Business band
Encyclopedia
The business band is the name used by US radio users and scanner hobbyists who listen to Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) licensees using Industrial/Business pool frequencies. The regulations listing frequencies in this pool are contained in Subpart C of Part 90, Title 47 of the CFR
.
on the VHF
and UHF
two-way radio
bands. They are reserved for use by companies and individuals operating commercial activities; educational, philanthropic, or ecclesiastical institutions; clergy activities or hospitals, clinics, or medical associations. In the United States, use of these frequencies requires a license issued by the U.S. FCC.
The exceptions to this are five specific frequencies that are also part of the Multi-Use Radio Service
, which permits unlicensed operation on these frequencies, provided the output power does not exceed 2 watt
s. There are also other frequencies such as citizen's band and Family Radio Service
that may be used without a license.
Channels are available in several frequency ranges to suit the users' requirements for propagation
and protection from interference. The electromagnetic spectrum
between approximately 450 and 470 MHz is used largely for UHF business communications, although this spectrum is not exclusively for business use. In some large metropolitan areas, such as New York, the UHF-T band (between 470 and 512 MHz) is also used, due to congestion on the standard VHF or UHF bands. There are also a number of specific frequencies, in both the VHF and UHF spectrum, that are for business use; some of these have color-coded names, such as Blue Dot or Red Star.
In 2004, the FCC required all CFR 47 Part 90 VHF (150-174 MHz) and UHF (421-512 MHz) PLMR (Private Land Mobile Radio) licensees operating legacy wideband (25 kHz bandwidth) voice or data/SCADA systems to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz bandwidth or equivalent) systems] by January 1, 2013.
Other general-purpose two-way radio services with simplified licensing requirements have also been established over the years in the US including GMRS and citizen's band, the latter now being licensed by rule, so that users don't need individual licenses. FRS
and MURS
are similar pools of frequencies that also require no license in the US. There is a similar group of low power, unlicensed two-way frequencies in other countries, such as PMR
in Europe and UHF CB in Australia.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) licensees using Industrial/Business pool frequencies. The regulations listing frequencies in this pool are contained in Subpart C of Part 90, Title 47 of the CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...
.
Overview
The pool describes a series of frequenciesFrequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
on the VHF
Very high frequency
Very high frequency is the radio frequency range from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Frequencies immediately below VHF are denoted High frequency , and the next higher frequencies are known as Ultra high frequency...
and UHF
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
two-way radio
Two-way radio
A two-way radio is a radio that can both transmit and receive , unlike a broadcast receiver which only receives content. The term refers to a personal radio transceiver that allows the operator to have a two-way conversation with other similar radios operating on the same radio frequency...
bands. They are reserved for use by companies and individuals operating commercial activities; educational, philanthropic, or ecclesiastical institutions; clergy activities or hospitals, clinics, or medical associations. In the United States, use of these frequencies requires a license issued by the U.S. FCC.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
The exceptions to this are five specific frequencies that are also part of the Multi-Use Radio Service
Multi-Use Radio Service
In the United States, the Multi-Use Radio Service is an unlicensed two-way radio service similar to Citizens Band . Established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in the fall of 2000, MURS created a radio service allowing for unlicensed operation, with a power limit of 2 watts...
, which permits unlicensed operation on these frequencies, provided the output power does not exceed 2 watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
s. There are also other frequencies such as citizen's band and Family Radio Service
FRS
-Education:* Frontier Regional School, a regional school located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts-Government:*FRS 567 states that, an accountant shall perfom his/ her duty with due care...
that may be used without a license.
Channels are available in several frequency ranges to suit the users' requirements for propagation
Propagation
Propagation can refer to:*Reproduction, and other forms of multiplication or increase**Plant propagation, the production of more plants by seeds, cuttings, grafting or other methods**Propagation of schema, in artificial reproduction...
and protection from interference. The electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. The "electromagnetic spectrum" of an object is the characteristic distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted or absorbed by that particular object....
between approximately 450 and 470 MHz is used largely for UHF business communications, although this spectrum is not exclusively for business use. In some large metropolitan areas, such as New York, the UHF-T band (between 470 and 512 MHz) is also used, due to congestion on the standard VHF or UHF bands. There are also a number of specific frequencies, in both the VHF and UHF spectrum, that are for business use; some of these have color-coded names, such as Blue Dot or Red Star.
