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US airlines warn C-Band 5G could cause 'catastrophic disruption'
The airline industry claims a “catastrophic” event could unfold on Wednesday when AT&T and Verizon activate their new C-Band 5G networks. In a letter obtained by Reuters, the CEOs of several prominent passenger and cargo airlines, including Delta, United and Southwest, warn interference from 5G cell towers could affect the sensitive safety equipment on their planes. "Unless our major hubs are cleared to fly, the vast majority of the traveling and shipping public will essentially be… (www.engadget.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
The bottom line is that the US (regardless of band in question) has seen this coming for a while and have handled it in a highly dysfunctional manner. The result is the current shat show to the world.
Typical of today's government. Big, bloated, inefficient, and inept in many cases.
Gang, I'd be careful about claiming that it's OK in other countries/continents, so why all the fuss over here? Not all countries use the same bands for 5G. Close, but not exactly. In fact in the US, as an extreme example, T-Mobile claims to already be 5G. Well they kinda do, but it's not on the C-Band at all! (Yet.)
Also I'd be careful in the blame game on agencies, avionics and airplane manufacturers, etc. C-Band radio altimeters have been around for a long time--back when hardly anyone else was occupied these bands. Thus it gave for a bit of sloppiness on the parameters-end for the avionics makers--because it never really bothered anyone else, and there was nothing much out there to bother their R/A's. Things are a bit different now.
Even though the FCC put in a buffer (guard) band of 20MHz, between US 5G and ARNS (Aviation) it turns out that legacy radio altimeters made back when were just not that discrete. And therefore, they ARE prone to receive "spurious" signals. I totally get why Medevacs should be concerned (if they have legacy R/A's). A 5G lamp-post near a hospital helipad? Not good..
So are we also going to blame Collins, Honeywell, et al for some of this? Should we blame the agencies for not having wider buffers? Why didn't the XYZ agency not know that legacy radio altimeters were a bit loosey goosey? It's just not that simple... IMHO!
Also I'd be careful in the blame game on agencies, avionics and airplane manufacturers, etc. C-Band radio altimeters have been around for a long time--back when hardly anyone else was occupied these bands. Thus it gave for a bit of sloppiness on the parameters-end for the avionics makers--because it never really bothered anyone else, and there was nothing much out there to bother their R/A's. Things are a bit different now.
Even though the FCC put in a buffer (guard) band of 20MHz, between US 5G and ARNS (Aviation) it turns out that legacy radio altimeters made back when were just not that discrete. And therefore, they ARE prone to receive "spurious" signals. I totally get why Medevacs should be concerned (if they have legacy R/A's). A 5G lamp-post near a hospital helipad? Not good..
So are we also going to blame Collins, Honeywell, et al for some of this? Should we blame the agencies for not having wider buffers? Why didn't the XYZ agency not know that legacy radio altimeters were a bit loosey goosey? It's just not that simple... IMHO!
Building product that is sensitive to signals outside of the specified band is definitely actionable. If someone can publish a spec for some of these i'd love to see the RF characteristics.
Its important to note that mobile phone carriers are emitting very high ERPs and its not just 5G signals that can be a pain. I have to go to significant lengths to block out local phone tower signals from my ADSB receiver.
US 5G is also operating much higher in the band than most other countries, reducing the protection afforded to the relatively weak radar altimeter signals.
US 5G is also operating much higher in the band than most other countries, reducing the protection afforded to the relatively weak radar altimeter signals.
The 5G band intrusion into C-band radar altimeter frequency is only one impact. These microwave frequencies are used to measure water vapour in the atmosphere in this same band with dual frequency (and broader bandwidth) radiometers on the ground and on satellites. Opposition from scientists using these frequencies to this band intrusion have fallen on deaf ears with the International Telecommunications Union which negotiates the use of these frequencies. Bands are "stolen" without an understanding of all the meteorological implications (403MHz is another example).
The part that should be discussed is why 5G is being put in C-band where water vapour absorption increases rapidly up to 8GHz. 5G will be badly affected by the same weather that air travel is trying to manage.
The part that should be discussed is why 5G is being put in C-band where water vapour absorption increases rapidly up to 8GHz. 5G will be badly affected by the same weather that air travel is trying to manage.