C Band Dish Registration

[radio]

This is like paying the mob for protection. The national area quiet zone is looking good right now. Or a deserted island.

Not a far-off perception, Considering the FCC controls the licensing of the applications for people who would interfere.

There is global CONCERN because this band is used for navigation and other purposes beyond radio and television communications.

The benefit of registration is that, according to FCC rules, registered dishes receive protection from interference caused by other services operating in the C-band. This may come in useful if the FCC ultimately decides to let cell phone and internet service providers share the C-band frequencies. In such a case, the FCC would be obligated to ensure current C-band users can continue to use their dishes without fear of interference.

There may be a perceived OBLIGATION, but read the procedure and the application process carefully. There is no guarantee of the FCC doing anything for the particular C-band user, be they commercial or hobbyist...it is worded vaguely enough that an EFFORT might be made, but there are no guarantees of mitigating individual issues by having a registration on file at all. I'm a broadcaster and have decided not to pay this "protection money" to the FCC. The application is a nightmare and, while we very much love our contract engineering firm and have trusted their guidance since buying our station 14 years ago, I told them we would not be filing for any of our (3) stations in this matter. I have no faith in this procedure whatsoever. The FCC has done wonders with broadcast radio on the AM band of late, but when it comes to big business wanting bandwidth, let's all face it....we have a right to be doubtful of the outcome in favor of broadcasters or hobbyists.

Finger crossing is not beyond the realm of things to do as this vote gets closer.

 

[mr3p]

Out of curiosity is it reasonable to assume that hypothetical interference from a wireless provider using 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum would involve a large geographic area? I ask as there are multiple commercial C-band dishes within a 5 mile radius of my dish and I would think interference affecting my reception would impact theirs as well but I know little about wireless spectrum transmissions. I'd consider the registration thing just not sure if it's necessary or would provide any benefit given the multiple other dishes in my area.

 

[radio]

Yes. The signal from the terrestrial tower, if in the path/direction from multiple dishes would be a problem to more than one C-band dish. Not sure how big an area, it would most likely depend on how long the path of the terrestrial signal. The issue is the strength of the terrestrial signal vs. the very low signal level we receive in our dishes. In a way, it's much like wifi....when "renegade" signals float in from neighbors, the system has what some people call a "collision" and your receiving device doesn't know onto which to latch! The terrestrial signal would basically blank out your C-band if the frequencies are battling. I'd think that some of the time the traffic would be lower, but still sharing ANY of the commercial C-band could spell trouble for cable head-ends, hobbyists, and broadcasters.

Perhaps the best description of the possible problem goes back to early C-band subscribers....the ones that had T-I (terrestrial interference) only this would be a much more severe case of it. A simple TI filter probably would not help in the new scenario. Perhaps not the best parallel, but I think it works....

 

[Cham]

The traditional TI filter helps to clean up nearby out-of-band signals that may occur just above or below the C-band frequencies. No "traditional" TI filter will help with signals being broadcast WITHIN the C-band spectrum. These in-band signals would elevate the noise floor causing signal loss and/or decreased signal to noise ratio.
There are other ways to mitigate this sort of interference; such as a large metallic fence between the source and your dish antenna. We'll have to be creative if this goes through.

 

[radio]

Agreed on the statement above, I used TI as a parallel situation, as back in the 1980's we had customers in Jackson County MI that got T-I badly and it nearly wiped some channels. Similar example, perhaps not as good as thought.

From the people who bring us CBS....the deadline now extended....(and no, we're not paying to register. I think it's totally absurd when the FCC could "register" dishes at no charge)....Again, it's a money grab from cable companies and broadcasters under the guise of "protection."

 

[danristheman]

Radio I heard something the 5G towers would not be on the cell towers but in front of everyone's house have you heard of this?

 

[radio]

Nope. Hadn't heard that.

 

[navychop]

Fixed 5G.

Then there’s the cell 5G.

 

[comfortably_numb]

FCC’s C Band Plan Worries Broadcasters

FCC’s C Band Plan Worries Broadcasters
NAB says virtually every TV and radio household in America relies on C Band

 

[kofi123]

Here is a T-Mobile filing that explains how they would like the FCC to deal with interference to satellite dishes should the C-band frequencies get shared. They say dishes in urban areas could "simply" be moved to dish farms in remote locations away from where people live and fiber could be set up between the dish farm and the satellite users.

 

[comfortably_numb]

Here is a T-Mobile filing that explains how they would like the FCC to deal with interference to satellite dishes should the C-band frequencies get shared. They say dishes in urban areas could "simply" be moved to dish farms in remote locations away from where people live and fiber could be set up between the dish farm and the satellite users.

View attachment 133741

Sounds like a crapshoot pipedream to me.

 

[radio]

No, it just sounds like CRAP.
They live in the clouds, these executive-engineer types.
Sure! Move my dish for the radio station. See how well that works. No fiber here! Our TOWN only has it in about 5 locations, all of which are big corporate
things like our hospital and the box stores. What a pile of CRAP that explanation/excuse/ really is!
Grateful for the quote from T-More-about-us-than-you. It'll come in handy with other writings I need to do.

 

[mr3p]

I'm still considering it but leaning toward not registering as I'm skeptical it will provide any benefit. I tried to look at the http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/ however it appears you have to be logged in. Is there any way to see the registration form without having an account?

 

[kofi123]

SES put together some guides on how to fill out the form.
FCC Registration or Licensing of C-Band Antenna

 

[mr3p]

This may sound like a silly question but what is the current law regarding viewing unencrypted transmissions? I'm guessing PBS, NASA, etc are probably OK but it would be preferable to know before submitting a form to Uncle Sam.

 

[radio]

No worries, but I maintain....hobbyists should not spend the money. There IS NO guarantee paying for registration will do a thing for you. We're relying on delivery of CBS by C-band at my radio station as I've said, and I'm not paying the "ransom". It's not right and it's overpriced. If you wish to spend the bucks to register, don't be worried about Uncle Sam knowing you're doing FTA. Watching in the clear TV has no regulations. As long as you're not decrypting a paid service, you're fine, like so many more of us on this site.

 

[danristheman]

Radio got a great example of why 5g is very bad. Last night i was watching NOVA on pbs about superstorms. In purteo rico cell towers are knocked out. All these people are standing outside cell towers trying to get calls out. Hmm if we had satellite comms we can get calls out on C band. Someone needs to bring this up.

 

[danristheman]

 

[Brct203]

before they consider 5G, shouldn't they try to make 3G and 4G work properly? I have had many instances of full signal on 4G and no data throughput. It was like they connected the tower to dial-up AOL of 1999...

 

[comfortably_numb]

before they consider 5G, shouldn't they try to make 3G and 4G work properly? I have had many instances of full signal on 4G and no data throughput. It was like they connected the tower to dial-up AOL of 1999...

Not sure which carrier you use; I have Verizon and I have zero issues with 3G or 4G service.