Summary
The following chart shows the available 5GHz channels to be used in Canada:
Changes of Regulations for UNII1
The new requirements to meet are presented in this table:
If the equipment you are planning to use is located within 25km for a licensed earth station, you will have to coordinate the earth station operator to determine potential exclusion zones.
Users operating for personal use should not be eligible for that license. The reason is that it would involve too much administration and monitoring work.
DFS Implementation (UNII2 & UNII2-Extended)
If you want to learn more about DFS, feel free to take a look at the DFS Operations Infographic we have created:
TPC Implementation (UNII2 & UNII2-Extended)
For Wi-Fi devices operating the UNII2 and UNII2-Extended, Industry Canada states that "devices with a maximum e.i.r.p. greater than 500mW shall implement TPC in order to have the capability to operate at least 6dB below the maximum permitted e.i.r.p. of 1W". This information can be important to keep in mind while designing a WLAN.
Higher EIRP allowed for Point-to-Point devices (UNII3)
However, the standards stats that "fixed point-to-point devices operating in this band may employ transmitting antennas with directional gain greater than 6dBi without any corresponding reduction in transmitter conducted power".
Here is an example to explain this regulation:
If we use a conducted power of 500mW we will have the following e.i.r.p.: 27dBm (500mW) + 9dBi = 36dBm (4W). This complies with the regulations!
On the right part of the drawing, we are setting up a point-to-point bridge link with an antenna gain of 13dBi; which is also greater than 6dBi. Even though the e.i.r.p. exceed 4W, we are still allowed to use a maximum conducted power of 1W.
Spectrum Outlook 2018 to 2022
- Use of the 5600-5650 MHz Band for license-exempt use. Channel 120, 124, 128
- Use of the 5350-5470 MHz Band for license-exempt use. Channel 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96
- Use of the 5850-5925 MHz Band for license-exempt use. Channel 169, 173, 171. This is unlikely as ISED prefers to reserve this band for connected vehicle applications. They will only allow Wi-Fi to share this band if they know for sure that it won’t be disruptive.
Resources
- Document from ISED - Specifications: RSS-247 — Digital Transmission Systems (DTSs), Frequency Hopping Systems (FHSs) and Licence-Exempt Local Area Network (LE-LAN) Devices - Spectrum management and telecommunications
- Document from ISED - Apply for the license: Decision on the Technical and Policy Framework for Radio Local Area Network Devices Operating in the 5150-5250 MHz Frequency Band - Spectrum management and telecommunications
- ISED Spectrum Outlook 2018 to 2022: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf11403.html
- Chart - Radio Spectrum Allocations in Canada: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/vwapj/2018_Canadian_Radio_Spectrum_Chart.PDF/$FILE/2018_Canadian_Radio_Spectrum_Chart.PDF
I hope this information will be useful for some of you.
Written by François Vergès