Minnesota Repeater Council

MINNESOTA REPEATER COUNCIL (MRC)

Member of Mid America Coordination Council (MACC)

Frequency Coordination Policies

With revisions through 09/23/95

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Subject Page Number

Frequency Coordination Objectives.................... 4

Frequency Coordination Goals.......................…..4 & 5

Definition of terms used in coordination............. 5 & 6

Types of Stations Coordinated......................……7

Recognition of Digital Communications...............7 & 8

Recognition of FM voice simplex...................... ..8 & 9

Frequency Coordination areas in State.............….9 & 10

Frequency Assignments

10 meters......................................10

6 meters...................................... 10

2 meters

Standard repeater pairs.............10

Shared Non-protected (SNP) pair.....11

222 Mhz band...............................11 & 12.

440 Mhz band

Auxiliary and control links........12

Standard Repeater pairs.............12

Fast scan TV repeater................13

900 Mhz band...............................13

Protection by Geographical spacing.................. 14 thru 16

Frequency assignments - General

Time limit to get new station going........... 17

Time limit for existing coordination.......... 17

Continuation of assignment..................…..17

In writing policy...........................………..17

Conditions of assignment....................…...18

Data needed for coordination................….18

Output power and HAAT definitions........ 18

"First on frequency" principle..............…..19

Changes in coordinated station..............…19

Status of re-coordinated station............….19

Shutting down a coordinated station..........20

Validity of assignments made before 4/14/84... 20

Repeater Input frequency interference.......20

Transfer of repeater assignment............... .20

Closed repeaters............................……….20

Repeater trustee responsibility..............….21

Participation in coordination activities......21

Table of Contents – continued

Repeater De-coordination procedures...............21 & 22

Repeater Station good operating practices........23

Interference to a Coordinated repeater station...23 & 24

"Harmful Interference" definition............. 24

Interference arbitration procedures................ 24 thru 26

Changes to this policy.............................……26

Minnesota Repeater Council

Frequency Coordination Policies

I. Objectives

The objective of these frequency coordination policies shall be to allocate the available Amateur Radio frequency spectrum so as to provide a minimum of interference between owners and users of repeating stations, auxiliary link stations and control stations in and adjacent

to the State of Minnesota.

II. Goals

II.

It shall be the goal of the Minnesota Repeater Council (MRC) appointed Repeater Frequency Coordinator to provide the coordination necessary between operating groups to assure operation within the "spirit" of Amateur Radio. In all cases, the Repeater Frequency Coordinator cannot

and should not interfere with the internal operating policies of the individual group. The coordinator's purpose is only to provide a set of frequencies or frequency, if available, which allows the group to develop and implement its operating policies.

Because the frequencies available for Amateur Radio repeaters and repeater linking activities are a limited resource, the frequency coordination procedures should be structured in such a way as to provide access to a repeater frequency pair by any group demonstrating its desire to assist the entire coordination process through its cooperation.

The MRC Repeater Frequency Coordinator coordinates repeater and link frequencies on the basis of making maximum frequency utilization of the various Amateur Radio bands. The Repeater Frequency Coordinator should not honor requests for repeater pairs that are contrary to the MRC recommended plans of spacing, power, or location. More than one input or one output frequency for any repeater system on any one amateur radio band is not recommended.

The MRC recognizes two fundamental motivations for establishment of an amateur radio repeater station:

1) As a service to other amateurs living or traveling in a

defined service area.

2) As an exercise in individual achievement on the part of the

station operator(s).

Both of these motivations are declared equally valid and in the traditional spirit of amateur radio. However, in cases where these two rationales are in conflict, the motivation toward service must prevail over the individual achievement motivation. For example, the desire of an operator to set up a new repeater, largely for reasons of self achievement, in an area already well served by existing repeaters, must be accommodated in a way that does not detract from the existing

service area in terms of co-channel or adjacent channel interference.

Most large cities already have enough repeaters for both emergency communications and ragchewing. Therefore, small towns and rural areas that are greatly removed from these large cities may take priority in allocation of available frequency pairs.

III. Definitions

A) OPEN REPEATER - A system whose use by transient operators is

welcomed and encouraged.

B) CLOSED REPEATER - A system whose use by transient operators is

neither welcomed or encouraged.

C) CTCSS - Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch Systems such as Private

Line (PL) , Channel Guard (CG), Quiet Channel (QC), etc.

D) AUTOPATCH - An automatic means of effecting a telephone

interconnect using a repeater station.

