NCAR Nextel Presented by Del Harris Bryan

NCAR & Nextel Presented by Del Harris Bryan Anderson

Covered Today • • History of Mobile Communication Cellular at NCAR Current Issues Future Possibilities

History of Mobile Telephone Service • 1946 Mobile Telephone Service introduced (MTS). • 1947 First concept design of cellular in by AT&T • 1958 & 1968 AT&T petitioned for frequencies in the 800 MHz and up bands. • 1964 IMTS was introduced. • 1969 AT&T built a one dimensional cell system.

History of Mobile Telephone Service (Cont) • 1970 FCC requests AT&T to build first cellular mobile vehicle prototype system for allocation bandwidth justification. • 1973 Motorola demonstrated first portable mobile phone handset. • 1982 AT&T is notified by justice department to split apart. • 1983 FCC completes spectrum allocation for cellular 800 Mhz A&B bands.

History of Mobile Telephone Service (Cont) • 1983 simultaneously AT&T and Motorola build first competing Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS) cellular systems G 1. • 1984 AT&T relinquishes Bell System’s Wireless. • 1989 Time Division Multiple access TDMA introduced. • 1995 Code Division Multiple access CDMA introduced. • 1996 Nokia introduces first handheld Phone/Computer.

Early Cellular Concept Overview

Cellular at NCAR

NETS: Cellular Transition • Early methods – Pager coverage/response issues – Bulky licensed radio’s • Cellular’s attractive features – Nation wide mobile phone access – Push to Talk (PTT) – Data features

Adopted Nextel Solution • Nextel pluses – Unique PTT feature handy – Good nationwide major Metropolitan coverage • Nextel shortfalls – Internal building coverage – Nationwide coverage inconsistent – Rural coverage – Lack of roaming

Nextel ML Building Coverage Solution • Approached Nextel directly. – Nextel did ML Site evaluation. – Nextel Solution costly. – Acquired Nextel Design Implementation • Evaluated Nextel Solution – – – Acquired few basic system components. Evaluated components Acquire & Install Phase 1 products Acquire & Install Phase 2 products Expand coverage areas

New Nextel SMR 800 System • Systems Specifications – SMR 800 Single Band limited • Repeaters • Antenna – Open Band components limits • • Combiner/dividers. 8 -2. 3 GHz Directional Couplers. 8 -2. 3 GHz Lightning Protector. 7 -2. 7 GHz Cabling. 03 -5. 8 GHz

Nextel Network Testing • Spectrum Analyzer • i. DEN internal handset diagnostic mode. – Diagnostic Access code i 836 Keys: • Press #Key, *Key, Menu Key, and Right Arrow Key sequence in less than 5 seconds. • Phone will enter “Trace Mode” Menu • Two Operational Diagnostic modes

ML System Diagram • ML Nextel SMR 800. dwg

Additional Nextel Building Site Installations • Design: Pseudo Complete – ML – FL 4 – FL 3 • Design: Inherited Partial Installs – CG 1 – FL 2

Future Nextel Site Installations • Pending sites – FL 0 – FL 1 – CG 2 – CG 3 – Jeffco – Marshall

Issues

ML Nextel Building System Issues • Ongoing – Building to system call handoffs – Difficult Coverage • Small nodes • Exterior areas • New – Nextel Frequency Re-band • Building Network wide upgrade needed – Nextel/Sprint Merger

Sprint/Nextel Merger • Sprint acquired Nextel – Two different Technologies – Two different Bands • Nextel’s future? – Frequency band

Basic Frequency Re-band Graphic

Nextel Reband Zones

Nextel Reband Timeline

Nextel Network Dependency • Life Safety • CISL – NETS – ESS – HPS • UCAR – PPS

Possible Solutions

Nextel SMR 900 Solution 1 • ML Nextel SMR 900&900 Option 1. dwg

Nextel SMR 900 Solution 2 • ML Nextel SMR 800&900 Option 2. dwg

NCAR Cellular Solutions • Correct Nextel Issues & Install Second Vendor Solution • Abandon Nextel & Install New Vendor Solution – Cellular – VOIP/Cellular

Upgrade Present System • Pro’s – Existing Nextel users not displaced – SMR 900 dead air & drop calls will be eliminated. • Con’s – Complete System replacement, minus media, costly. – Live with present system pitfalls – Nextel uncertain future

Correct Nextel Issues & Install Second Vendor Solution • Pro’s – Dual system redundancy/options – Existing Nextel users not displaced – Overcome Nextel Nationwide short falls • Con’s – Complete Nextel System overhaul minus media replacement costly – Complete Second System Installation required. – Possibility of Dual System Interference – Nextel uncertain future

Abandon Nextel & After Installation of a New Vendor Solution • Pro’s – Overcome Nextel Nationwide short falls – No further investment in present systems. • Con’s – All UCAR users will need to buy in. – New system technology and installation costs an unknown at this time.

New FCC Public Safety Building Coverage Issues • Public Safety – First Responder Communications • 200 Cities have already adopted. • Present SMR 800 system partially accommodates Public Safety. – Future may include 700 MHz.

FCC & Cellular Vendor Concerns over in Building Repeaters • FCC – Interference • Vendor – Interference – Experienced personnel – Maintained

American Signal Multiplexing Methods • • TDMA is TDM based GSM is TDM based i. DEN Nextel is TDM based CDMA by Qualcomm Technologies

Wireless Voice: The Skies the limit • Conclusion: – Knowns • We need to define what are OUR requirements are! – Voice » In Building! » Nation Wide! » Rural! » PTT? – Data?

Wireless Voice: The Skies the limit (Cont) • Conclusions: – Unknowns • • Selected systems technology Selected systems band Selected system longevity Selected systems shortfalls

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