Table of Contents Page Who is Industry Canada? ............................. 1 How do I contact Industry Canada? ...................... 1 Do I need a radio licence? ............................ 1 How do I apply for a radio licence? ...................... 2 How do licence fees work? ............................ 2 How long will it take to get a frequency? .................. 3 What if I need a two-way radio right away? ................ 3 Can I have a private frequency? ........................ 3 Can I have 2 frequencies in my base station? .............. 4 How many people can I have on my frequency? ............ 4 What is Tone-Coded Squelch? ......................... 5 Should I use a callsign? .............................. 6 Can I get a frequency that I can use anywhere? ............ 7 Is there more than one type of FM two-way radio? .......... 7 What is the best type of radio? ......................... 8 What if I buy used radios instead of new radios? ........... 9 What kind of coverage can I get with FM two-way Prairie and Northern Region radios? ......................................... 9 What is SKIP? ..................................... 10 Is there a limit on antenna height? ..................... 10 Can I have a repeater station? ........................ 11 Who is Industry Canada? Can I have more than one Base Station? ................ 12 Industry Canada (formerly known as the Department of Can I install my own two-way radios? ................... 12 Communications, or DOC) is the federal government Do I need more power to get more coverage? ............ 14 department that is responsible for planning and managing all frequencies in the radio spectrum and all My radios don’t work as well as they did on a aspects of radio systems, including equipment and temporary frequency? ............................ 15 towers. Do I need to tell Industry Canada if I’m adding radios? ...... 15 For two-way radio systems, the department selects operating frequencies, issues radio station licences (for Can I have the Weather channel in my two-way radios? ..... 15 the radio apparatus) and works at maintaining an Can I use my radios when travelling on vacation? .......... 16 interference free environment for all radio systems. How can I tell which licence is for which radio? ............ 16 How do I contact Industry Canada? Do handheld radios require their own licence? ............ 16 See the Annex for Prairie and Northern Region contact What kind of coverage can I get with handheld information, or check our Internet Website at radios? ........................................ 17 http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf 00000e.html. Can I use marine radio on the farm? .................... 17 What is Family Radio Service (FRS)? ................... 17 Alternatively, you can call 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or check http://www.canada.gc.ca for a GLOSSARY ....................................... 19 referral to the nearest Industry Canada office. ANNEX .......................................... 21 Do I need a radio licence? About the authors ..........................Back Cover In Canada, radio licences are required for all frequency assignments. Industry Canada selects frequencies and issues licences for two-way radios, either to you or your radio supplier. Licences assist in the effective management of the 1 frequency spectrum, ensuring access to interference free How long will it take to get a frequency? spectrum for all of our clients. Without effective management, the spectrum would become chaotic. For Normally, a frequency and authority to operate is issued this reason, we have legislation to enforce the licensing within FOUR weeks of receiving your properly completed requirements. application. However, if you’re within 120 Kms (75 miles) of the USA border, the frequency selected for your radio Some radios are exempt from licensing but they system must be co-ordinated with USA authorities. It may generally have a very short range (children’s toys or take up to SIX weeks to receive a response from USA cordless telephones). If you are unsure whether you agencies. need a licence, call the nearest Industry Canada office (see Annex). What if I need a two-way radio right away? How do I apply for a radio licence? Once you have submitted the necessary applications and licence fees, you can operate on a temporary You have 2 options: frequency immediately. When a permanent frequency is - Contact your local Industry Canada office (see Annex assigned, you are required to change to that frequency for contact information). as soon as possible (generally within eight weeks). For - go on-line to Spectrum Management’s on-line services farm operations, we understand that changing your website at http://spectrumdirect.ic.gc.ca/ frequency during seeding or harvest may not be practical. How do licence fees work? Can I have a private frequency? Fees for new licences are pro-rated from April 1 and expire March 31 and are payable once you receive the All frequencies are subject to sharing with existing radio licence invoice. Invoices to renew existing licences licenced clients based on spectrum availability. If you are sent out in February and payment is expected before wish to reduce the possibility of initially having to share a the licence expires. frequency, try purchasing radios in lesser used frequency bands such as low-VHF 30-50 MHZ. (UHF Please contact an Industry Canada office for detailed 406-470 MHZ is also available) If you use the VHF 150- licence costs (see section ‘How do I contact Industry 174 MHZ band, there is a very good chance, either Canada’ on page 1). initially or in the future, that you will have to share a frequency. 