E) REPEATER SYSTEM - A device or combination of devices, in FIXED

locations for receiving radio signals from a Base, Mobile or

Portable station and automatically transmitting corresponding

radio signals which have been amplified, reshaped, or both for

the purpose of extending communication range.

F) REPEATER FREQUENCY COORDINATOR - The Repeater Frequency Coordi-

nator, appointed by the Minnesota Repeater Council (MRC), is the

recognized Repeater Frequency Coordinator in the State of

Minnesota. This coordinator may appoint district or sub-band

assistant coordinators, but the MRC appointed Repeater Frequen-

cy Coordinator will be responsible for the final approval on

all matters of repeater frequency coordination in the state of

Minnesota.

G) REPEATER TRUSTEE - The trustee (or the case of club repeaters,

the appointed trustee) is the holder of record of a frequency

coordination. All requests for coordination or for changes

in listing, callsign, or sponsorship or trustee information for

a repeater or link must be submitted in writing over the

signature of the trustee.

H) SHARED-NON-PROTECTED REPEATER - A repeater operating on a

frequency pair that is assigned without any reference to

geographical spacing between repeaters operating on the

same frequency pair.

I) SIGNIFICANT CHANGE - A significant change is defined as a

antenna or power change of greater than 1 db, a change in

antenna height of over 50 feet, or moving the station location

more than 2 miles. A 1 db change is a factor change (multipli-

er) of greater than 1.25.

J) ACTIVE REPEATER - An active repeater must have all of the

following characteristics:

1) Available for use (turned on and conforming to MRC technical

standards) by the general amateur public or, in the case of

a closed repeater by club members only, on its coordinated

paired input and output frequencies for a total of at least

305 days per year, excepting the first year of operation,

and

2) the repeater trustee must have responded to the annual

repeater information request mailed by the MRC Repeater

Frequency coordinator, and

3) the repeater system must have adhered to the information

provided in the coordination request form, regarding

location, HAAT, ERP, type of access, etc. All changes to

the information on this form MUST be provided to the

Repeater Frequency Coordinator within 30 days of that

change.

K) INACTIVE REPEATER - Any repeater system that does not meet the

definition of an active repeater will be considered in-active

and is subject to de-coordination. A repeater system outage

that will last beyond 60 days must be reported to the MRC

Repeater Frequency Coordinator or the repeater system will be

considered to be in-active.

III. What type of stations are coordinated by MRC

III.

The MRC Repeater Frequency Coordinator coordinates only the types of FIXED amateur radio transmitting facilities in those Amateur Radio segments authorized by the FCC for:

1) Repeater stations

2) Control stations

3) Auxiliary link stations

V. Recognition of Digital Communications (Packet radio)

The MRC recognizes organized Statewide Digital Communications organizations, recognizes the frequencies currently used for digital communications (such as packet radio), and permits the RECOGNIZED Digital Groups the task of ASSIGNING and DELEGATING frequencies for digital systems and operations on these SIMPLEX frequencies. (It should be noted that a Packet Digipeater or node station is considered a simplex operating system.)

Digital systems utilizing FM repeater input AND/OR output pairs are classified as FM repeaters, operating Digital, and therefore must be coordinated by the MRC Repeater Frequency Coordinator as for any other FM repeater. All rules of repeater frequency coordination including the accepted standards of frequency and bandwidth, mileage spacing between repeaters on the same frequency and operation with lack of interference to users on adjacent frequencies must be followed. Cross-band repeaters operating in a digital mode on FM repeater or auxiliary link frequencies are also considered repeaters and must be frequency coordinated.

Digital systems that operate SIMPLEX in the auxiliary and control frequency ranges of 446.025 to 446.200 Mhz that are normally coordinated by the MRC repeater frequency coordinator are expected to ask for frequency coordination BEFORE THESE DIGITAL OPERATIONS ARE STARTED to eliminate interference between these digital operations and any existing FM voice type auxiliary link operations that might be currently operating on these frequencies. If digital operations wish to use auxiliary link frequencies that are currently being used for FM voice

type auxiliary links, arrangements to reimburse the existing users for the costs of relocating must be made.

Digital SIMPLEX operations

The Amateur Radio frequencies currently recognized by the MRC for SIMPLEX digital operation in the 2 meter band include 145.010, 145.030, 145.050, 145.070, 145.090, 145.610, 145.630, 145.670 and 145.690 Mhz. Even though some of these frequencies are spaced 600 Khz apart, a full-

duplex FM digital repeater cannot be operated on them per current FCC part 97 rules.

