[ARC5] And then there were none.

[Bill Cromwell]

astray

73,

Bill  KU8H

On 12/6/19 9:08 AM, Glenn Little WB4UIV wrote:
> 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:  WB4UIVwb4uiv 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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-- 
bark less - wag more