Category Archives: Radio

Loading
loading...

Radio 300

“The wireless age has brought us closer together,

yet we must work to ensure that it does not divide us.”

— Guglielmo Marconi

“Mathematical Theory of Electrodynamic Phenomena, Uniquely Deduced from Experience.” 1820 André-Marie Ampère

 

When the electric grid and the internet are down and there is no cell service, radio can still work to help communities stabilize.   Starting 2024 we will break down our coverage of the radio frequency technology standards used in educational settlements into into two categories:

Radio 300: Security and maintenance radio.  These usually use a single radio channel and operate in a half-duplex mode: only one user on the channel can transmit at a time, so users in a user group must take turns talking. The radio is normally in receive mode so the user can hear all other transmissions on the channel. When the user wants to talk he presses a “push-to-talk” button, which turns off the receiver and turns on the transmitter; when he releases the button the receiver is activated again. Multiple channels are provided so separate user groups can communicate in the same area without interfering with each other.

Note that a core title in this domain — NFPA 1802 Standard on Two-Way, Portable RF Voice Communications Devices for Use by Emergency Services Personnel in the Hazard Zone — is part of an NFPA catalog reorganization.  Best practice content will be rolled into NFPA 1300 Standard on Fire and Emergency Service Use of Thermal Imagers, Two-Way Portable RF Voice Communication Devices, Ground Ladders, and Fire Hose, and Fire Hose Appliances.  

As of this posting APCO International has no public consultations on any titles in its public safety radio standards catalog.  (Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Standards Catalog)

Shawnee Mission West High School

The IT Law Wiki: Spectrum Allocation

Radio 400: Student radio.  College radio stations are typically considered to be public radio radio stations in the way that they are funded by donation and grants.  The term “Public radio” generally refers to classical music, jazz, and news. A more accurate term is community radio, as most staff are volunteers, although many radio stations limit staff to current or recent students instead of anyone from the local community.  There has been a fair amount of drama over student-run radio station history; a topic we steer away from.

The Low Power FM radio service was created by the Commission in January 2000.  LPFM stations are authorized for noncommercial educational broadcasting only (no commercial operation) and operate with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 100 watts (0.1 kilowatts) or less, with maximum facilities of 100 watts ERP at 30 meters (100 feet) antenna height above average terrain.  The approximate service range of a 100 watt LPFM station is 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles radius).  LPFM stations are not protected from interference that may be received from other classes of FM stations.

We follow — but do not respond — to consultations on titles covering the use of radio frequencies for the Internet of Things.  At the moment, most of that evolution happens at the consumer product level; though it is wise to contemplate the use of the electromagnetic spectrum during widespread and extended loss of broadband services.

Maxwell equations: Four lines that provide a complete description of light, electricity and magnetism

We do not include policy specifics regarding the migration of National Public Radio beyond cultural content into political news; though we acknowledge that the growth of publicly financed radio domiciled in education communities is a consideration in the technology of content preparation informed by the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

Sacred Heart University / Campus Public Safety & National Public Radio Studios / SGA Architects

We drill into technical specifics of the following:

  • Radios used for campus public safety and campus maintenance
  • Student-run campus radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as Low Power FM (LPFM)
  • Facilities for regional broadcast of National Public Radio operating from education communities
  • Off-campus transmission facilities such as broadcast towers.
  • Grounding, bonding, lightning protection of transmission and receiving equipment on buildings
  • Broadcast studio electrotechnologies

Radio technology is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission with no ANSI-accredited standards setting organizations involved in leading practice discovery and promulgation.  Again, we do not cover creative and content issues.  Join us today at 11 AM/ET using the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.


More

List of campus radio stations

International Telecommunications Union: News Magazine No.1 2022

International Electrotechnical Commission TC 103: Transmitting and receiving equipment for radiocommunications

International Special Committee on Radio Interference

NFPA 1802: Standard on Two-Way, Portable RF Voice Communications Devices for Use by Emergency Services Personnel in the Hazard Zone

Campus Safety Radio JVCKENWOOD CAMPUS SAFETY 5 TIPS TO LOWER COSTS

Discussion: College Town Drive Time Radio OR “A Half Truth is a Full Lie”

Radio Transmission Power & Frequency Allocation

Global Positioning System: A Generation of Service to the World

Global Positioning System: A Generation of Service to the World

Citizens of the Earth depend upon United States leadership in this technology for several reasons:

Development: The GPS was originally developed by the US Department of Defense for military purposes, but it was later made available for civilian use. The US has invested heavily in the development and maintenance of the system, which has contributed to its leadership in this area.