The simplex frequencies of 144.910, 144.930, 144.950, 144.970 and 44.990 Mhz are also recognized as being used for digital operations, but these frequencies are shared with the activities generated by the SAREX space missions. Operators using these frequencies for digital

operations must be cognizant of SAREX operation and cease operations when interference will be caused to these operations.

Full-Duplex digital operations

The MRC Repeater Frequency coordinator will coordinate full-duplex digital repeaters only on the 20 Khz spaced repeater pairs in the 44/145 sub-band of 2 meters. All full-duplex digital repeaters coordinated on this band must operate with a baud rate of 9600 baud or greater to make maximum use of the repeater pair.

Operation of packet radio on FM voice simplex frequencies

MRC recommends that digital operations (packet radio) do not operate on the nationally recognized SIMPLEX frequencies for FM voice operations on 2 meters.

VI. Recognition of FM voice simplex

VI.

VII. The MRC also recognizes and will preserve allocated FM voice Simplex frequencies which fall within the FM repeater portion of the Amateur Radio bands. The use of these simplex voice frequencies for Digipeaters IS NOT RECOMMENDED, although simplex digital point-to-point operation is permitted as is CW, RTTY or other point-to-point simplex operations per the FCC rules.

6 Meter Simplex

Only 52.525 Mhz is currently recognized in the 50 to 54 Mhz band for FM voice simplex.

2 Meter Simplex

The current voice simplex frequencies are:

146.400*, 146.415, 146.430*, 146.445, 146.460*, 146.475, 146.490,

146.505, 146.520, 146.535, 146.550, 146.565, 146.580, 147.420, 147.435,

147.450, 147.465, 147.480, 147.495, 147.510, 147.525, 147.540, 147.555,

147.570 and 147.585 Mhz.

* NOTE: In some cases these FM simplex frequencies are used as FM voice

repeater inputs to pair up with 147.000, 147.030, and 147.060 Mhz. FM

simplex users should expect to be repeated if they use these frequen-

cies for simplex operation when in an area in Minnesota or surrounding

states or providences where these frequencies are used as repeater

inputs.

222-224 Mhz Simplex

Only 223.500 Mhz is currently recognized in the 222-224 Mhz band for FM

voice simplex. But FM voice simplex can be done on any of the 20 Khz

spaced frequencies in the 223.400 to 223.740 Mhz range. These 20 Khz

spaced channels are shared by both voice and digital modes.

440-450 Mhz Simplex

Only 446.000 Mhz is currently recognized in the 420-450 Mhz band for FM

voice simplex. This is because of the extremely short range expected

with low power FM SIMPLEX operations in this frequency range.

VII. Frequency Coordination Areas

For the purposes of frequency coordination the State of Minnesota is divided into eleven areas. These areas are defined by lines on established latitude and longitude, are shown on the attached map and identified as follows:

Northwest - everything North of 46:30 degrees and West of 95:00 degrees

North Central - everything North of 46:30 degrees, East of 95:00

degrees and West of 93:00 degrees

Northeast - everything North of 46:30 degrees, and East of 93:00

degrees except Duluth.

West Central - everything West of 95:00 degrees, North of 45:00 degrees

and South of 46:30 degrees.

Central - everything East of 95:00 degrees, West of 93:30 degrees,

North of 45:00 degrees and South of 46:30 degrees except the Metro

area.

East Central - everything East of 93:30 degrees, North of 45:15 degrees

and South of 46:30 degrees except the Metro area.

Southwest - everything West of 95:00 degrees, South of 45:00 degrees.

South Central - everything South of 45:00 degrees, East of 95:00

degrees and West of 93:00 degrees except the Metro area.

Southeast - everything East of 93:30 and South of 44:45 degrees except

the Metro area.

Duluth - The area in and around Duluth as defined by the Minnesota

Highway Dept. map

Metro - The Twin Cities metro area (Minneapolis/St. Paul) as defined

by the Minnesota Highway Dept. map.

VIII. Repeater Frequency assignments: 29.50 - 29.70 Mhz

All assignments in this band shall be in accordance with the Nationally accepted 10 meter band plan agreed upon by the MRC. Currently their are only 4 repeater pairs allocated with 100 Khz spacing between input and output frequencies. 29.600 Mhz is recognized as the National

Simplex channel on 10 meters.