2 3 When you apply for a frequency, you will be notified if example, two farm service centres would not be placed your frequency will be shared with another user. This on the same frequency. However, farmers may be placed user will usually be within 16 Kms (10 miles) of your on the same frequency as other farmers. base station. When frequencies are shared, base stations are licenced Tone-coded squelch can make this sharing arrangement within 16 Kms (10 miles) of each other. Any further than easier. (See section ‘What is Tone-Coded Squelch’ on this and one base station can unknowingly interfere with page 5). the second base station’s distant mobiles because the first base station is not within hearing range. Can I have 2 frequencies in my base station? Besides sharing a frequency in your local area (16 Kms or 10 miles), frequencies are reused approximately every Generally NOT, because frequencies are scarce and 120 Kms (75 miles). You would not normally hear sharing frequencies is common. It wouldn’t make sense someone at this distance. However, see the section to make some people share a frequency and yet give “What is skip” (page 10) for some exceptions. others two frequencies (their own and a neighbour’s). We suggest that if you need to communicate with your neighbour that you share the same frequency. Tone- What is Tone-Coded Squelch? coded squelch can make this sharing arrangement easier. (See the section ‘What is Tone-Coded Squelch’ This radio option screens incoming calls to your radio. If on page 5). your radio recognizes the tone you use, then you will hear the conversation. Otherwise, you won’t hear a sharing There are limited special circumstances when we will partner and most interference. authorize more than one frequency in a mobile. Please contact our offices for details. There are two types of tone-coded squelches: analog and digital. Analog tone provides basic protection but can allow some interference to be heard immediately after you have How many people can I have on my frequency? stopped transmitting. Digital tone provides superior protection as it also sends a “turn off signal” to receivers There are no restrictions on numbers of users per when you stop transmitting. frequency. However, when Industry Canada shares radio users, it is done with fairness and common sense in Some people ask, if I can’t hear the person I share a mind. Every attempt is made to ensure that direct frequency with, will I cut off their conversations? business competitors are not on the same frequency. For 4 5 Not if the radios are used correctly. All radios capable of tone-coded squelch either have a busy light, a monitor Most people can unknowingly cause interference to many button or can tell if the microphone is off its cradle (hook). users on frequencies other than their own. Using a callsign These are used to check that no one is using the channel. If assists Industry Canada in resolving interference. the channel is busy, the busy light will come on or you will hear an ongoing conversation if you press the monitor An example of using a base station callsign like XYZ123 : button or when you take the microphone off its cradle (hook). Calling from a base station: “Truck One this is XYZ123" REMEMBER: If you share a frequency make sure the Calling from a mobile: “XYZ123 this is Truck One” channel is free and clear before making your call. Can I get a frequency that I can use anywhere? HINT: You may want to have a multichannel programable Industry Canada has allocated special frequencies that can radio and have your single frequency programmed be used over a wide area. However, base stations are not in all the channels with a different tone-coded allowed on these wide area frequencies. squelch in each one. By changing the channel, you really only change the tone-coded squelch. This NOTE: If you apply for a frequency without a base station way, a couple of people can talk to each other on you may be given a wide area mobile-only one tone and a base station doesn’t have to listen frequency. to them by being on a different tone. For example, if two people were combining until 4:00 A.M., they could use the radios without waking up anyone at a Is there more than one type of FM two-way radio? base station.