A few people seem surprised when they receive their NoV's and it states that their maximum ERP is 0 dBW.

Firstly 0dBW equals 1 watt... not nothing at all, it's not a typo.

Secondly the demand for Internet Gateways is quite high at the moment and given the limited number of channels available then power has to be restricted if we are going to be able to fit you all in. Either low power.. or your application will be rejected simple.

And finally these are single frequency systems, therefore they are prone to hidden terminal effect, so large coverage areas just do not work very effectively.

Each application is assessed for coverage area and co-channel interference potential and then the power is set accordingly. Very few applications if any will ever warrant 5 Watts ERP (7dBW)

I hope this clears up any confusion that there seems to be.

• 10 May 2011 NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE AVAILABLE
  
  Those who have submitted NoV applications and have not yet received their NoV may now use a "single point of contact" Email address to ask for progress updates. Send your request to: enquiry at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  You should receive an automated response within a few minutes so you will know that your request is "in the queue". Our aim is to provide an initial "human" response within one working day but circumstances may mean that a definitive answer could take considerably longer than that.
  
  Please note that this Email address should be used solely to enquire about the status of an application; we will be unable to answer technical queries or to provide advice and guidance via this facility. For all other questions relating to "data" NoVs please continue to use the established ETCC Online address.
  
  
• 19 March 2011 OFCOM LICENSING UPDATE
  
  Ofcom have made the RSGB aware that there are slight delays in NoV processing work and until it is cleared the ETCC suggests that no further proposals should be submitted. Further information will be posted when available.
   
• 18 Nov 2009 CHANGE TO ASSIGNMENTS FOR SIMPLEX VOICE GATEWAYS
  
  As of now, we are no longer accepting applications for (analogue) Simplex Voice Gateways on 2M frequencies in the 144 MHz band segment.
  The intent is to re-align the 144.8000 - 144.9900 MHz segment with the IARU Region 1 Band Plan, and to allow possibilities for DIGITAL Simplex Voice Gateways in this part of the band.
  
  No changes to existing analogue Simplex Voice Gateways on the affected frequencies will be permitted.
  
  
• 24 Dec 2008 NEW CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS
  
  Season's Greetings to all our readers!
  
  Please note, that with immediate effect, you should use a single Email address to contact ETCC regarding packet radio / data and Gateway NoV issues:
  
       etcc dot online at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  (You will need to replace the blue text with the appropriate characters, of course)
  
  Ofcom stopped accepting applications from us on December 17th, and it is anticipated that they will again be "open for NoV business" on 8th JANUARY 2009.
  
  
• 25 Aug 2008 INFORMATION REGARDING GATEWAYS LISTED AS "EXPIRED"
  
  Many will have noticed that we are now listing an additional Gateway status - "expired". It does not mean, however, that simply because something is listed as having that status that the frequency is immediately available for reallocation.
  
  Since there are many possible reasons that a Gateway may show this status, the listing will be maintained for no less that three calendar months after the expiry date in order to allow the Licensee time to take any necessary action. After that time it will be removed, and the frequency / frequencies will be returned to the pool.
  
  Please do not submit applications which would clash with Gateways where those frequencies are listed as "expired". If you do so, your application will be rejected, because until they are removed from the list, the frequencies will still be considered "in use".
  
  If your Gateway is listed as "EXPIRED" and you wish to renew your NoV, please send an EMail to:
  
       etcc dot online at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  and we will be pleased to offer advice and guidance regarding what to do next. Please do NOT submit a fresh application under these circumstances. Use the EMail facility described above to get help.
   
• 21 Jun 2007 CESSATION OF GB2RS NEWS DISTRIBUTION VIA PACKET RADIO
  
  We have been informed that Roger Harris (G3ZFR) is no longer in a position to distribute the weekly GB2RS news bulletin via packet radio, and that sadly this week's bulletin will be the last. The Committee thanks Roger for all his past efforts to bring this news to packet radio users.
  
  
  
• 13 Jun 2007 EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE IS BORN!
  