Coverage: The GPS provides global coverage, with 24 satellites orbiting the earth and transmitting signals that can be received by GPS receivers anywhere in the world. This level of coverage is unmatched by any other global navigation system.

Accuracy: The US has worked to continually improve the accuracy of the GPS, with current accuracy levels estimated at around 10 meters for civilian users and even higher accuracy for military users.

Innovation: The US has continued to innovate and expand the capabilities of the GPS over time, with newer versions of the system including features such as higher accuracy, improved anti-jamming capabilities, and the ability to operate in more challenging environments such as indoors or in urban canyons.

Collaboration: The US has collaborated with other countries to expand the reach and capabilities of the GPS, such as through the development of compatible navigation systems like the European Union’s Galileo system and Japan’s QZSS system.

United States leadership in the GPS has been driven by a combination of investment, innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to improving the accuracy and capabilities of the system over time.

Timing Applications: GPS.GOV

Suggested Functional Specifications for a GPS-Synchronized Clock System using Network Time Protocol and Power over Ethernet

Construction Specifications for Exterior Clocks

Seamless positioning system using GPS and beacons for community service robot

Global Positioning System: Monitoring the Fuel Consumption in Transport Distribution

Fire Alarm & Signaling Code

“Prometheus Bound” | Thomas Cole (1847)

NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code is one of the core National Fire Protection Association titles widely incorporated by reference into public safety legislation.   NFPA 72 competes with titles of “similar” scope — International Fire Code — developed by the International Code Council.  We place air quotes around the word similar because there are gaps and overlaps depending upon whether or not each is adopted partially or whole cloth by the tens of thousands of jurisdictions that need both.

Our contact with NFPA 72 dates back to the early 2000’s when the original University of Michigan advocacy enterprise began challenging the prescriptive requirements for inspection, testing and maintenance (IT&M) in Chapter 14.  There are hundreds of fire alarm shops, and thousands of licensed fire alarm technicians in the education facility industry and the managers of this cadre of experts needed leadership in supporting their lower #TotalCostofOwnership agenda with “code-writing and vote-getting”.   There was no education industry trade association that was even interested, much less effective, in this space so we had to do “code writing and vote getting” ourselves (See ABOUT).

Code writing and vote getting means that you gather data, develop relationships with like minded user-interests, find agreement where you can, then write proposals and defend them at NFPA 72 technical committee meetings for 3 to 6 years.  Prevailing in the Sturm und Drang of code development for 3 to 6 years should be within the means of business units of colleges and universities that have been in existence for 100’s of years.  The real assets under the stewardship of these business units are among the most valuable real assets on earth.

Consider the standard of care for inspection, testing and maintenance.  Our cross-cutting experience in over 100 standards suites allows us to say with some authority that, at best the IT&M tables of NFPA 72 Chapter 14 present easily enforceable criteria for IT&M of fire alarm and signaling systems.  At worst, Chapter 14 is a solid example of market-making by incumbent interests as the US standards system allows.   Many of the IT&M requirements can be modified for a reliability, or risk-informed centered maintenance program but fire and security shops in the education industry are afraid to apply performance standards because of risk exposure.   This condition is made more difficult in large universities that have their own maintenance and enforcement staff.  The technicians see opportunities to reduce IT&M frequencies — thereby saving costs for the academic unit facility managers — the enforcement/compliance/conformity/risk management professionals prohibit the application of performance standards.  They want prescriptive standards for bright line criteria to make their work easier to measure.

While we have historically focused on Chapter 14 we have since expanded our interest into communication technologies within buildings since technicians and public safety personnel depend upon them.  Content in Annex G — Guidelines for Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings and Campuses — is a solid starting point and reflects of our presence when the guidance first appeared in the 2016 Edition.  We shall start with a review of the most recent transcript of the NFPA Technical Committee on Testing and Maintenance of Fire Alarm and Signaling Systems

NFPA 72 First Draft Meeting (A2024)

Public Emergency Reporting Systems (SIG-PRS) First Draft

Public comment of the First Draft of the 2025 Edition is receivable until May 31, 2023.   As always, we encourage direct participation in the NFPA process by workpoint experts with experience, data and even strong opinions about shortcomings and waste in this discipline.  You may key in your proposals on the NFPA public input facility linked below:

https://www.nfpa.org/login

You will need to set up a (free) NFPA TerraView account.   Alternatively, you may join us any day at 11 AM US Eastern time or during our Prometheus or Radio colloquia.   See our CALENDAR for the online meeting.