IX. Repeater Frequency assignments: 51.00 - 53.99 Mhz

All assignments in this band shall be in accordance with the Nationally accepted 6 meter band plan agreed upon by the MRC. 52.525 Mhz is recognized as the National Simplex calling frequency on 6 meters.

X. Repeater Frequency assignments: 144.500 to 144.900, 145.100 to 145.500 and

146.000 to 147.990 Mhz

A) Standard Repeater Pairs

Unless otherwise described in this policy, all assignments in this band shall be in accordance with the Nationally accepted 2 meter band plan agreed upon by the MRC. 146.520 Mhz is recognized as the National Simplex calling frequency.

In Minnesota, the frequencies between 144.500 and 145.500 Mhz used for repeaters are coordinated on 20 Khz steps starting with 144.510 Mhz. Repeater inputs are low, with the outputs located 600 Khz above the inputs.

In Minnesota, the frequencies between 146.000 and 147.990 Mhz, used for repeaters, are coordinated on 15 Khz steps starting with 146.010 Mhz. Between 146.010 and 146.985 Mhz repeater inputs are low, with the outputs located 600 Khz above the input. Between 147.000 and 147.990 Mhz repeater inputs are high, with the outputs located 600 Khz below the input.

B) Shared Non-Protected 2 meter repeater pair: 144.630/145.230 Mhz

This repeater pair, 144.630 Mhz input and 145.230 Mhz output, will be coordinated in the State of Minnesota for use by repeater stations on a shared basis. No geographical separation from other repeater stations in Minnesota using the same frequency will be done.

All stations using this pair must use CTCSS, digital CTCSS or DTMF access. The tone to be used for protecting the repeater input must be given to the Repeater Frequency Coordinator. In the event a noncontinuous code, e. g. DTMF tone(s), is used to initiate access, the system must provide:

1. Automatic return to controlled access if no signal is

present on the input frequency for 60 seconds (maximum).

2. Automatic means to prevent unintended activation by

users by other systems using DTMF for autopatch activation

and use. Anti-PL would be one possible method.

C) Frequencies 144.900 to 145.100 Mhz & 145.61 to 145.69 Mhz

This sub-band is recognized as being used for single channel digital communications including digipeaters or "digital repeaters", e.g. packet radio, using 20 Khz spaced channels. The 20 Khz steps shall be based on 145.010 Mhz (channel center).

XI. Repeater Frequency assignments: 222.50 - 225.00 Mhz

A) Standard repeater pairs

Unless otherwise described in this policy, frequencies between 222.50 and 225.00 will be assigned in accordance with the Nationally accepted 220 Mhz band plan agreed upon by the MRC. 223.500 Mhz is recognized as the National Simplex calling frequency.

The frequencies between 222.500 and 223.380 Mhz are used as repeater inputs with the repeater outputs located 1.6 Mhz above them at 223.880 to 224.980 Mhz. These frequencies pairs are spaced 20 Khz apart starting with 222.260 Mhz.

B) Shared non-protected 222 Mhz repeater pair

The repeater pair of 222.640/224.240 Mhz is coordinated as a Shared Non-Protected repeater pair for repeaters in this band in Minnesota. This pair must be frequency coordinated and will be assigned on a shared basis without respect to geographical separation from other

repeater stations in Minnesota using the same frequency pair.

All stations using this pair must use CTCSS, digital CTCSS or DTMF access. The tone to be used to protect the input of the repeater must be given to the Repeater Frequency Coordinator. In the event a noncontinuous code, e. g. DTMF tone(s), is used to initiate access, the system must provide:

1. Automatic return to controlled access if no signal is

present on the input frequency for 60 seconds (maximum).

2. Automatic means to prevent unintended activation by

users by other systems using DTMF for autopatch activation

and use. Anti-PL would be one possible method.

XII. Frequency assignments: 420.00 - 450.00 Mhz

A) Auxiliary link and control frequencies

Frequencies between 420.00 and 421.00 Mhz maybe used for auxiliary links and control links where allowed for in the State of Minnesota. 25 Khz spacing will be used starting at 420.025 Mhz. The use of CTCSS and directional antennas is recommended. Coordination must be done to

eliminate any possible interfere between auxiliary and control links and a Fast Scan ATV repeater output on 421.250 Mhz.

NOTE: Line "A", which outlines an area located along the Canada border

of the US, runs through Duluth, MN. By FCC rules Amateur Radio opera-

tion between 420 Mhz and 430 Mhz is not allowed north of line "A".

