Creating a channel plan

We have introduced the channel plan to help you select the frequencies or frequency pairs that you intend to use on each station. For complex systems, we think you'll find that the channel plan will help you better plan your frequency needs and visualize the final system.

For complex systems, we strongly recommend that you create your Channel Plan before defining your stations. For a simple system of one or two stations, we also allow you to create your channels as you create your stations.

You may want to read more about the channel plan before proceeding.

To create a channel plan:

1. Before you begin, plan the frequencies you will require on each station. List each frequency requirement according to its intended purpose - this is your list of channels. For each channel, you should determine its purpose and frequency requirements. Make note which of your channels can use the same frequencies, and which must have unique frequencies.
2. On the Application Summary, click Create Channel. The input form for your new channel appears. For a detailed explanation of the form and each field, refer to Create/Edit Channel.
3. Enter the purpose of the channel in the Description/Purpose field.
4. Select the type of channel, which will determine the information required on the remainder of the form:
   - Tx-only: you will use this channel for transmission only
   - Rx-only: you will use this channel for reception only
   - Simplex: you will use this channel for both transmission and reception, but the channel will only use one frequency
   - Duplex: you will use this channel for both transmission and reception, and the channel will use two different frequencies for simultaneous transmission and reception
5. If your channel requires a transmission (Tx) frequency, complete the Tx frequency information. If the channel requires a reception (Rx) frequency, complete the Rx frequency information. (For simplex channels, the Rx frequency information is set automatically.) See Selecting Frequencies below for more information.
6. Click the Save button to save your channel. You are presented with a view of the information you have just entered. For duplex channels, the system automatically creates a second channel (called the prime channel) with the selected frequencies reversed.

You do not have to return to the Application Summary to create your next channel. Use the Create Channel link to create your next channel. After you have created all your channels, you can return to the Application Summary to create your stations.

Selecting Frequencies

A channel represents the frequencies you use to transmit and receive. When you select the type of channel, you determine whether you need a Tx frequency (Tx-only), an Rx frequency (Rx-only), identical Tx and Rx frequencies (Simplex), or two different Tx and Rx frequencies (Duplex).

Each of the frequencies on your channel records the following information:

• an identifier (ID) for the frequency used
• the specific frequency to use, or the suggested range from which the frequency must be selected

If you already know the frequency you need, enter the specific frequency value. If you are not sure of which frequency to use, you should enter the lower and upper limit of the desired frequency range. (Typically, your equipment will limit which frequencies you can use, but you may have other factors to consider.) When you specify a range, a single frequency in that range (when possible) will be selected and assigned to you when you application is evaluated. Do not specify values in all three fields.

The frequency identifier (ID) is created automatically each time you enter a distinct frequency in your application, e.g., "F1", "F2", "F3", etc. The ID is used to help you create channels using the same frequencies and to indicate to Industry Canada which frequencies in your system should be identical. The ID is sequential. You cannot create your own IDs or edit the existing IDs once they have been created.

As a simple example, assume you require one Tx-only channel and one Rx-only channel for two stations. When you create your first channel, you cannot select an ID - none have been created yet. The ID "New" indicates that a new ID will be generated. When you save the channel, the ID "F1" is generated for the frequency value. When you create the second channel, select the frequency ID "F1" so that the second channel will use the same values as your first channel.

If you know the specific frequency you require, the ID has saved you from typing the value twice and possibly making an error. If you do not know the specific frequency, but specify a range, the ID ensures that the evaluating officer will select and assign the same frequency to both channels.

Exceptions

In rare cases, clients in remote areas (e.g., along logging roads in British Columbia) are allowed special exceptions to use multiple frequencies on their stations. If this applies to you, be sure to indicate in the Special Requirements on the covering letter that you are eligible for this exception. On your channels, use the Description/Purpose to indicate that you need multiple frequencies within the specified range.