Morocco Frequency Plan (MA_869) Improvement

[zuyan9]

Summary

We can make the Morocco frequency plan more compatible by adding the EU868 default channels.

Why do we need this?

To make The Things Stack work better in Morocco.

What is already there? What do you see now?

There is a draft frequency plan MA_869_870_DRAFT, with uplink channels: 869.10, 869.30, 869.70, and 869.90 MHz.

What is missing? What do you want to see?

We can add EU868 default channels. This way, EU868 can be used as long as additional channels are above 868 MHz.

Environment

See document: https://ib-lenhardt.com/assets/pdf/archive/SRD_Decision_N%C2%B007-2020.pdf
Page 7.

This allows us to use:

868 – 869 MHz 25 mW e.r.p. ---
869 – 869.4 MHz 25 mW e.r.p. ---
869.4 – 869.65 MHz 500 mW e.r.p ---
869.65- 870 MHz 25 mW e.r.p. --

This lines up with EU868 default channels and RX2 frequency/transmit power.

How do you propose to implement this?

We can add the EU868 compatible default channels: 868.10, 868.30, and 868.50 MHz. In the device firmware we still have to make sure the transmit powers are within allowed ranges. But having these in TTN would make things much easier.

Can you do this yourself and submit a Pull Request?

I think so.

[KrishnaIyer]

Thanks @zuyan9: I've tagged the experts here for comments.

[johanstokking]

How do you propose to implement this?

We can add the EU868 compatible default channels: 868.10, 868.30, and 868.50 MHz. In the device firmware we still have to make sure the transmit powers are within allowed ranges. But having these in TTN would make things much easier.

Can you do this yourself and submit a Pull Request?

I think so.

That would be useful for sure.

Would you then make the 868.1, 868.3 and 868.5 MHz the default channels, like EU868? In that case, we're better off with a Moroccan frequency plan that uses the EU868 band, so EU868 end-devices can join but they'll receive the 869.1, 869.3, 869.7 and 869.9 MHz as additional channels.

Currently, the band has 869.1, 869.3 and 869.7 MHz as default channels.

Basically, we can do two things:

1. Release a new version of the MA_869_870_DRAFT band with EU868 default channels
2. Add a frequency plan EU_863_870_MA for the EU868 band that has the current MA frequencies + the EU868 default ones