[AReU] Operating on the new 60 meter band

[Tony Stone]

Enclosed below are some operating requirements for the new 60
meter bands that open on July 03, 2003 at midnight local time.
Be advised that the "center" frequency stated in the rules is the
"center of intelligence" and not what you will set your radio
dial to read. This information can be obtained at the following
web site:

<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/faq.html#sixty>

>From this web site, the dial frequencies are 1.5 KHz below the
listed "center" frequencies.

Channel Center                             5332 kHz
  Amateur Tuning Frequency          5330.5 kHz

Channel Center                           5348 kHz
 Amateur Tuning Frequency        5346.5 kHz

Channel Center                          5368 kHz
Amateur Tuning Frequency        5366.5 kHz

Channel Center                           5373 kHz
Amateur Tuning Frequency         5371.5 kHz

Channel Center                          5405 kHz (common US/UK)
 Amateur Tuning Frequency        5403.5 kHz



==>60-METER RULES ADD NEW RECORD-KEEPING REQUIREMENT

When the five new 60-meter channels become available to US Amateur Radio
operators at midnight (12 AM) local time on July 3, the rules will impose
a new record-keeping requirement for hams. The requirement applies only to
those using something other than a simple half-wave dipole for an antenna
on the 5-MHz allocation.

According to �97.303(s), a half-wave dipole on the 5 MHz allocation will
be presumed to have a gain of 0 dBd. "Licensees using other antennas must
maintain in their station records either manufacturer data on the antenna
gain or calculations of the antenna gain," the newest addition to the
FCC's Amateur Service rules says.

Because the new rules also require hams to run no more than 50 W effective
radiated power (ERP) on the new channels, the choice of antenna becomes an
important compliance factor. The FCC rules stipulate, "For the purpose of
computing ERP, the transmitter PEP will be multiplied with [sic] the
antenna gain relative to a dipole or the equivalent calculation in
decibels."

If you use a half-wave dipole--about 87 feet 3 inches for the "middle"
channel according to the formula--setting your transmitter's power output
power at up to 50 W peak envelope power (PEP) should ensure compliance.

Under no circumstances may amateurs on 5 MHz radiate more than 50 W ERP in
any direction, so those choosing to employ gain antennas will have to "do
the math" and calculate their ERP. They also will have to keep a record of
such antenna gain calculations on file. This might include documentation
such as output from a computer modeling program for a homebrew antenna
design. For example, an amateur using an array for 5 MHz exhibiting a
calculated or modeled gain of 3 dB would have to cut power to 25 W PEP to
comply with the new rules.

Operating on 60 meters is the subject of the July 2003 QST "It Seems to Us
. . ." editorial <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/01/1/> by ARRL
CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "If we demonstrate that we can use [the 60-meter
channels] responsibly, cooperatively and in the public interest, there is
no reason we cannot seek expanded access at an appropriate time," Sumner
wrote. "If your personal operating practices are inconsistent with that,
please do yourself and everyone else a favor and confine your operating to
the traditional bands."

The FCC Report and Order in ET Docket 02-98 is available on the FCC's Web
site <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-105A1.doc>.
The ARRL has posted a list of frequently asked questions concerning 5 MHz
operation on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/faq.html#sixty>

73

Tony