Issue: [15-213]

Category: Fire Safety & Security, #SmartCampus, Informatics

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Joe DeRosier, Josh Elvove, Jim Harvey, Marcelo Hirschler


More

2013 NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (357 pages)

TIA-222 Standard For Towers And Antenna Supporting Structures

 

Emergency Communication Strategies for Buildings

 

ARCHIVE / NFPA 72

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security

 

LIVE: KRUA 88.1 FM

Standards Michigan: Radio

University of Alaska Anchorage Facilities and Campus Services

Federal Communications Commission: Low Power FM Radio

Radio Transmission Power & Frequency Allocation

Why are there at least 10 publicly funded radio stations receivable in a 75 mile radius (back and forth, up and down) the I-94/I-75 corridor of Michigan — all of them domiciled in public universities?  These stations also receive revenue from other non-profit organizations, unending funding drives and private advertising from multinational financing organizations such as Schwab, Fidelity and other for-profit corporations.   Most of them purchase their “content” from the same source; reflecting the same large government bias seen across the entire nation; concentrated in college towns with spotty intellectual history.

Within an approximate 50 mile radius of the University of Michigan, five national public radio stations are receivable:

WUOM University of Michigan Ann Arbor

WEMU Eastern Michigan University

WDET Wayne State University

WKAR Michigan State University

WGTE University of Toledo

Move 25 miles to the northwest and two more are receivable:

WVGR Michigan Public Radio

WLNZ Landing Community College

Move 25 miles northeast and three more are receivable

WFUM University of Michigan Flint

WMUK Western Michigan University

WAUS Andrews University

FCC ONLINE TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS: 47 C.F.R. § 2.106
(Revised July 1, 2022)

Standards for radio broadcast coverage can vary depending on factors like location, broadcasting technology, and regulatory requirements. Here’s a general list covering various aspects:

  1. Technical Standards:
    • Transmission Power and Frequency Allocation: Standards set by regulatory bodies like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States or Ofcom in the UK regulate the power levels and frequencies allocated to radio stations to prevent interference.
    • Audio Quality: Standards for audio encoding and decoding, such as those defined by organizations like the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) or the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) standards.
    • Antenna Design and Installation: Standards for antenna design, placement, and maintenance to ensure efficient transmission and coverage.
  2. Content Standards:
    • Language and Content Regulations: Regulations on language, decency, and content suitability enforced by regulatory bodies to ensure broadcasts adhere to community standards and do not contain offensive or harmful material.
    • Advertising Standards: Guidelines on the content and placement of advertisements to prevent deceptive practices and ensure fairness and transparency.
    • Copyright and Licensing: Regulations governing the use of copyrighted material and licensing agreements for broadcasting music, interviews, and other content.
  3. Emergency Broadcast Standards:
    • Emergency Alert Systems (EAS): Standards for implementing emergency alert systems to disseminate important information to the public during emergencies or disasters.
    • Public Safety Communications: Standards for communication protocols and procedures to coordinate with emergency services and agencies during crises.
  4. Accessibility Standards:
    • Closed Captioning: Standards for providing closed captioning for the hearing impaired, ensuring accessibility to radio broadcasts.
    • Descriptive Video Service (DVS): Standards for providing audio descriptions of visual content for the visually impaired.
  5. Ethical Standards:
    • Journalistic Integrity: Guidelines for ethical reporting and journalism standards, including accuracy, fairness, and impartiality.
    • Disclosure of Sponsored Content: Standards for disclosing sponsored or paid content to maintain transparency and trust with the audience.
    • Conflict of Interest Policies: Standards for identifying and managing conflicts of interest in news reporting and programming.
  6. Health and Safety Standards:
    • Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure Limits: Standards set by health organizations and regulatory bodies to limit human exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by radio transmitters.
    • Workplace Safety: Standards for ensuring the safety of radio station personnel and compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.

These standards are often enforced by governmental regulatory agencies, industry organizations, and professional associations to ensure the quality, integrity, and safety of radio broadcast coverage.


National Public Radio is the soundtrack of American academia and American academia has always been partial to large government:

“It was always the woman, and above all the young ones who where the most bigoted adherents to the party” — (George Orwell, ‘1984’)

Radio 300

Radio 400

Leās on ānum, leās on eallum

This content is accessible to paid subscribers. To view it please enter your password below or send mike@standardsmichigan.com a request for subscription details.

Layout mode
Predefined Skins
Custom Colors
Choose your skin color
Patterns Background
Images Background
error: Content is protected !!
Skip to content