[Openbts-discuss] GSM license issues in Germany

[Ralph A. S. d. <ra...@sc...>]

Hi,

(Germany related only, and maybe EU)

As the upper GSM1800 DECT protecting spectrum gap (that was assigned for
test licenses) has now been sold to Vodafone and they still did not answer
my request to allow renewing the test license, I started thinking about
alternatives.

So I found a quite interesting thing - the American GSM850 band touches some
license free frequency bands. 869-870 MHz is a SRD (short range device)
assignment, broken in smaller chunks with differing usage scenarios, and the
corresponding uplink is free for wireless microphones. The downlink
assignment is vague enough that using GSM with 25mW should be 100% OK, and
the uplink, well, it tells that it shall be used for voice, wireless
microphones or in ear monitoring, like in theatres, for public events, for
seminars...fits not exactly, but quite close :-) 869.8/824.8 is the pair
that fits best into the vague band plan. 

At least this frequency range is out of reach for the commercial providers,
so no civil law suits for using their frequencies, no accusations to
interrupt their service. Even in case of a penalty, it would be just an
administrative offence / minor offence, like speeding, so no big deal. 

By the way, I got reported for sniffing data with my OpenBTS setup, and
although I was able to show my license (and thought that was it) it went to
the court. So a few months later I was invited to a police questioning, went
there and told my story, and a few days later a letter from the chief
attorney arrived, dismissal, no contravention. I love it when our justice
works as expected.

Ralph.