ASHE: Dedicated to optimizing the healthcare physical environment
Sponsor: Grainger Sponsor: Johnson Controls Sponsor: Siemens Sponsor: Trane

Wireless Medical Telemetry Service

In response to the growing concerns about interference resulting from new digital television transmitters, low power television transmitters, and greater use of Private Land Mobile Radio equipment, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has done the following:

  • Established the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS), dedicating bands of frequencies to promote interference-free operation of medical telemetry systems;
  • Appointed ASHE as the Frequency Coordinator for the WMTS bands;
  • Mandated that all transmitters operating in the WMTS bands must be registered with ASHE to ensure interference-free operation.

ASHE has selected Comsearch as their technical partner in providing frequency coordination services in the WMTS bands.  Comsearch will provide a broad range of services to ASHE and its members including development of a WMTS device database and device registration capabilities.

Find out about ASHE's WMTS registration process and other important information by clicking on links below.  Learn how it can help you protect your patients.

In the US, wireless medical telemetry can be found in the following spectrum blocks:

  • Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS)
  • TV, Private Land Mobile Radio Service (PLMRS), Paging and the Personal Radio Service
  • Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM)

So, why WMTS?  The considerations for use of each band are listed below.

WMTS (608-614 MHz, 1395-1400 MHz, 1427-1432 MHz)

  • This is the only designated frequency spectrum for medical telemetry systems
  • You are protected from interference due to other wireless devices
  • There are comparatively fewer interference sources
  • Both the FCC and FDA encourage use of WMTS
  • New FCC-approved equipment permitted (the FCC will not approve new equipment for use in the TV & PLMRS bands)
  • Frequencies are coordinated to ensure interference-free operation

TV and PLMRS (174-216 MHz, 450-608 MHz, 614-668 MHz)

  • No interference protection.  Hospitals must accept interference or shut down if causing interference
  • Hundreds of thousands of existing PLMRS devices such as mobile radios or walkie-talkies used by policemen, firemen, taxicabs, and delivery trucks
  • Tens of  thousands more PLMRS devices expected in the future
  • High power operations already permitted in portions of the PLMRS spectrum with more high power operations permitted in the future
  • Interference from mobile operations is unpredictable
  • New Digital TV stations commencing operation daily
  • The FCC will not approve equipment  after October 2002
  • Frequencies are not coordinated

ISM (2400-2483 MHz)

  • No interference protection.  Hospitals must accept interference
  • Millions of existing operations including wireless LANS and microwave ovens
  • Increased interference potential with popularity of wireless networking technologies
  • Frequencies are not coordinated


Comsearch