Book 13/14th May 2010!

Next RFUANZ Conference & Exhibition
We have set the date for our next RFUANZ Annual Conference & Exhibition, which will be held in Wellington on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th May 2010 at The Holiday Inn Hotel on Featherston Street.

$65 for members - includes both days plus networking dinner
$85 for non-members, day two only
$450 for an exhibition stand (members only)

CLICK here to secure your space now!

Note our new format! 
Thanks to everyone who supported this year's event, and to those who offered their positive and constructive feedback.  Having collated the many responses, we have made some slight changes to the agenda as follows:

DAY 1:  AGM and Technical Forum - members only
DAY 2:  RFUANZ Conference for members and non-members

The AGM and Technical Forum
The first day is designed to provide our members with updates from MED and other Government Agencies on the changes and proposals that will or may effect the running of your businesses.  The AGM allows members to voice their opinions and advice to the board for the following year's activities and beyond.

Day 1 is therefore a "MUST ATTEND" for anyone who depends on radio and wireless communications to operate effectively.

RFUANZ Conference & Exhibition
Day 2 will offer speeches and demonstrations by leading NZ and International experts in the Radio and Wireless Industry.  The day is designed to interest people from across the value chain - Vendors, Resellers, Customers and Radio and Broadband users.
 
RFUANZ are niche in the Radio focus, however, with technology changes over the past ten years, we can now offer expertise in other areas of the value chain – such as mobile communications, wimax technologies, narrow band technologies and so on.
 
Day 2 is therefore a "MUST ATTEND" for anyone who uses or supplies radio and wireless communications or works as an IT decision maker!

Exhibitors
Due to popular demand, we can now accomodate a few more stands for those of you who wish to exhibit over the two days. As part of your Membership benefits, all financial members of RFUANZ are offered an opportunity to exhibit on a first come first served basis.  An Exhibitor and Sponsorship Information pack will be circulated shortly, however, to secure your interest Contact Us Now.

Other supported Events
Radio Comms Connect 2009 is being held over two days on the 18th and 19th November. Registrations are now open for this Australian based event which features 40 exhibitors and 28 speakers!  Click here to view full details and to register online.

Hot Topics

Wireless Cameras
The hot topic at the moment is MED's discussion paper regarding licensing options for higher power control channels, as specifically used in Television Outside Broadcast (TVOB) operations involving longer range (up to approximately one kilometre) outdoor communication and control of wireless cameras.
 
The Future Wireless Technologies Seminar
Held in Wellington on the 24th August: Presentations are now available online at this link.  Presentations were provided by the Ministry, industry and research institutions, with topics including Cognitive Radio, Software Defined Radio and Future Mobile and Broadcast Technologies.

Submissions Update

Click here to view the discussion paper submitted by RFUANZ on behalf of our members for "Spectrum Management in the Radio Licencing Regime"

Read the Security of Tenure Discussion, and the Security of Tenure plan guidelines here.

View our submission on the 806-960MHz Band Replanning


Although not yet public, RFUANZ have also submitted a response regarding the introduction of digital LMR technologies into the commercial land mobile bands located in the VHF and UHF parts of the radio spectrum.

Additional RFUANZ initiatives

Industry Training
One of our committee members, Bob McCrae, has been appointed to a ETITO Consultation Group to review the National Certificate in Electronic Engineering, Level 3 and Level 4. This review is an industry partnership with ETITO, the standards setting body for the electronic engineering industry, to review the existing qualifications and standards to ensure they remain current and fit for purpose.  Any members who wish to provide any input to this review please contact Bob McCrae at Abbey Systems Ltd, bob@abbey.co.nz.

Feedback from RFUANZ - Discussion panel: Radio Spectrum Management Compliance Strategy Programme
Late in 2008 RFUANZ was asked to participate in an industry discussion panel of major spectrum users so that Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) could develop their 3 to 5 year licence compliance programme. The other major users included Telecom, Teamtalk and the Radio Broadcasters. Bob McCrae represented RFUANZ.

The initial half day meeting was held in December where RSM, from their view, outlined the issues, backgrounded the current position and put forward some ideas as to a forward direction. This was followed by a good round table discussion with plenty of input from all of the parties present which included the costs to the end user, how certain issues could or could not be handled, historical issues with wrong locations, interference issues, EMC control and the control of infringement notices.

Following this meeting RSM continued their development on the program and a second industry meeting was held in March 2009. At this meeting RSM presented a large amount of statistical data and information, including licence, interference, EMC audit work, an analysis of interference risk and non-compliance. A large amount of this information was restricted RSM data, which the industry panel was privileged to have access to. There was general agreement from the panel in the direction of the RSM Compliance Strategy. RSM undertook to have the compliance strategy completed by their target date of 30 June 2009, and that after it had been in place for 12 months the panel would meet again to review the outcomes.

