[CW] 600 Meter Amateur Band for CW?

K0HB k-zero-hb at earthlink.net
Fri Jun 6 10:39:19 EDT 2008


Other than a nostalgic hangout for old sailors like you and me (not a
particularly good argument in a regulatory proceeding) 600 meters doesn't
strike me as a good candidate for an Amateur Radio band.

73, de Hans, K0HB
--
 ><{{{{*>    http://www.home.earthlink.net/~k0hb   


> [Original Message]
> From: David Ring <n1ea at arrl.net>
> To: CW Reflector <cw at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 6/6/2008 2:21:55 PM
> Subject: [CW] 600 Meter Amateur Band for CW?
>
> Hello CW gang,
>
> There is an interesting discussion going on at
> http://groups.google.com/group/radio-officers?hl=en
>
> It is about a proposal for a new amateur band at 600 meters.  I'm
> trying to incorporate the wishes of five groups world wide who are
> seeking to bring back stations on 500 kHz of "commercial
> radiotelegraphy coast stations" including one group in France who is
> proposing a volunteer distress back up system on 500 kHz.
>
> Here is a taste of the conversations:
>
> Glenn,
>
> I'll have to check and see if I can find the ITU regs, mine are ten
> years out of date.  In the USA ships are still authorized the band 410
> to 512 kHz.  We have six coast stations still authorized 500 kHz as
> well as one or two working frequencies - all but one are off the air
> on MF and HF.
>
> This proposal and compromise is the ONLY way that I can see this group
> as a whole moving forward and supporting and initiating this project.
>
> The other option is for those who are amateurs or those who would
> rather have amateurs on 500 kHz to write to their National Amateur
> Radio Organization and say:  "I support an amateur radio band at 500
> kHz."
>
> Right now in the USA, the amateurs who are operating near 500 kHz
> cannot operate ON 500 kHz because it is a marine radio frequency for
> WT.
>
> If this group had a "VOTE" button, I'd put this up to a vote.
>
> I have received many emails off the list saying this is a sound and
> fair proposal for all concerned, but I get a few who say that any
> mention of 500 kHz and museum stations is proposterous.
>
> With the addition of museum stations, we HAVE their support and we can
> support them - and by using them both for national emergency
> communications - we strengthen the entire argument.
>
> Anyone want this job?  It is up for grabs!
>
> 73
>
> DR
> On 6/6/08, Glenn VK4DU <vk4du at hf.ro> wrote:
> >
> >
> >  David,
> >
> >  As I have said to you on this list and directly, of course I want to
reach a
> >  compromise.
> >
> >  However, if said compromise flies in the face of reality, then it is
just
> >  not going to get up.
> >
> >  Whilst I have the utmost respect for the dedication of KPH, we can not
put
> >  up a proposal that has no basis in law.
> >
> >  500 is no longer a distress frequency.  500 is no longer restricted to
CW.
> >
> >  FACTS.
> >
> >  No one, regardless of what kind of a station they operate, can propose
> >  compliance with provisions of the RR WHICH NO LONGER EXIST.
> >
> >  If we put forward a proposal which calls for re-instatement of the W/T
> >  distress system on 500, it will completely wreck our credibility.
> >
> >  IMO have only to quote the GMDSS, and the proposal is sunk, without a
trace.
> >
> >
> >  I look back fondly on my days of operating on 500...and I would love
to hear
> >  lots of CW there again.
> >
> >  The ONLY way to achieve this is to combine forces with the amateurs. 
There
> >  is no international association of R/O's which has status with ITU.
> >
> >  Amateurs outnumber ex-R/O's by a vast majority.  Operational coast
stations
> >  used for historic purposes are located in the US only.
> >
> >  Exactly how many stations of the "The New 500 kHz Network" are ready
to come
> >  up on 500, right now?  An effective MF coast station can hardly be
> >  constructed overnight.
> >
> >  We have to be pragmatic......the opposition is very strong, very well
> >  resourced, extremely well connected politically at IMO and ITU and
cares
> >  NOTHING for the history of 500.
