Emission Types

An emission designator

An emission designator utilizes a seven-character “word” to represent the bandwidth, modulation, nature of signal, and type of information transmitted by a particular radio. The emission designator is required in most FCC radio applications.

An emission designator consists of seven characters as follows: · The first four characters identify the necessary bandwidth required to transmit the desired information at the rate and with the quality required for the system employed; · The fifth character identifies the type of modulation of the main carrier; · The sixth character identifies the nature of signal(s) modulating the main carrier; · The seventh character identifies the type of information to be transmitted.

Necessary Bandwidth

Necessary Bandwidth – First Four Characters The necessary bandwidth is to be expressed using three numerals and one letter. The letter occupies the position of the decimal point and represents the unit of bandwidth. The first character can be neither zero, K, M, nor G; it must be a non-zero digit or H. The necessary bandwidths must be rounded to three significant digits. The rounded value of the necessary bandwidth must follow the syntax below: · between 0.00100 and 999 Hz shall be expressed in Hz (letter H); · between 1.00 and 999 kHz shall be expressed in kHz (letter K); · between 1.00 and 999 MHz shall be expressed in MHz (letter M); · between 1.00 and 999 GHz shall be expressed in GHz (letter G).

Examples:

Frequency	Bandwidth Designator
0.002 Hz	H002
0.1 Hz	H100
25.3 Hz	25H3
400 Hz	400H
2.4 kHz	2K40
6 kHz	6K00
12.5 kHz	12K5
180.4 kHz	180K
180.5 kHz	181K
180.7 kHz	181K
1.25 MHz	1M25
2 MHz	2M00
10 MHz	10M0
202 MHz	202M
5.65 GHz	5G65

Modulation Types (5th Character)

Description	Symbol
Emission of an unmodulated carrier	N
Emission in which the main carrier is amplitude-modulated (including cases where sub-carriers are angle-modulated):
Double-sideband	A
Single-sideband, full carrier	H
Single-sideband, reduced or variable level carrier	R
Single-sideband, suppressed carrier	J
Independent sidebands	B
Vestigial sideband	C
Emission in which the main carrier is angle-modulated:
Frequency modulation	F
Phase modulation	G
Emission in which the main carrier is amplitude and angle-modulated either simultaneously or in a pre-established sequence	D
Emission of pulses: (see note below)
Sequence of unmodulated pulses	P
A sequence of pulses:
Modulated in amplitude	K
Modulated in width/duration	L
Modulated in position/phase	M
In which the carrier is angle-modulated during the period of the pulse	Q
Which is a combination of the foregoing or is produced by other means	V
Cases not covered above, in which an emission consists of the main carrier modulated, either simultaneously or in pre-established sequence, in a combination of two or more of the following modes: amplitude, angle, pulse	W
Cases not otherwise covered	X

NOTE: Whenever frequency modulation "F" is indicated, Phase modulation "G" is also acceptable. Emissions where the main carrier is directly modulated by a signal which has been coded into quantized form (e.g. pulse code modulation) should be designated under amplitude modulation or angle modulation.

Nature of Signal(s) Modulating the Main Carrier – Sixth Character

Description	Symbol
No modulating signal	0
A single channel containing quantized or digital information without the use of a modulating sub-carrier, excluding time-division multiplex	1
A single channel containing quantized or digital information with the use of a modulating sub-carrier, excluding time-division multiplex	2
A single channel containing analog information	3
Two or more channels containing quantized or digital information	7
Two or more channels containing analog information	8
Composite system with one or more channels containing quantized or digital information, together with one or more channels containing analog information	9
Cases not otherwise covered	X

Type of Information to be Transmitted – Seventh Character

Description	Symbol
No information transmitted	N
Telegraphy - for aural reception	A
Telegraphy - for automatic reception	B
Facsimile	C
Data transmission, telemetry, tele-command	D
Telephony (including sound broadcasting)	E
Television (video)	F
Combination of the above	W
Cases not otherwise covered	X

