NCAR & Nextel
Presented by
Del Harris
Bryan Anderson
Covered Today
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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 800MHz 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 800Mhz 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 G1.
• 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
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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
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Acquired few basic system components.
Evaluated components
Acquire & Install Phase 1 products
Acquire & Install Phase 2 products
Expand coverage areas
New Nextel SMR800 System
• Systems Specifications
– SMR800 Single Band limited
• Repeaters
• Antenna
– Open Band components limits
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Combiner/dividers .8-2.3GHz
Directional Couplers .8-2.3GHz
Lightning Protector .7-2.7GHz
Cabling .03-5.8GHz
Nextel Network Testing
• Spectrum Analyzer
• iDEN internal handset diagnostic mode.
– Diagnostic Access code i836 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 SMR800.dwg
Additional Nextel Building Site
Installations
• Design: Pseudo Complete
– ML
– FL4
– FL3
• Design: Inherited Partial Installs
– CG1
– FL2
Future Nextel Site Installations
• Pending sites
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FL0
FL1
CG2
CG3
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 SMR900 Solution 1
• ML Nextel SMR900&900 Option 1.dwg
Nextel SMR900 Solution 2
• ML Nextel SMR800&900 Option 2.dwg
NCAR Cellular Solutions
• Correct Nextel Issues
• 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 SMR800 system partially
accommodates Public Safety.
– Future may include 700MHz.
FCC & Cellular Vendor Concerns
over in Building Repeaters
• FCC
– Interference
• Vendor
– Interference
– Experienced personnel
– Maintained
American Signal Multiplexing
Methods
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TDMA is TDM based
GSM is TDM based
iDEN 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
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Selected systems technology
Selected systems band
Selected system longevity
Selected systems shortfalls
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