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 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 – 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 SMR800 System

• Systems Specifications– SMR800 Single Band limited

• Repeaters• Antenna

– Open Band components limits• 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– 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

• 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

• Selected systems technology• Selected systems band • Selected system longevity• Selected systems shortfalls

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