application download?
Thanks!

Yes, you have to be licensed for every signal you put in the air. Our station went 450 MHz remote pickup broadcast after reading an article in Broadcast Engineering about the Oklahoma Federal Building bombing. The article simply pointed out that stations who relied on cell phones just couldn't get out as all the cell circuits in the area were tied up. Remember, law enforcement also uses cell phones. As I understand, it they have a code they can enter and it "seizes" the circuit.
The problem for you, is that maybe all the frequencies in your area are assigned. That's what happened to us. We were able to persuade a network bureau to give up one of their frequencies. They had it since the beginning of time and monitoring the frequency showed they really weren't using it.
Construction of the system is also a concern. If you need wide coverage (as we did) you should have a repeater, which we installed about halfway up the TV tower.
But, in the end, we had insurance of communications, and did not have to rely on a third party. Our techs maintained the system which really amounted to installing radios in the news cars from time to time. As for licensing, our company's corporate engineer took care of it all. Good luck.

Oldie919 said:

A local LPFM station is planning to do remote broadcasts, and doesn't want to use cell phone/Skype, etc.
They're looking at used Marti/Mosley RPU receiver-transmitter stuff......(yes -- they're trying to do this via the "cheap-but-effective" path....!)
Is a SEPARATE license still required by a broadcast station for this service?
My attempts to find an (easy) answer to this have led me in circles!!
IF a separate license IS still required.....could someone post a link for an application download?
Thanks!

Click to expand...

The home page for the Auxiliary Services is in the FCC Wireless section. Remote Pickup Units are under: "RP": https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/broadband-division/broadcast-auxiliary

Before you apply on line for a license, the FCC requires frequency coordination through an approved local coordinator, or if one isn't available, through a company like Comsearch. There may be a fee to get coordination, since you will be dealing with a for-profit frequency coordination company.

Thanks for the responses!!
With some rules relaxation I didn't know if RPU's would be "lumped" under a broadcast station's main license......
Finding a clear frequency shouldn't be too hard here....we're out in the "boonies", RF wise!!!

Kelly A said:

The home page for the Auxiliary Services is in the FCC Wireless section. Remote Pickup Units are under: "RP": https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/broadband-division/broadcast-auxiliary

Before you apply on line for a license, the FCC requires frequency coordination through an approved local coordinator, or if one isn't available, through a company like Comsearch. There may be a fee to get coordination, since you will be dealing with a for-profit frequency coordination company.

Click to expand...

RPUs are coordinated by SBE freq coordinators, not Comm Search..and we do it for free..also there is the 720hr rule...in Part 74

ContinuousWave said:

RPUs are coordinated by SBE freq coordinators, not Comm Search..and we do it for free..also there is the 720hr rule...in Part 74

Click to expand...

Only if there is an authorized SBE chapter and coordinator in the area they're applying for. Many rural or smaller markets aren't covered with an SBE coordinator. The only other alternative is through Comsearch.

I think SBE died around here.
There are three bands used for remote pickup. VHF-Lo, VHF-Hi, and UHF. Check the latest rules in case the FCC has pimped out any portions to other services.
Beware of buying used equipment. There are some people ( on Ebay) selling junk found in a dumpster for exhorbitant prices! Don't buy anything with tubes in it. Tube equipment is for historical purposes only these days.
You should buy a system, transmitter and receiver on the same frequency. Purchasing equipment from various sources will most likely be on different frequencies.
Older equipment uses crystals. So you may have to buy a new crystal. The last crystal I bought 15 years ago was $25. And it may requiring some retuning as crystal equipment is not necessarily plug and play.
I'd go with UHF equipment as it is the newest and virtually interference free. The VHF stuff is interference prone from skip. You'll often hear stuff from stations 250 miles away.
Our UHF equipment sets up with software running on a PC and a data cable connection.

kf4rca said:

I think SBE died around here.
There are three bands used for remote pickup. VHF-Lo, VHF-Hi, and UHF. Check the latest rules in case the FCC has pimped out any portions to other services.
Beware of buying used equipment. There are some people ( on Ebay) selling junk found in a dumpster for exhorbitant prices! Don't buy anything with tubes in it. Tube equipment is for historical purposes only these days.
You should buy a system, transmitter and receiver on the same frequency. Purchasing equipment from various sources will most likely be on different frequencies.
Older equipment uses crystals. So you may have to buy a new crystal. The last crystal I bought 15 years ago was $25. And it may requiring some retuning as crystal equipment is not necessarily plug and play.
I'd go with UHF equipment as it is the newest and virtually interference free. The VHF stuff is interference prone from skip. You'll often hear stuff from stations 250 miles away.
Our UHF equipment sets up with software running on a PC and a data cable connection.

Click to expand...

My thought was going for something in the 450-470 MHz range....
SBE uses one contact for frequency coordination over all of New England.....maybe he works with subcontractors???!
Based on what I've seen so far from this LPFM station.....they'll never move on doing anything like RPU anyway....
They want stuff done....but won't spend a dime!!

Oldie919 said:

My thought was going for something in the 450-470 MHz range....
SBE uses one contact for frequency coordination over all of New England.....maybe he works with subcontractors???!
Based on what I've seen so far from this LPFM station.....they'll never move on doing anything like RPU anyway....
They want stuff done....but won't spend a dime!!

Click to expand...

Anymore, licensing and maintaining the infrastructure for RPU doesn't make fiscal sense when Tieline makes an app for your IPhone or Android phone that gives you better audio quality than and RPU for much longer distances. 10 license pack is $400: https://www.bswusa.com/Codecs-Tieline-Report-It-Enterprise-10-Pack-P7445.aspx
For that matter, you could use Skype for free. Install the app on a phone and communicate with Skype on a PC back at the LPFM.

Don't get me wrong; I've done a lot of RPU remotes and built dozens of RPU repeaters on mountain tops. RPU has it's place, but probably not for a LPFM station.

Oldie919 said:

My thought was going for something in the 450-470 MHz range....
SBE uses one contact for frequency coordination over all of New England.....maybe he works with subcontractors???!
Based on what I've seen so far from this LPFM station.....they'll never move on doing anything like RPU anyway....
They want stuff done....but won't spend a dime!!

Click to expand...

I cover SETX and SWLa.. probably bigger than Maine alone Go ahead and contact him... he'll work with you for free

Kelly A said:

Don't get me wrong; I've done a lot of RPU remotes and built dozens of RPU repeaters on mountain tops. RPU has it's place, but probably not for a LPFM station.

Click to expand...

I can only think of a few of uses for RPUs these days.

1. Extremely rural areas where cell service is spotty. There are a few places my stations broadcast HS sports from that would fall in this category, but they are all road games... and as such setting up a Marti isn't really worth it if it is even feasible.

2. Emergency backup STL or remote backhaul

3. When looks matter, having an RPU at your remote looks more impressive than an iPhone ... even if it isn't being used!

PTBoardOp94 said:

I can only think of a few of uses for RPUs these days.

1. Extremely rural areas where cell service is spotty. There are a few places my stations broadcast HS sports from that would fall in this category, but they are all road games... and as such setting up a Marti isn't really worth it if it is even feasible.

2. Emergency backup STL or remote backhaul

3. When looks matter, having an RPU at your remote looks more impressive than an iPhone ... even if it isn't being used!

Click to expand...

This is an LPFM. It's barely even a real radio station. The RPU coverage is greater than their LPFM would be.

Looks like they'll be going with Cleanfeed Pro for their remotes......!
They (read: management.....) don't want to deal with paperwork, frequency coordination (free or otherwise) and licensing fees...
For what they plan to do with it......they're probably going to be satisfied with Cleanfeed......the Pro version allows for extended bandwidth.....
Of course..... there's always tin cans and a string.....!

We use a Comrex Opal for remotes where the talent will only have a cell phone available. It also works well for some of our high school sports where we just have a laptop/soundcard on the remote end. No services fees past it having a fixed address and pointing DNS at it from a domain.