Common Emission Designations

Examples of Commonly Observed Emission Designators

60H0J2B PSK31 100HN0N Speed Radar (10525 MHz X band; 24150 MHz Ka band) 150HA1A Continuous Wave Telegraphy (manually read Morse Code) 2K80J2B HF RTTY (Radio Teletype) 2K80J2D HF PACTOR-III 2K80J3E HF Single sideband suppressed carrier voice (USB or LSB, not at the same time) 3K00H2B HF ALE MIL-STD-188-141A/FED-STD-1045 3K30F1D 6.25 kHz SCADA link (CalAmp Viper SC - 173 MHz) 4K00F1D 6.25 kHz data NXDN (Narrow IDAS, NEXEDGE) 4K00F1E 6.25 kHz voice NXDN (Narrow IDAS, NEXEDGE) 4K00F1W 6.25 kHz voice and data NXDN (Narrow IDAS, NEXEDGE) 4K00F2D 6.25 kHz analog CW ID NXDN (Narrow IDAS, NEXEDGE) 4K00J1D Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier) 4K00J2D Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier) 4K00J3E Amplitude Compandored Sideband (pilot tone/carrier) voice 5K60F2D SCADA 5K76G1E P25 Phase I CQPSK voice (typically used for simulcast systems - this is NOT P25 Phase II) 6K00A3E Double sideband AM voice 6K00F1D SCADA Carrier Frequency Shift Keying 6K00F2D SCADA Audio Frequency Shift Keying 6K00F3D SCADA Analog data that is not AFSK (variable tone, DTMF, etc.) 7K30F1D Futurecom "MOBEXCOM" DVRS (mobile repeater) data (P25 waveform, slightly narrower occupied bandwidth) 7K30F1E Futurecom "MOBEXCOM" DVRS (mobile repeater) voice (P25 waveform, slightly narrower occupied bandwidth) 7K60FXD 2-slot DMR (Motorola MOTOTRBO) TDMA data 7K60FXE 2-slot DMR (Motorola MOTOTRBO) TDMA voice 8K10F1D P25 Phase I C4FM data 8K10F1E P25 Phase I C4FM voice (typically used for single-site systems) 8K10F1W P25 Phase II subscriber units (Harmonized Continuous Phase Modulation - H-CPM) 8K30F1D 12.5 kHz data NXDN (Wide IDAS, NEXEDGE) 8K30F1E 12.5 kHz voice NXDN (Wide IDAS, NEXEDGE) 8K30F1W P25 Phase I C4FM hybridized voice and data applications (most commonly seen on trunked licenses) 8K30F7W 12.5 kHz voice and data NXDN (Wide IDAS, NEXEDGE) 8K50F9W Harris OpenSky (2 slot narrowband) 8K70D1W P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation ASTRO (9.6 kbps in 12.5 kHz channelspace) 9K20F1D Zetron-based alphanumeric paging/alerting system (seen in practice using Daniels base stations) 9K30F1D SCADA/ EOD Robot Remote Control 9K80D7W P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA (Harmonized Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keyed modulation - H-DQPSK), per Motorola literature 9K70F1D P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation "WCQPSK" data (per Harris MASTR-V literature) 9K70F1E P25 Linear Simulcast Modulation "WCQPSK" voice (per Harris MASTR-V literature) 9K80F1D P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA H-DQPSK data, per Harris MASTR-V literature 9K80F1E P25 Phase II fixed-end 2-slot TDMA H-DQPSK voice (interpolation of MASTR-V literature) 10K0F1D LTI Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system - LT6 Radio Modem 10K0F1D Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel on narrowband channel 10K0F1D RD-LAP 9.6 kbps data on narowband channel 10K0F1D Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast data 10K0F1D Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast control channel 10K0F1E Motorola Widepulse ASTRO simulcast voice 11K2F2D Audio frequency shift keying within a 12.5 kHz channelspace (commonly used for 1.2 kbps packet, FFSK station alerting, and AFSK tornado siren signaling) 11K2F3D DTMF or other audible, non-frequency shift signaling, such as Whelen tornado sirens or "Knox-Box®" activation 11K2F3E 2.5 kHz deviation FM "narrowband 12.5 kHz" analog voice, 11.25 kHz occupied bandwidth (11K0 and 11K3 prefixes are effectively considered the same as 11K2); 30 - 50 MHz licensees DO NOT need to convert to this. 11K2F9W Formerly and incorrectly used as a catch-all narrowband emission for analog and digital use. Each appropriate emission should be listed discretely. 12K1F9W Harris OpenSky (NPSPAC - 4 slot) 13K1F9W Harris OpenSky (SMR - 4 slot) 13K6W7W Motorola iDEN (900 MHz) 14K0F1D Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel (NPSPAC) 16K0F1D Motorola 3600 baud trunked control channel 16K0F1D RD-LAP 9.6 kbps NPSPAC 16K0F2D 4 kHz deviation FM audio frequency shift keying (72 MHz fire alarm boxes) 16K0F3E 4 kHz deviation FM analog voice (NPSPAC) 16K8F1E Encrypted Quantized Voice (Motorola DVP, DES, DES-XL on NPSPAC) 17K7D7D Motorola HPD High Performance Data - "Astro 25" suite, as Motorola HAI (High performance data Air Interface) - 700/800 MHz - requires 25 kHz channelspace 20K0D1W Reduced power TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (simultaneous mixed modes) 20K0D1E Reduced power TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (voice) 20K1D1D Reduced power TETRA - PowerTrunk 4/TDMA fixed-end (data) 20K0F1D RD-LAP 19.2 kbps within a wideband channel (2013 compliant, meets data throughput requirement) 20K0F1E Encrypted Quantized Voice (Motorola DVP, DES, DES-XL - NOT P25 DES-OFB/AES) 20K0F3E 5 kHz deviation FM "wideband 25 kHz" analog voice – Continues to be authorized for 30 - 50 MHz systems after 1 Jan 2013 20K0G7W Motorola iDEN (800 MHz) 20K0W7W Motorola iDEN (800 MHz) 21K0D1W TETRA ETS 300 392 Standard 30K0DXW TDMA Cellular (North America) 40K0F8W AMPS Cellular 200KF8E Broadcast FM with Subsidiary Communications Subcarrier (SCS) 300KGXW GSM Cellular 300KG7W EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) 1M25F9W CDMA Cellular 2M40W7D Remote Control Video (digital, non-NTSC) 5M00G7D Public Safety LTE (all four emissions used) 5M00W7W Public Safety LTE (all four emissions used) 5M00G2D Public Safety LTE (all four emissions used) 5M00D7D Public Safety LTE (all four emissions used) 6M00C7W ATSC Video (Digital TV) 5M75C3F NTSC Video, also with 250K0F3E aural carrier

