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Rules violations on 60 meters

Mar 6th 2012, 03:03

W0BTU

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0


Has anyone --especially the ARRL officers and Section Managers-- listened to 60 meters since the new rules went into effect less than 24 hours ago?

The violations of the FCC rules there are amazing.

And nearly constant.

Right now, there are multiple PSK31 QSOs spread out all over channel 5, and as I was typing this, I just heard JT65 (on more than one channel), both clearly not allowed.

There is also a free-for-all heated QRM session on channel 3 with CW, PSK31, and SSB stations all fighting over the channel, with arguing, personal attacks, and profanity by stations who do not identify. It sounds like a bunch of immature children fighting over a piece of candy.

And one of the PSK31 stations there is 40 over 9, and extremely distorted and wide, the worst I have ever heard from any PSK31 station that I've ever listened to. (No, it's NOT RX overload; I'll wager a trillion dollars he was running far more than 100 watts.) It very clearly was malicious interference.

On channel 1, there's two CW stations trying to call CQ over a strong SSB station that was there first. And on another channel, there's SSB stations making noise (without ID'ing) and calling CQ over a CW QSO that was there first.

Last night, I heard more stations start transmitting on the new channel 3 before we were allowed to than you or I could possibly count.

I could say a lot more. What I've mentioned above is just a sampling of what I've heard in the short time since the new rules went into effect late last night. Go listen there yourself.

Seems to me if that this sort of thing keeps up, we are in danger of losing 60 meters. (If you don't think so, then read what the FCC has stated in the Federal Register, etc.) Time for some serious OO work? If not, what?


73, Mike
www.w0btu.com
Mar 6th 2012, 14:11

KS2AM

Joined: Apr 25th 2002, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
...looks like a repeat of what was posted on that other forum so I'll repeat my reply here ...

Ah yes, the new rules have been in effect for only one day and already we've determined that the sky is falling. :-)

If you recall, or maybe you don't, when the 60 meter allocation first opened up several years ago there was chaos then as well. There were multiple phone QSO's happening on the same frequency. It sorted it self out as this will likely do also, so why worry?

I listened for several hours yesterday as well and while there were some QSO's happening on the same frequency I didn't hear anything as dire as you describe.

BTW, what does the red text in your post denote, some sort of emergency ?
Mar 7th 2012, 00:12

W0BTU

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Someone just pointed out that at http://www.arrl.org/60-meter-faq, it states the following:

"What modes may I use on 60-meters?

"Effective March 5, 2012 the FCC has permitted CW, USB, and Digital modes on these freqquencies" [sic]

This implies that ANY digital mode is now legal there, and that is not the case. See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Recommended_Practices_for_60_Meters20Version%206_4.pdf
----------
Update: I finally found the letter from the NTIA to the FCC. Clearly, only one signal per channel is permitted at one time, regardless of the mode: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6016996545

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com
Mar 24th 2012, 07:09

K7DB

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Quote by W0BTU
Someone just pointed out that at http://www.arrl.org/60-meter-faq, it states the following:

"What modes may I use on 60-meters?

"Effective March 5, 2012 the FCC has permitted CW, USB, and Digital modes on these freqquencies" [sic]

This implies that ANY digital mode is now legal there, and that is not the case. See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Recommended_Practices_for_60_Meters20Version%206_4.pdf
----------
Update: I finally found the letter from the NTIA to the FCC. Clearly, only one signal per channel is permitted at one time, regardless of the mode: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=6016996545

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com


Just to clarify, the NTIA doesn't care what modes are used:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: I did edit our Mr. Veader's phone and personal email contact info -- otherwise, this email is exactly as I received it (including any typos). DB

----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Veader
To: David A. Behar
Cc: Edward M. Davison
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:47 AM
Subject: RE: NTIA policy on Amateur Radio Service 5 mHz secondary allocation

Mr. Behar,

The answer to your question is no, NTIA did not request or mandate that amateur operators limit digital operations on the five 5 MHz channels to only the PACTOR-III and PSK31 digital protocols. Other than the power limit of 100 Watts, the only other restriction that NTIA requested was that each channel would be considered a single spot frequency and that amateurs, no matter what mode was in use, ensure that their carrier is centered n the assigned frequencies.

With regards to interoperability… NTIA, in its correspondence to the FCC, did note that most of the digital modes used by amateurs other than CW and RTTY did not offer much possibility of federal to amateur interoperability.

Let me know if I can be of any further help…

Stephen R. Veader
Department of Commerce,
National Telecommunications and
Information Administration,
Emergency Planning & Public Safety Div.
Office: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Cell: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Qsec: xxx-xxx-xxxx
xxxx@xxxx.xxx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mar 26th 2012, 20:20

W0BTU

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
This letter from Stephen Veader at NTIA to David Behar seems to conflict with what QST says on p. 75 of the April issue, where it states (among other things):

"... the NTIA specifically requested that amateurs limit digital operations to PSK31 and Pactor III only."

I don't know what to believe anymore.

73, Mike
www.w0btu.com
Mar 28th 2012, 19:31

K7DB

Joined: Apr 4th 1998, 00:00
Total Topics: 0
Total Posts: 0
Haha, the ARRL finally issues a correction... see http://www.arrl.org/news/ntia-no-objection-to-additional-data-modes-on-60-meters.

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