SAS - Why am I getting a 103 error when requesting grants?

[James_S]

Happy Wednesday!

So you've signed up for Google's SAS, you've registered your devices, but now your CBSD can't seem to request a grant successfully. This article is for those who wonder:

Why am I getting a 103 error when requesting grants?

This error is most commonly encountered when the max EIRP requested in a grant exceeds the EIRP capability the CBSD was registered with. This is most commonly caused by a misunderstanding: EIRP capability is specified in different units than max EIRP is. As per WInnForum requirements, the EIRP capability of a CBSD is expressed in units of dBm/10MHz, whereas the Max EIRP of a grant request is expressed in units of dBm/MHz. A more detailed explanation of how to convert one to the other can be found in the Help Center. From a practical standpoint, however, dBm/MHz can be converted to dBm/10MHz and vice versa by adding or subtracting 10. 

For example: if a CBSD requests a grant with a max EIRP of 37 dBm/MHz, the CBRS limit for a Category B CBSD, it would need to be registered with an EIRP capability of 47 dBm/10MHz. If a CBSD is registered with an EIRP capability of 37 dBm/10MHz, the most powerful grant the SAS can approve is 27 dBm/MHz. If a CBSD registered with an EIRP capability of 37 dBm/10MHz sends a grant request with a max EIRP of 37 dBm/MHz, the request will be denied with a 103 error. 

Please note that while this error is technically always caused by a CBSD requesting a grant with the max EIRP set too high for its EIRP capability, the underlying cause can sometimes be that the CBSD was registered with an EIRP capability set too low. You can find the registered EIRP capability of a CBSD in the SAS Portal by selecting the device and checking what is listed under Max EIRP in the device tab. It is recommended to check if the EIRP capability listed is consistent with what your CBSD’s documentation indicates is the maximum. If you are uncertain what the EIRP capability of your CBSD should be, we recommend re-registering it with the EIRP capability field blank in both the SAS Portal and/or registration request. The SAS will use information from the FCC database to determine the appropriate EIRP capability of the CBSD.

[Roderick]

This is a helpful update, thanks for sharing! 

[elmorekevin]

I don't see any mention of DPA Suspensions away from the coast within the post...Did the title and the post get mismatched?

[James_S]

My mistake! The title has been corrected. I will be posting an article about DPA suspensions away from the coast on 06/19/2023.