Converting Between Old & New Systems

USE	OLD	NEW
Pure carrier	A0,F0	N0N
Morse telegraphy (by ear)	A1	A1A
Modulated CW Morse	A2	A2A
AM voice	A3	A3E
SSB, suppressed carrier	A3J	J3E
SSB, reduced carrier	A3R	R3E
SSB, full carrier	A3H	H3E
Television	A5	C3F
RTTY (F.S.K.)	F1	F1B
RTTY (A.F.S.K.)	F2	F2B
FM voice (Narrowband)	F3	F3E, 20K0F3E
Packet Data/Teleprinters with Audio Sub-Carrier	20F2	20K0F2B
Data with Audio Sub-carrier	3F2	3K00F2D
	6F2	6K00F2D
	20F2	20K0F2D
Analog Voice	20F3	20K0F3E
Digital Voice	20F3Y	20K0F1E
Digital Facsimile without Audio Sub-Carrier	20F4	20K0F1C
Digital Facsimile with Audio Sub-Carrier	20F4	20K0F2C
Analog Facsimile	20F4	20K0F3C
Composite of Digital & Analog Information	3F9	3K00F9W
	6F9	6K00F9W
	20F9	20K0F9W
Packet Data/Teleprinters without Audio Sub-Carrier	20F9Y	20K0F1B
Digital Data	20F9Y	20K0F1D