  A study of the work of the Data Communications Committee and the Repeater Management Committee has revealed increasingly common ground, especially where Internet Gateways and Internet linking to Repeaters are concerned.   Advances are also being made towards the introduction of digital modes such as D-Star and APCO25 that amongst other newer technologies can carry both voice and data streams.  With this in mind it has been agreed that a new committee based on the Repeater Management Committee structure and to be known as the Emerging Technology Co-ordination Committee will replace the DCC and RMC with immediate effect.  The new committee will be chaired by John McCullough GI4BWM with Iain Philipps G0RDI as Vice-Chairman.  Other committee members will include current Regional Repeater Managers and Steve Morton G8SFR who will continue to co-ordinate Internet Gateway applications.
  
  Applications for Notices of Variation should continue to be submitted via the current DCC and RMC websites until further notice.
  
  
• 30 Dec 2006 INFORMATION REGARDING GATEWAYS LISTED AS "EXPIRED"
  
  Many will have noticed that we are now listing an additional Gateway status - "expired". It does not mean, however, that simply because something is listed as having that status that the frequency is immediately available for reallocation.
  
  Since there are many possible reasons that a Gateway may show this status, the listing will be maintained for no less that three calendar months after the expiry date in order to allow the Licensee time to take any necessary action. After that time it will be removed, and the frequency / frequencies will be returned to the pool.
  
  Please do not submit applications which would clash with Gateways where those frequencies are listed as "expired". If you do so, your application will be rejected, because until they are removed from the list, the frequencies will still be considered "in use".
  
  If your Gateway is listed as "EXPIRED" and you wish to renew your NoV, please send an EMail to
  
       etcc dot online at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  and we will be pleased to offer advice and guidance regarding what to do next. Please do NOT submit a fresh application under these circumstances. Use the EMail facility described above to get help.
  
  You will be aware that Ofcom staff are taking a well earned break during this festive season. It is anticipated that all applications which are "in process" will be dealt with by them on or before 6th January 2007.
  
  
  
• 01 Sep 2006 APPLICATIONS FOR CHANGES TO MAILBOXES & NODES BEING ACCEPTED
  
  It is now possible for DCC to process applications for changes to existing Mailbox and Node NoVs - including site moves, etc. However, applicants should note that there are still strict controls in place designed to protect the interests of the Primary User in the 430-440 MHz band, so applications may take some time to "clear" through the system.
  
  Applicants are advised that modifications to ERP's (etc) within that band might be necessary, and you are asked to take this in to account when planning your configuration.
  
  It is anticipated that NEW applications will be accepted from 1st October 2006.
  
  The "standard" forms found on this site are to be used for the time being, and an on-line process will be in place by the end of 2006. For further advice and guidance, please Email
  
       etcc dot online at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  
  
• 03 Mar 2006 SLIGHTLY DELAYED - NEW APPLICATION NOW POSSIBLE
  
  Delayed by two days while data "clean up" was taking place, the Online Application System for Simplex Internet Voice Gateway NoVs is available once more. Click HERE to access the form.
  
  NOTE: If you are seeking to operate your Gateway station "unattended" (and you are appling for one of the frequencies listed for that purpose in the 30th June 2005 update below), please also submit a correctly completed "unattended" application for, which can be downloaded HERE (RIGHT CLICK and "Save Target As ...)
  
  The time taken from application to issue of NoV may be up to 28 days. However, it is our aim to significantly better that time. Please help us to keep delays to a minimum by responding in a timely fashion to any queries we may have about your application.
  
  
  
• 14 Feb 2006 FIRST ROUND OF NoV RENEWALS UNDER WAY / NEW APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED SOON
  
  We are please to announce that the first round of Simplex Internet Voice Gateway NoV renewals is under way. All those whose NoV is due for renewal in January, February and March should by now have received an initial EMail informing them.
  
  There are a number of stages each renewal needs to go through, so please be patient while DCC and Ofcom work through the list. We are expecting that all renewals for the first quarter of 2006 will have been completed by the end of February.
  
  New applications will be accepted (via the Online Application System) from 1st March 2006.
  
  
  
• 23 Jan 2006 PROCEDURE FOR NoV RENEWALS, NEW NoV APPLICATIONS, AMENDMENTS TO NoVs
  
  DCC continues to receive a high volume of enquiries regarding "what to do next" in relation to the NoVs which were previously issued by the Committee.
  
  At the time of writing, Ofcom have yet to finalise and publish their procedures which will address these questions, so we are therefore unable to offer further or better assistance at this time.
  