In 2004, the FCC required all CFR 47 Part 90 VHF (150-174 MHz) and UHF (421-512 MHz) PLMR (Private Land Mobile Radio) licensees operating legacy wideband (25 kHz bandwidth) voice or data/SCADA systems to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz bandwidth or equivalent) systems] by January 1, 2013.
History
The Private Land Mobile Radio Service (47CFR90, or Part 90 of the FCC Rules) was established in the US in 1927 to permit commercial and public safety uses of two-way radio by commercial entities and non-Federal government agencies. Similar allocations are available in other countries. The available frequencies in the US have traditionally been separated into two pools. One is for industrial and business users, including some special categories such as petroleum, manufacturing and forestry, the other is for public safety. including medical, police, fire and others. The industrial and business frequencies, sometimes also known as "business band radio" and the eligibility requirements are listed in 47CFR90.35. Frequencies are licensed on a non-exclusive basis, although fixed stations and mobiles operating in a defined area are issued licenses only following frequency coordination to assure equitable sharing of bandwidth. Anyone conducting commercial business or a number of other activities is eligible for a license.Other general-purpose two-way radio services with simplified licensing requirements have also been established over the years in the US including GMRS and citizen's band, the latter now being licensed by rule, so that users don't need individual licenses. FRS
FRS
-Education:* Frontier Regional School, a regional school located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts-Government:*FRS 567 states that, an accountant shall perfom his/ her duty with due care...
and MURS
MURS
Nick Carter, , professionally known as Murs, is an American rapper. His name is an acronym that he himself has created multiple meanings for such as "Making the Universe Recognize and Submit" or "Making Underground Raw Shit." He is signed to the independent label Record Collection and is a member...
are similar pools of frequencies that also require no license in the US. There is a similar group of low power, unlicensed two-way frequencies in other countries, such as PMR
PMR
-Health and medicine:* physical medicine and rehabilitation* polymyalgia rheumatica, inflammatory condition of the muscles* profound mental retardation, a developmental disability* progressive muscle relaxation, an anxiety reduction technique...
in Europe and UHF CB in Australia.
Frequency charts
Although the term "business band" refers to several discrete frequencies that are not grouped into a single band, examples of some of the frequencies are grouped by band and listed below. These charts also list other frequencies not specifically part of the "business band" but commonly used by businesses.Low-band frequencies
| Name | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 27.490 MHz | Low power, itinerant Itinerant An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place with no fixed home. The term comes from the late 16th century: from late Latin itinerant , from the verb itinerari, from Latin iter, itiner .... |
|
| 27.510 MHz | Low power | |
| 27.555 MHz | Low power | |
| 30.840 MHz | Low power | |
| 33.120 MHz | Low power | |
| 33.140 MHz | Low power | |
| 33.400 MHz | Low power | |
| 35.020 MHz | Low power | |
| 35.040 MHz | Low power, itinerant | |
| 42.980 MHz | Low power | |
| 43.040 MHz | Low power, itinerant |
VHF frequencies
| Name | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 151.505 MHz | Itinerant | |
| 151.5125 MHz | Itinerant (narrow band) | |
| Red Dot | 151.625 MHz | Itinerant |
| 151.700 MHz | Itinerant | |
| 151.760 MHz | Itinerant | |
| 151.820 MHz | Un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service Multi-Use Radio Service In the United States, the Multi-Use Radio Service is an unlicensed two-way radio service similar to Citizens Band . Established by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in the fall of 2000, MURS created a radio service allowing for unlicensed operation, with a power limit of 2 watts... (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth |
|
| 151.880 MHz | Un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth | |
| 151.940 MHz | Un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth | |
| Purple Dot | 151.955 MHz | |
| 154.515 MHz | ||
| 154.540 MHz | ||
| Blue Dot | 154.570 MHz | Un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 20 kHz bandwidth |
| Green Dot | 154.600 MHz | Un-licensed Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 20 kHz bandwidth |
| 158.400 MHz | Itinerant | |
| 158.4075 MHz | Itinerant (narrow band) |
UHF and GMRS frequencies
| Name | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| White Dot | 462.575 MHz | GMRS |
| Black Dot | 462.625 MHz | GMRS |
| Orange Dot | 462.675 MHz | GMRS |
| Brown Dot | 464.500 MHz | Itinerant |
| Yellow Dot | 464.550 MHz | Itinerant |
| Silver Star | 467.850 MHz | |
| Gold Star | 467.875 MHz | |
| Red Star | 467.900 MHz | |
| Blue Star | 467.925 MHz | |
| 469.500 MHz | Itinerant | |
| 469.550 MHz | Itinerant | |