> >
> >  As you know, amateurs have been pushing the boundaries at 500, with
QSO's of
> >  thousands of miles using milliwatts.
> >
> >  I haven't heard much distress traffic on 5 ton of late....
> >
> >
> >  73
> >  Glenn
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  -----Original Message-----
> >  From: radio-officers at googlegroups.com
> >  [mailto:radio-officers at googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of David Ring
> >
> > Sent: Friday, 6 June 2008 19:31
> >  To: radio-officers at googlegroups.com
> >  Subject: [Radio Officers, &c] Re: 600 Meter Band Proposal - First Draft
> >
> >
> >  1.)  The use of SITOR on 500 kHz is because of the proposal of "The
New 500
> >  kHz Network" out of France.  This is what they are proposing.
> >
> >  2.)  500 kHz will be restricted to A1, A2 and F1 FEC and ARQ for ships
and
> >  coast stations.  Again the F1 FEC/ARQ is for the "New 500 kHz Network"
out
> >  of France.  I have no problem with the amateurs using any mode that
they
> >  want elsewhere.
> >
> >  3.) Distress, Urgent, Safety - these are retained for the requirements
of
> >  both present coast stations, Museum stations and the needs of the "New
500
> >  kHz Network".
> >
> >  4.) Any frequency can be used for distress.  If the "New 500 kHz
Network" is
> >  sucessful at their proposal, this language is there for them to offer
their
> >  services.
> >
> >  5) The Museum stations and others have mentioned that having general
access
> >  to 500 kHz without professional CW proficiency would not be good. 
These
> >  stations are comitted to NO access for radio amateurs and the proposal
has
> >  reached a compromise that allows the amateurs use of 500 kHz. 
Moreover,
> >  with 500 kHz being open to amateurs a new reason for both amateur
> >  involvement, and the existance of current and museum stations arises:
> >  Communications during national or international disaster including
ship and
> >  aircraft distress.
> >
> >  Glenn, what I want to do is to find something we can go forward on.
> >  Have you been paying attention to the objections of the Museum
stations and
> >  those associated with them, and with Sweden's suggestions?
> >
> >  73
> >
> >  DR
> >
> >  On 6/6/08, glenn at gmdss.com.au <glenn at gmdss.com.au> wrote:
> >  >
> >  >  David
> >  >
> >  >  Sorry, but there are a couple of shortcomings with this proposal.
> >  >
> >  >  1. It proposes a mixture of SITOR and CW on 500 - these modes are
> >  > incompatible.  A distress message sent in SITOR won't be received by
a
> >  > CW station, so you can't include a provision calling for QRT SOS.
> >  >
> >  >  2. It restricts amateurs to CW only.  That will get the amateur's
> >  > backs up - they are using all kinds of modes at the moment.
> >  >
> >  >  3. If you use the word 'Distress' in the proposal, you are
> >  > effectively  calling for re-designation of 500 for distress and
safety
> >  > comms, after  a WRC removed that designation.
> >  >
> >  >  4. Noting that the GMDSS was introduced in 1999 and shipowners are
no
> >  > longer required to fit a W/T station, there will have to be a
> >  > seriously good reason to reverse the decision of a WRC and
redesignate
> >  > 500 as a distress channel.
> >  >
> >  >  5. The WRC removed the distress designation for 500, and opened up
> >  > the  channel to all data modes (including CW).  Accordingly,  there
is
> >  > no  longer any legislative or regulatory requirement to insist on CW
> >  > proficiency for access to 500.
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >  I am only playing devil's advocate here - these are the questions
the
> >  > opposition will surely ask.
> >  >
> >  >  I understand that you are seeking compromise, and I applaud you for
> >  > it, however we need to be very careful with our choice of words,
> >  > otherwise we are just giving our opposition ammunition.
> >  >
> >  >  If you leave words like distress watchkeeping, vessel in distress
and
> >  > ships in a public proposal, it will be dismissed out of hand.
> >  >
> >  >  As Fritz, Peter and others have said, let's get together with the
> >  > IARU  are move forward - we can sort this stuff out later.  I am sure
> >  > that  amateurs will be happy to stay off 500, and leave it to the ex-
> >  > professionals.
