Departments » Guilford Metro 9-1-1

BDA / ERCES Frequency Retransmission Requirements Summary

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -

Greensboro – Guilford

Radio System – FCC License Holder

Frequency Retransmission Requirements

For Full List of Requirements - click HERE

 For a blank ERRC BDA Signoff Form - click HERE

For the Contractor BDA Checklist - click HERE

Revised 2-11-2025

OVERVIEW

  • ERRCs/BDA installer is responsible for submitting all documents to the FCC License holder at the referenced email group below. NO Letter of Authorization to retransmit will be issued if the FCC License Holder has not received, reviewed, and approved initial ERRCs/BDA design. Do not proceed with the buildout until the FCC License Holder has approved.

  • Multiple ERRC/BDAs on the same campus or in close proximity will not be approved without FCC License Holder pre-plan approval. When multiple ERRCs/BDAs are planned, an expandable system is required. (Ex. Fiber DAS or expandable coaxial design allowing one system to serve multipleBDA Antenna buildings). If separate building owners cannot work together, one building may have to go without a system. Existing EERC/BDA systems in the immediate area must be considered in the design and operation of the system.

  • Class A type systems only.

  • Push Button AC/DC Cutoff Required – Shutoff must totally power down the system. No keyed shutoffs allowed.
  • BDA Uplink Squelch Optimization – With BDAs that incorporate a squelch feature, the BDA will only apply amplification when an incoming RF signal’s power is above the set threshold. This ensures minimal RF is emitting from the donor antenna, unless there is in-band radio activity within the building.

  • PCTEL uplink scans are available and results can be emailed per request of the contractor.

  • Radio shop Hours availability per BDA/ERRCs install stage are as follows:
    • Initial DAQ Testing and Radio Pickup/Drop-off:
      • Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
      • Between the hours of 12PM-1PM, Radio pickup will not be available.
    • BDA Commissioning/DAQ Testing/Radio Pickup/Drop-off
      • Monday – Friday 9 AM – 3 PM (testing must be complete by 5pm).
      • Between the hours of 12PM-1PM, Radio pickup will not be available. Also between these hours, if PCTEL uplink scan is requested, testing will not be available. This also include turning on the BDA for commissioning.

    • Final Inspections
      • Monday – Friday: 9AM – 3PM
      • BDAMust be coordinated through Fire Marshal’s office


Fees / Contact Info

Technical Services Division
Guilford Metro 9-1-1
1901 Midway Street
Greensboro, NC 27403
Email: bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov
Phone: (336) 373-2316

Effective 1/1/2025

 

BDA Inspection Fee Within Greensboro City Limits*

$ 970.00

BDA Inspection Fee Outside Greensboro City Limits*

$ 1,120.00

* Additional site visits for failed inspections will be billed at the same rate as listed above.

 


INITIAL TESTING

  • DAQ Testing is REQUIRED and must be scheduled at least 3 days prior.

  • Send W9 and billing information to bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov.

  • Loaner radios from the FCC License Holder are available and required for initial DAQ Testing and commissioning BDA test. Complete the form at this link:

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0td2FsqUFNVgzz5wMQGiggCBXk7dOjlEPGBIE2SaUAIq6Mw/viewform?usp=sf_link

  • Grid Testing / Signal Strength Testing - A minimum of 20 grid areas per floor is required when completing the grid test.

  • DAQ Testing requires two (2) personnel to complete.
    •  Grid location must be announced during DAQ Testing with a minimal transmission for ten (10) seconds. This is for recording purposes and quality assurance.
    • All transmissions must be in English.

  • Donor Signal Measurements – Rooftop measurements are required to determine the RF level of desired donor signal. These measurements aid in determining the best location for the donor antenna. If the rooftop signal is less than -95 dBm, the Bit Error Rate (BER) is more than 2.6%, and the Signal-to-noise-ratio (SINR) is less than 16.5 dB then a BDA should NOT be installed. The rooftop signal strength, rooftop BER and rooftop SINR levels have to be submitted in the design proposal.

  • Once initial testing is complete, an email will be sent with recording results. If PCTEL uplink scan was requested, results will also be emailed.

  • Email grid test results to bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov even if all grids passed.

