John M. Vanderau and Eldon J. Haakinson

Abstract: As a result of the Federal Communications Commission’s radio spectrum realignment initiative, land mobile radio manufacturers are being encouraged to incorporate narrowband and trunking technologies into their designs in order to efficiently utilize the radio spectrum. As new equipment designs become available in the marketplace, users must infuse these new systems into their existing land mobile radio infrastructures. The railroad industry is developing a strategy to accomplish this migration. This strategy includes defining a band plan for the efficient use of the railroad VHF spectrum. In this report, the authors evaluate the railroad industry's rechannelization strategy, offer an alternate approach, and conclude with comments regarding the efficacy of both railroad VHF band plans.

Keywords: VHF; land mobile radio (LMR); Project 25 (P25); band plan; channel plan; WCTF; railroad; spectrum realignment; TIA-102

Disclaimer: Certain commercial equipment, components, and software may be identified in this report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, nor does it imply that the equipment or software identified is necessarily the best available for the particular application or uses.

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