> >  >
> >  >  73
> >  >  Glenn
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >  On Jun 6, 12:14 pm, "David Ring" <n... at arrl.net> wrote:
> >  >  > A proposal for a mixed marine, government, military and amateur
use
> >  > of  > 500 kHz and for an exclusive amateur band at 505 to 515 kHz.
> >  >  >
> >  >  > Knowing the value of 500 kHz for extended ground wave coverage,  >
> >  > especially over salt water, and the importance of immediate  >
> >  > interconnectivity between government, red cross, red star and red  >
> >  > crescent, military and other government and non-government  >
> >  > organizations and amateurs in the event of a national or
international
> >  > > emergency, we current and former maritime radio officers,
government
> >  > > radio operators, police radio operators, aviation radio officers, 
>
> >  > holders of licensed maritime coast stations, of many countries on all
> >  > > continents of the world with to propose the following:
> >  >  >
> >  >  > An amateur authorization of 500 to 515 kHz with a guard channel of
> >  > 496  > to 504 kHz for 500 kHz "Distress, Urgent, Safety, Maritime and
> >  > General  > Maritime ship to ship and ship to shore calling".
> >  >  >
> >  >  > I propose that government and coast stations and ship stations be
> >  > > authorized A1, A2  > and F1 (FEC and ARQ SITOR) on 500 kHz.  I
> >  > propose that Amateurs be  > authorized A1 emission in the band 505 to
> >  > 515 kHz.
> >  >  >
> >  >  > I further propose that ONLY 1) Those with a current valid amateur
> >  > > radio license with current or past commercial WT / Radiotelegraph 
>
> >  > license (or employment with any government, government agency, or  >
> >  > military service including coast guard where such a license wasn't  >
> >  > required) who agree to be bound by the ITU Maritime Mobile Rules and
> >  > > Regulations 2) Any and all Coastal Marine Radiotelegraphy stations
> >  > or  > Military, or Government Radiotelegraphy stations shall be
> >  > permitted to  > use 500 kHz for the purpose of calling or if they are
> >  > a Coastal Marine  > Coastal Station any other communications
permitted
> >  > by ITU rules and  > regulations.  That these stations be authorized
to
> >  > use A1, A2  > emissions for calling on 500 kHz.  The amateur radio
> >  > operators will  > agree and ensure that their transmissions be in
> >  > accordance with both  > ITU Maritime Mobile and their nations
> >  > radiocommunications laws -  > WHICHEVER is more restrictive.
> >  > Government or Coastal Marine Stations  > and ships or marine stations
> >  > will be authorized for F1 emission for  > ARQ and FEC SITOR simplex
> >  radiotelegraphy over radio.
> >  >  >
> >  >  > ANY station hearing an SOS on 500 kHz - irrespective of their
being
> >  > > licensed or not, may after a suitable period, respond to the SOS in
> >  > > accordance with ITU rules and that it is understood that NO  >
> >  > commuications is to be permitted by these stations other than to  >
> >  > facilitate the communications with the vessel in distress.  Moreover,
> >  > > if there is a Commercial or Historical station that is in  >
> >  > communications with the vessel in distress, and that station  >
> >  > communicates with any amateur station to stop transmissions, that  >
> >  > station MUST  IMMEDIATELY stop all transmissions until such time if 
>
> >  > any that the ship is UNABLE to communicate with any Commercial or  >
> >  > Historical Coast Station at which time, they may resume distress  >
> >  > communications and relay.  Also that ANY station monitoring 500 kHz 
>
> >  > that hears an SOS be required to keep a written (or electronic) log
of
> >  > > the communications and relay that information to their nations - or
> >  > > other nations Rescue Coordination Center or other Coast Guard point
> >  > of  > contact.
> >  >  >
> >  >  > ===========
> >  >  >
> >  >  > Comments and corrections?
> >  >  >
> >  >  > 73
> >  >  >
> >  >  > DR
> >  >
> >  >
> >  > >
> >  >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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