DESIGN PROPOSAL/PRE-PLAN Requirements

  • Permit Number (Provided by Fire Marshal Office)
  • Donor Tower Location/Name
  • Donor Signal Measurements/Signal-to-Roof Test Results
  • Initial Grid Test Results
  • Initial DAQ Results
  • Push Button AC/DC Cutoff (No Keyed Shutoff)
  • BDA Layout/Antenna Location
  • Number of Antennas
  • Latitude/Longitude and Address
  • Number of Frequencies being programmed/added to BDA

  •  **If any required items are missing, a technician from the radio shop will send email in regards to missing item(s). A new drawing must be resubmitted before approval to install. **

  • Please email Design proposal/initial testing results to bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov for approval. Also please complete the following Google Form link regarding your design proposal/initial testing results:

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScT0rAi3idiI2ZbgmSDOCYYjVYYQQ7NNEssKJeJcFkkzBsnlA/viewform?usp=sharing

    •  


    BDA Commissioning

    • ** NO System is authorized to be turned on without permission from FCC License Holder. Even for the commissioning of the BDA, contact must be made to schedule a window of time to complete the test. **Testing times are scheduled Monday – Friday 9am to 3pm**

    • BDA Commissioning DAQ Test must be scheduled three (3) days prior.

    • Loaner radios from the FCC License Holder are available and required for initial DAQ Testing and commissioning BDA test. Complete the form at this link:

      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0td2FsqUFNVgzz5wMQGiggCBXk7dOjlEPGBIE2SaUAIq6Mw/viewform?usp=sf_link

    • Grid Testing / Signal  Strength Testing - A minimum of 20 grid areas per floor is required when completing the grid test.

    • DAQ Testing requires two (2) personnel to complete.
      •  Grid location must be announced during DAQ Testing with a minimal transmission for ten (10) seconds. This is for recording purposes and quality assurance.
      • All transmissions must be in English.

    • Near-Far RF test must be completed and requires two people. A near-far test will be executed during final inspection by radio shop techs as well.

    • No increase in the RF noise floor level at the donor tower site nor on-site of the ERRCs/BDA will be permitted. Donor tower site RF noise floor readings will be checked during commissioning DAQ testing, as well as, during the final inspection. On-site noise floor readings will be checked during the final inspection.

    • BDA inbound signal to donor tower site must read at -95 dBm but no greater than -65 dBm. These readings will be communicated during commissioning of BDA when BDA is turned on. Contact Radio shop at the beginning of commissioning test for results.

    • A BDA isolation test is required and must be submitted to the FCC license holder after the commissioning of the BDA and prior to the final inspection to ensure adequate separation between the indoor antennas and the donor antenna. This also verifies overall system design and ensures the indoor antenna signals do not feedback through the donor antenna resulting in oscillation within the BDA system. Isolation must be 20 dB greater than the maximum gain of the BDA. Not just the BDA’s actual gain.

    • Leakage Test – A signal leakage test must be completed during commissioning and submitted prior to scheduling of final inspection. Approximate values at 50 feet (ft.) shall not be greater than -85dB and at 100 feet (ft.) shall not be greater than -95dB. A screenshot of results can be emailed to bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov.

    • A final grid test and DAQ results must be completed during the commissioning and submitted prior to scheduling of final inspection. Results can be sent to bdasupport@greensboro-nc.gov.

    • Once commissioning of the BDA is complete, BDA must be powered down completely. Please ensure BDA is off and may not be turned back on unless you notify Radio Shop.

    • Please complete and submit the following Google Form after the commissioning of the BDA has been completed:
       
      https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeL5lK-ZCb2OFRzrWqxakqNerSlG47OqDRclhsyl1q20QWs-A/viewform?usp=sharing



    FINAL INSPECTION

    • **Letter of Authorization to retransmit must be submitted to both Radio Shop and Fire Marshals Office with signatures of system owner and installer before final inspection can be scheduled.**

    • **Attached on the last page is the Letter of Authorization to retransmit.

    • **Letter of Authorization to retransmit will not be signed by FCC License Holder until the final inspection has been completed and BDA has passed. Signature from FCC License Holder could take 3-5 business days. **

    • ** Final inspection will be scheduled by Contractor through Fire Marshal's Office. Radio Shop will then coordinate time with Fire Marshal Office only if all of our required forms, screenshots, and testing has been completed. See Contractor Checklist (pages 14-16) **