[AMRadio] Band Plan

[Donald Chester]

Actually, this has more to do with RM-11759, which is largely centred round
the ACDS allocation in Part 97. The push for automatically controlled data
transmission is primarily for the benefit of Winlink operators who want to
use ham radio for just that, to circumvent paying for commercial e-mail
service to their RVs and private yachts. Some Winlink operators have
admitted that they have no interest in amateur radio at all, but took  the
test and became licensed only to have access to free e-mail.

The connection with the band plan is that in their petition, ARRL asserts
that the 2006 phone band expansion caused the FCC rules to be inconsistent
with IARU Region 1 and 2 band plans. Examination of these band plans would
suggest the contrary. Here are excerpts from R1 and R2  band plans for the
3500-3650 kHz frequency range. Unabridged versions may be viewed by clicking
on the link under each chart.

Region I	3.5 MHz Band:
Frequency, kHz		     Bandwidth, Hz          Modes of emission
3500-3580   	                                200
CW
3580-3590                		500		Narrow band modes -
digimodes
3590-3600                		500
Narrow band modes - digimodes
Automatically controlled data stations (unattended) 
 				
3600-3620                		2700    		All modes -
digimodes		   
Automatically controlled data stations (unattended)

3600-3650                		2700    		All modes,
3630 kHz - Digital Voice 
				                                 Centre of
Activity, SSB contest preferred
http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php/spectrum-and-band-plans/hf  

Region II	3.5 MHz band:
Frequency, kHz		     Bandwidth, Hz          Modes of emission
3500-3580  	                               200 	            CW
3580-3590                		500                     CW, Digital
modes Examples: RTTY, PSK, FSK, etc.
3590-3600                		500     	             CW,
Digital modes, ACDS
3600-3625                		2700    		All modes,
ACDS
3600-3650                		2700    		All modes
SSB contest preferred
http://www.hflink.com/bandplans/Region_2_MF__HF_Bandplan_Annex__1_2008.pdf  
`

Overall, the current US rules appear to be more consistent with these
regional band plans than they would be under the proposed changes. Region I
and II band plans each allow phone and image (all modes) down to 3600 kHz,
corresponding to the present US sub-band boundary. US regulations presently
allow ACDS in 3585-3600 kHz, and two thirds of that segment is in harmony
with ACDS segments at 3590-3600 in both regional plans. The proposed shift
of the US segment would preclude licensees from transmitting ACDS in the
3590-3600 kHz segment listed in both band plans. The petition does not
propose any expansion of the 15 kHz ACDS segment, and the only
inconsistencies between present US rules and the regional band plans are the
5 kHz of ACDS privileges at 3585-3590 kHz, and the maximum bandwidths of
ACDS signals in the segment that US amateurs share with other countries.
This appears less significant than the 50 kHz of phone/image spectrum listed
in the band plans that the proposals in RM-11759 would place off-limits to
US licensees. In any case, IARU band plans merely  voluntary guidelines, and
carry no force of international law.

> What does your response have to do with the IARU Region 2 organization,
> which the U.S. is part of and represented by the ARRL,  in reviewing the
> Region 2 band plan? The IARU organization reviews the Region 1, 2, and 3
> band plans every couple of years.
> 
> Pete, wa2cwa
> 
> On Thu, 24 Mar 2016 19:43:07 -0500 donroden at hiwaay.net writes:
> > Someone should tell the ARRL that if boaters can't afford commercial
> >
> > email, maybe they can't afford that 100 foot yacht.
> >
> > Don W4DNR