[ADXA] 60 Meters - CAUTION!!

[w5zn at w5zn.org]

ADXA Folks,

60 meters is very quickly becoming an extremely popular amateur radio 
band with more and more countries gaining access but U.S. radio 
amateurs, especially ADXA members, need to be aware of what our 
frequency allocation is. Currently we can ONLY operate on 5 discrete 
"channels" within the band and that is all, with a maximum EIRP of 100 
watts.

The United States was the first country in the world to obtain a 5 MHz 
allocation. Thanks 100% to ARRL and ARRL alone, they were able to 
convince the FCC and the United States Department of State to allow an 
amateur allocation at 5 MHz on a secondary basis. This took a good bit 
of effort and in order to accomplish this a compromise with a discrete 
fixed channel and power limitation was finally agreed to. Even though it 
didn't afford the amateur service much, it was a start and gained access 
to a brand new band. Once this occurred a very few other amateur radio 
societies approached their government and were able to gain limited 
access to 5 MHz.

At a recent World Radio Conference (WRC) the ARRL led the effort through 
the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) to obtain a real world wide 
allocation at 5 MHz for the amateur radio service. This was not an easy 
task, but thanks to ARRL's leadership within the IARU and IARU's member 
society influence with their local governments a small bandwidth 
allocation with a 15 watt power limit was adopted.

Now, the caution for us is this did NOT immediately expand the United 
States allocation. Even though an allocation is adopted at a WRC each 
country's regulatory administration, in our case the FCC, must approve 
access and use of a new allocation. It doesn't just automatically occur 
once adopted at a WRC. The ARRL petitioned the FCC for access however 
the FCC has NOT, repeat NOT yet authorized use on the new 5 MHz 
frequency sub-band. We are still limited to 5 discrete channels.

What is happening today is many new countries are gaining access to 60 
meters based on the WRC adoption and authorization by their country's 
regulatory agency. Those countries are operating in accordance with 
their authorization and some of it is currently outside the U.S. 
allocation. That has not stopped some U.S. radio amateurs from moving 
OUTSIDE our allocation to work a DX entity, some knowingly and willingly 
doing so. This is in direct VIOLATION of FCC rules and puts your license 
in jeopardy. I have already seen several U.S. stations do this. BEWARE 
that you simply cannot do this! Hopefully in the near future the FCC 
will act on ARRL's petition to gain access to the new WRC allocation but 
as of now they have not and we are still restricted to 5 discrete 
"channels". If you don't know what those are please navigate to arrl.org 
and look up the U.S. Band Allocation chart. This is a very good, handy 
reference to keep at the operating position. I have one at each of mine 
and refer to it occasionally to ensure I'm operating within my license 
authorization.

Also, please be aware that 60 meter contacts are NOT, repeat NOT 
accepted for DXCC credit, even for the Mixed award. If you submit a 60 
Meter card it will be rejected. There is a very sound basis for this and 
it is tied to the stated purpose for acquiring our initial 5 MHz 
allocation many years ago. In order to justify the new allocations ARRL 
designated the band for "Emergency Communications" and therefore 
permitting awards would have negated this position. Will that position 
ever be changed? Maybe. For those of us who were licensed when the 
amateur service gained a 30, 17 and 12 meter allocation at WARC79 you 
will recall it was several years before those bands were accepted for 
DXCC credit. Just an FYI, back then a WRC was actually called a World 
Administrative Radio Conference (WARC).

Now, also please be cognizant of the current U.S. power limit on 60 
meters. It is 100 watts EIRP. What does that mean? If you're running 100 
watts and a gain antenna then you are violating the power limit. I know 
of one radio amateur in the the U.S. who claims he is running a 4 square 
antenna and 100 watts.....BUSTED!!!! That violates the rule because of 
the antenna gain. He would need to reduce his power down to around 50 
watts or so in order to be legal. Also be aware that if/when the U.S. is 
authorized to operate on the new 60 meter allocation there is a 15 watt 
power limit. Why do I mention this? Because many of the new solid state 
amplifiers available today WILL operate on 60 meters and they openly 
include that band on their band chart. You most definitely can run 1500 
watts on 60 meters with one of these amps. If you own one of the new 
solid state amps, do NOT be tempted to VIOLATE the the rules and risk a 
license revocation!

Let's keep it clean ADXA folks.....we're better operators because we're 
smarter, have well built stations regardless of size and are more 
effective operators than those who make a decision to cheat. Keep it 
clean!

73 Joel W5ZN