Emissions Designator 31M8F8W

Decode the occupied bandwidth, modulation, signal nature, and information type.

Decoded Emission Designator

Emission Designator31M8F8W
Normalized Code31M8F8W
Necessary Bandwidth31.8 MHz
Modulation Type[F] Angle modulation, frequency modulation
Signal Nature[8] Two or more channels containing analog information
Information Type[W] Combination of information types listed above

What This Means

31M8F8W is an FCC emission designator. It describes an emission with an indicated necessary bandwidth of 31.8 MHz, angle modulation, frequency modulation, two or more channels containing analog information, carrying combination of information types listed above.

How to Read 31M8F8W

StepValueMeaning
Bandwidth prefix31M831.8 MHz
First symbolFAngle modulation, frequency modulation
Second symbol8Two or more channels containing analog information
Third symbolWCombination of information types listed above

Purpose on FCC Records

Emission designators are used on FCC grants and equipment authorization records to summarize the radio emission being authorized. They help identify how wide the emission is, how the carrier is modulated, whether the signal is analog or digital, and what kind of information is being transmitted.

They are useful for comparing radios, matching a grant to a modulation type, and understanding whether an authorization covers voice, data, telemetry, video, or mixed services.

An emission designator is not the whole authorization. It does not by itself prove the exact channel plan, antenna limits, output power, or every condition on the grant. For those details, read the FCC grant and the related test reports.

Bandwidth Notes

The bandwidth prefix uses a letter as both the decimal point and the unit. For example, 20K0 means 20.0 kHz, 8M91 means 8.91 MHz, and 345K means 345 kHz.

For 31M8F8W, the first four characters decode to 31.8 MHz. The remaining symbols describe modulation, signal nature, and information type.

Symbol Reference for 31M8F8W

SymbolPositionCategoryDecoded Meaning
FFirst symbolCarrier modulationAngle modulation, frequency modulation
8Second symbolModulating signalTwo or more channels containing analog information
WThird symbolInformation transmittedCombination of information types listed above

Regulatory Reference

The FCC classification system for emission, modulation, and transmission characteristics is defined in 47 CFR 2.201. The FCC also indicates that the full emission designation is preceded by the necessary bandwidth when the full designation is required.

FCC 2.201 Notes

  • FCC emission designators combine emission classification with the necessary bandwidth of the emission.
  • The three required symbols identify carrier modulation, nature of the modulating signal, and type of information transmitted.
  • Fourth and fifth symbols may be added for a more complete description, but the Commission does not require them.
  • When frequency modulation F is indicated, phase modulation G is also acceptable under the FCC note in this section.
  • Pulse-code or other quantized direct modulation should be classified under the amplitude or angle modulation groups, not merely as pulse emission.
  • The information symbol does not include constant, unvarying information such as standard frequency emissions, continuous wave emissions, or pulse radars.
  • Type B damped-wave emission is an FCC exception and is forbidden.
  • When the full designation is needed, the emission symbol is preceded by the necessary bandwidth as indicated in 47 CFR 2.202(b)(1).

FCC Records Using 31M8F8W

FCC IDDeviceFrequencyDate
H9HWMT-180VWestec Communications Inc17700-19700 MHz1995-08-07
H9HWMT-230VWestec Communications Inc21200-23600 MHz1995-08-07
IO8SDC-3160Sierra Digital Communications Inc31000-31300 MHz1993-08-09
IO8SDC-2320-50Sierra Digital Communications Inc21200-23600 MHz1993-04-01