  
  
• 1 Jan 2006 OFCOM NOW ISSUE NoVs FOR VOICE GATEWAYS, DIGITAL NODES, PACKET MAILBOXES
  
  As announced by Ofcom, they will now issue NoVs for digital modes which were previously issued by DCC. We continue to work with them while they refine their processes for dealing with these NoVs, and we ask that you understand that they still have some work to do before they will be ready to accept applications.
  
  A very Happy New Year to you call, from the "DCC Online" team.
  
  
  
• 24 November 2005 NoV GATEWAY NoV APPLICATIONS / RENEWALS - Read carefully!
  
  Yesterday's Ofcom / RSGB announcement regarding the return of certain administrative functions from RSGB to Ofcom means that DCC have much work to during this already busy period if we are to ensure a smooth transition of these functions, and we seek your assistance in this regard.
  
    1. Please note that we will shutdown the online application system by 09:00 on Monday 12th December 2005 to ensure that we can process all applications "in progress" before 21st December (which, because of the Christmas holidays, is the last day this year we will process any NoVs).
  
    2. If your Gateway NoV is due for renewal during 2005, providing you follow our process (and respond in appropriate timescales) your NoV will be renewed for a futher year. Once we begin the process, contacting us multiple times to ask us what to do next is not helpful, so - unless you are within the 48 hour window noted below - please resist all temptation to enagage us in activities which only serve to distract us from the vast volume of work we find ourselves faced with just now.
  
  You cooperation and understanding will be much apprecaited.
  
  
  
• 04 November 2005 NoV GATEWAY NoV RENEWALS - Read carefully!
  
  The first "renewals" of Internet Voice Gateway NoVs will be due shortly. Every holder of such an NoV will be contacted by Email at the address the NoV was sent to before the expiry date. If you have not received an Email from us and there are less than 48 hours left of your NoV you must send an Email to
  
       etcc dot online at etcc dot rsgb dot org
  
  
  When you receive your "renewal" Email it will contain full details of what you should do next.
  
  
  
• 18 July 2005 NoV UNATTENDED NoVs - UPDATE
  
  Processing of the new "MB7Ixx" applications is in progress. It should be understood that there is much work associated with checking the information and verifying the data supplied, and consequently this is not an "at the speed of light" process. The information which follows will be valid ONLY AFTER MIDDAY on 19th July 2005.
  
  If you have sent in an application and are wondering about its progress here is the information you need:-
  
      If your "MB7Ixx" callsign is listed in RED then we have all the information we need and you can expect your NoV to be with you before the end of July.
  
      If your MB7Ixx callsign is not listed, then we have some kind of query with your application and you are advised to check your Email in-tray carefully to see what that might be. If you help us to resolve our query without delay, you will most likely get your NoV before the end of July.
  
  If we have not received your application already (18th July) it is unlikely that you will receive an NoV for unattended operation before the end of August.
  
  
• Closedown Details: It is a prime requirement of Ofcom that any unattended can be shut down within 30 minutes on request. To do this you need to give brief details of how the station may be shutdown, where it is and who can switch it back on again. You must avoid situations where a single failure (such as the person with the key is out) can prevent the station being closed down.
  
  Closedown List: Here you need a list of people who can be telephoned to go and turn the station off. To be acceptable each person must be within 30 minutes of the station site. You need to have three people 'available' at ALL times to cope with holidays, broken phones etc., in order to ensure that someone can be reached. This may be arranged by having more than three people on the list covering different times of the day. Give the home and work phone numbers (state if number is 24hr) and travel times from both location for each person on the list. Try to avoid having all the closedown operators on the same phone number at the same time (as may happen with members of a family or workmates). Also try to avoid giving mobile phone numbers, as these people maybe anywhere in the country. Note that you don't have to be licensed to turn the equipment OFF. 
• 
  Please ensure you provide complete and accurate information, since failure to do so will almost certainly result in your application being rejected. Especially note the instructions regarding how and where to submit your application.
  
  At the time you submit your application, please mention which of your ports (of those you have a NoV for that are included in the list of available "unattended" frequencies) you would like this facility enabled for. If one of those is a 51 MHz frequency we will attempt to coordinate your Gateway on to one of the 50 MHz frequencies, but you may not specify which one. You must understand that it may not be possible to accomodate everyone's requirements to move into the 50 MHz segment of the band.