[ARC5] And then there were none.

[Glenn Little WB4UIV]

And where do we go when GPS quits?

Glenn
WB4UIV

On 12/6/2019 3:44 AM, Doran Platt wrote:
> Your observations are correct.  Most M, H, and HH NDBs are gone from 
> CONUS.  The US airways system is no longer predicated on this 
> equipment.  The low-powered, compass locators, associated with 
> airports, are also being shut down and being replaced with GPS-based 
> approaches.  There is no way the FAA will agree to supporting the mere 
> existance of a navaid that is not "certified".  There is nothing in 
> the FAA charter that supports "hobby" activities.  Elsewhere in the 
> world, there are still some decent NDBs around, but fewer and fewer.  
> ICAO, like the US FAA, just can't justify the support, cost, and 
> responsibility.  That said, I sure miss logging a new one.  In the mid 
> 1970's, I was lucky to find myself on a Caribbean island, maintaining, 
> among other things, a beautiful Federal Electronics 2000 watt HH 
> beacon on 407 kHz.  I regularly received requests for QSLs.  In the 
> early 1980s, as I recall, the entire facility was shut down.  Like the 
> buggy whip, technology moves and replaces many things.....
> Jeep K3HVG
>> On December 5, 2019 at 10:44 PM Robert Nickels < ranickel at comcast.net 
>> <mailto:ranickel at comcast.net>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> On 12/5/2019 8:57 PM, Waldo Magnuson via ARC5 wrote:
>>> The FAA seems to be determined to get rid of NDBs.
>>
>> Yeah, which as a long-time NDB DX-er, sucks.   There are decommissioning
>> notices posted all the time, yet DX-ing these 25 watt transmitters are
>> great sport for those who enjoy experimentation in a part of the
>> spectrum where everything is a compromise.
>>
>> I have had this wild notion that volunteers amateur radio licensees
>> could take over the maintenance and support of NDBs. Even if that were
>> to include paying the electric bill, it would be trivial if accurately
>> allocated, and most likely would just be absorbed by the airport
>> management.   There could be a requirement for annual checks of
>> frequency, modulation, power, etc just as is done now, but no government
>> resources would be required.   Same for maintenance.
>>
>> It just seems a shame to take down yet another piece of radio
>> infrastructure that still serves a purpose, even if it is more
>> hobby-oriented.   There's also the potential to add value by
>> incorporating new digital modulation in addition to the standard CW ID.
>> Hams are already authorized to operate beacons,  there's no demand for
>> spectrum in the longwave range, and there's no downside to leaving them
>> in place if there was no cost to the government.  So why not?
>>
>> 73, Bob W9RAN
>>
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-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn Little                ARRL Technical Specialist   QCWA  LM 28417
Amateur Callsign:  WB4UIV            wb4uiv at arrl.net    AMSAT LM 2178
QTH:  Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx)  USSVI LM   NRA LM   SBE ARRL TAPR
"It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class
of the Amateur that holds the license"

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