[ARC5] And then there were none.

[Tim]

I can still do Celestial Nav - and Morse Code....HIHI
Tim
N6CC

On Fri, Dec 6, 2019 at 6:08 AM Glenn Little WB4UIV <
glennmaillist at bellsouth.net> 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>
> 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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