Frequencies between 433.000 and 435.000 Mhz are also reserved for auxiliary and repeater links. 25 Khz spacing will be used starting at 433.025 Mhz. The use of CTCSS and directional antennas is recommended. Frequencies from 445.000 to 446.975 Mhz are reserved for control links, auxiliary links and various types of simplex operation. 12.5 Khz channel spacing will be used starting at 445.00 Mhz. The use of CTCSS and directional antennas is recommended for all control and auxiliary links.

The frequency 446.00 Mhz is to be used for simplex communications only.

B) Standard repeater frequencies

Frequencies between 442.000 and 444.975 Mhz are reserved for re

outputs with inputs located 5 Mhz above the output. 12.5 Khz spacing

will be used starting at 442.000 Mhz.

Frequencies between 447.000 and 449.975 Mhz are reserved for repeater

inputs with outputs located 5 Mhz below the input.

C) Fast Scan TV repeater

One Amateur radio Fast Scan TV repeater can be frequency coordinated on the 440 Mhz band with an input on 439.25 Mhz and an output on 421.25 Mhz. Due to the wide band nature of ATV signals, (ATV channels are normally 6 Mhz wide) FM voice repeaters that share this frequency range must be carefully coordinated to eliminate possible interference to ATV activities.

Due to possible interference to a coordinated ATV repeater presently operating in the Twin Cities metro area on the 440 Mhz band the repeater system output frequencies between 444.000 and 444.975 Mhz will all be assigned before the frequency pairs between 442.000 and 444.00 will

be assigned. This guideline will be used on all frequency assignments in the 440 Mhz band within 30 miles of the Twin Cities metro area.

D) Shared Non-Protected 440 Mhz repeater pairs

The following are coordinated for Shared Non-Protected repeaters in Minnesota: 449.725/444.725, 449.325/444.325, 448.700/443.700, 448.000,443.000, 447.700.442.700 Mhz. Repeaters operating on these pairs must be frequency coordinated and operate on a shared basis without respect to geographical separation from other repeater stations in Minnesota using the same frequency pairs. A separation distance of 120 miles between repeater stations must be maintained along our state's borders as the adjacent states do not necessarily have similar assignments.

All repeater stations using these frequency pairs must use CTCSS,

digital CTCSS or DTMF access. The choice of tone used must be given to

the Repeater Frequency Coordinator. In the event a noncontinuous code,

e. g. DTMF tone(s), is used to initiate access, the system must pro-

vide:

1. Automatic return to controlled access if no signal is

present on the input frequency for 60 seconds (maximum).

2. Automatic means to prevent unintended activation by

users by other systems using DTMF for autopatch activation

and use. Anti-PL would be one possible method.

XIII. Repeater Frequency assignments: 907.00 - 922.00 Mhz

The frequencies between 907.00 & 910.00 Mhz are coordinated as repeater input frequencies with the outputs 12 Mhz above them on 919.00 to 922.00 Mhz. These frequency pairs are spaced 25 Khz apart starting with 907.00 Mhz.

XIV. Repeater Frequency assignments: Protection by Geographical Spacing

A) 29 & 50 Mhz repeaters

All 29 & 50 Mhz repeaters are protected by a separation distance of 150 miles.

B) 2 meter repeaters

Effective April 14, 1984, all new 2 meter repeater assignments will be provided a separation distance of at least 120 miles from the nearest coordinated repeater on the same channel. The exception is the shared non-protected pair of 144.63/145.23 Mhz.

All 2 meter repeaters coordinated on the 15 Khz split frequencies must maintain at least 50 mile separation from any existing repeater that is currently operating on either adjacent frequency pair. This rule can be waived if written permission from those adjacent repeaters can be obtained and presented to the MRC Repeater Frequency Coordinator at the time that the request for assignment of a 15 Khz split frequency is made.

C) 222 Mhz repeaters

All 222 Mhz repeaters are protected by a separation distance of 120 miles. The exception is the shared non-protected pair.

D) 440 Mhz repeaters

All 440 Mhz repeaters are protected by at least a separation distance of 60 miles. Selected 440 Mhz repeaters will have 120 mile protection separation distance. The exceptions are the shared non-protected frequency pairs where no protection from another repeater located on the same frequency pair is given. A 120 mile separation distance between repeater stations must be allowed along the borders of adjacent states to the State of Minnesota.

Each 440 Mhz repeater is identified by the Repeater Frequency Coordinator as to its type. The types of repeaters that are assigned each of these protection distances is as follows:

1) (CLASS A) Wide area coverage repeater

2) (CLASS B) Defined community coverage repeater.