[1000mp] U.S. Yaesu Ops Sent to Siberia

[John Rippey]

A recent petition the ARRL submitted to the Federal Communications 
Commission proposes that  regulation of amateur radio spectrum 
henceforth be by bandwidth rather than mode. Assuming FCC approval, this 
will mean (according to the ARRL chart) that CW contesters with Yaesu 
rigs will have to operate on 40 meters from 7105 kHz  to 7300 kHz, where 
a 3.5 kHz bandwidth is permitted. This is because only 500 Hz and 200 Hz 
bandwidth signals will be permitted from 7000 kHz to 7105. (That is, if 
I understand the proposal correctly.)

As we know, unmodified MPs generate a CW bandwidth due to key clicks of 
well over 1 kHz, and even modified MPs are in the 800 Hz range. So there 
will be no way for MP owners to legally operate on the low end of 40, 
during a contest or at any other time. The ARRL has not obtained 
agreement from any other countries to go along, so basically Yaesu 
owners in the U.S. will be consigned to Siberia on 40 meters. They'll be 
able to contact each other, but that's about it. (The other HF bands 
would have similar restrictions, too.) Those high scores by U.S.contest 
stations will be a thing of the past.

Some commenters assume the FCC (or the ARRL) will provide H-P spectrum 
analyzers for every ham in order to assure each ham's ability to comply 
with the new setup. Probably the comments are tongue in cheek, but they 
do provoke some thought. I can hear the arguments now as one ham reports 
that another's CW signal exceeds 500 Hz or whatever. HF operating could 
become quite contentious. Riley Hollingsworth will keep busy, for sure

I wonder if I should sell my Mark V now? Maybe Yaesu can plead with the 
FCC for an exception, or maybe I'm missing something.

73,
John, W3ULS