The Compliance Programme is now in place for 2009/10 and beyond. The programme includes more off-air measurement tests, more audits above 1GHz , particularly in the General User Licence area,  review of 12 External Engineers, review of 12 Radio Examiners and 300 supplier visits to audit EMC and radio products and compliance documentation. Market traders will also receive attention.

On going work will include the Location data accuracy in the Register of Radio Frequencies (SMART).

Being part of this Industry Panel has once again shown that RFUANZ is working with industry and government official’s for the benefit of our members.

Additional information to all RFUANZ members that hold radio licence’s:  ensure that it is operated in accordance with the licence conditions.
Basic items to be considered include:
1) at the correct location,
2) operating on the correct frequency
3) transmitter power correct
4) deviation level correct.

All user’s should be aware of these issues and those RFUANZ members that use a third party to maintain their radio equipment are advised to confirm with their supplier that this work is being carried out in accordance with the conditions of the licence.   The other option is a visit from the Radio Policeman with his little book $$$!

Radio Spectrum Management – Off-Air Auditing

In 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a compliance strategy review for RSM which resulted in two industry compliance workshops in December 2008 and March 2009.

From feedback received, RSM revised and refocused its compliance audit programme. One of the major changes is greater emphasis of resources on radiated (off-air) measurements.

Since 1 July 2009, over 90% of licence audits completed have been off-air measurements. This has had the beneficial effect of significantly reducing the amount of client interaction and involvement required, resulting in cost and time savings for those licensees.

Whilst there is a greater emphasis on off-air audits some direct-coupled measurements will continue to be done, both for sampling information and for confirmation of off-air audit data. These will only be done by prior arrangement.

With this new focus RSM field staff have been developing and refining their skills in this very demanding discipline with associated benefits expected for interference investigation. This is particularly relevant in the fixed links above 1GHz where RSM has traditionally not spent a lot of time doing auditing work mainly due to equipment constraints.

Off-air measurements have all but removed the need to contact licensees, and in most cases licensees will only know an audit has been conducted once RSM has completed the analysis and advised the outcome.

A copy of the ‘Compliance audit programme for 2009/10 and beyond’ can be found on the RSM website http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/compliance/licence-compliance/compliance-programme/.

Members Story:  Mobile R/T installations

Something that has bugged me in recent years is the "unqualified people" (or perhaps those that are not supervised by qualified people) that install mobile R/T equipment, they push it out and then wonder why they have unhappy customers. 

Some customers just do not understand what is required to complete a good job in this area........some readers here and now will be thinking, "what the heck is he on about regarding this simple thing", that is because they know what to do (with their trained eyes shut, but some youngsters DO NOT).

The classic is the installer that fits an R/T aerial within 300mm of a car radio aerial and wonders why there are "inter problems" etc...........or perhaps some of the auto electrical industry that buy R/T aerials, install them but don't tune them because (a) they don't know to do so and (b) don't have the ability or gear to do so...........the result is a customer that gets inferior results/performance from their R/T.

Customers should understand why they should choose a qualified tech/installer.  I don't propose, in this note, to detail the proper requirements of an installation rather just to note that sometimes what we think is a simple job has considerable history behind it gained by training and experience.   Ask your installer about their qualifications or those of their supervisor.

Would you get your tooth pulled out by a road labourer who just happens to know what a pair of pliers are...........no of course not, you'd go to a trained practicioner (a dentist in this case).?  For your R/T work support a qualified technician and get the value from your assets (a mobile R/T in this case) that they are capable of delivering to you.    Submited by: David Walker (Hastings)

Time To Move On
By Chris Underwood

It's hard to believe that it is near enough to six years ago that I was invited to provide consultancy services to RFUANZ.  In that time the organisation has grown considerably in professionalism and influence.  

There is no doubt that RFUANZ is now a force to be reckoned with and over the last few years has been successful in working for members in getting RSM fees held and negotiating concessions from Government including improved incumbency rights for spectrum used.   

The AGM and workshop earlier this year shows how far the association has come with the Trade taking a greater participation in the trade show.  The fact that RSM also participated in the show and paid to have a stand and show off it’s new inspection vehicles and equipment marks a significant change in approach by this organisation to RFUANZ.

Earlier this year I reached a decision to not renew my contract as consultant to RFUANZ.  I have enjoyed working in this role and in particular appreciated the ongoing contact and support of those in the industry some of whom I’ve known for many years.  I have particularly enjoyed working with David Thomson in his role as Chairman and respect the huge effort he has put into ensuring the current success of the association.

However it is possible to have too much of a good thing and with the Association in such good heart now seems the right time to move on and spend more time on my growing Solar energy business.  I wish the members every success in their endeavours and will watch with interest as the group goes from strength to strength.

Chris Underwood