[Elecraft] KRC2 first!

Thu May 15 02:50:06 2003

One has to wonder just how effective emergency communications can be on SSB
with a limit of 50 watts ERP. While 50 watts into a good dipole will work
all over the country and most of the world on some bands, it seems
unrealistic to justify these frequencies on an emergency basis and then
limit power to such a level, and to SSB at that.

I am not a CW fanatic although I do operate a lot of CW and have for nearly
58 years now. But under difficult conditions of QRN and poor propagation,
especially during Hurricane Season on paths between the Southern US and the
Caribbean, it doesn't add up to restrict operation the way the R&O says.

Well, time will tell - I expect that the new channels will see plenty of use
once they become available. And if we really and truly stick to the 50 watts
ERP - virtually unenforceable by the FCC - it will be even more interesting
to see how well they work at that power level.

As a QRP operator I applaud the intentional restriction of power. As a
responsible SSB operator, I applaud the intentional restriction of
transmitted occupied bandwidth. But, if I were ever involved in a "for real"
emergency situation, I am not sure how well these restrictions will allow
the job to get done.

Meanwhile the old faithful IC-765 stands ready to go until something is
resolved for the K2.

73/72, George
Amateur Radio W5YR -  the Yellow Rose of Texas
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13QE
"In the 57th year and it just keeps getting better!"
<mailto:[email protected]>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Rock" <[email protected]>
To: "Thom LaCosta" <[email protected]>; "Jack Brindle"
<[email protected]>; "Daniel Reynolds" <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KRC2 first!

> Amen!!   I would need to search quite a while to find my microphone for
the K2.  CW is much more civilized.  But then I remember when AM and SSB ham
radio were
> civilized too.
>     Kevin.   KD5ONS.
>
>
>
> 5/14/2003 8:15:35 PM, Daniel Reynolds <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >The whole 'reason' that the ARRL gave to the FCC to justify for these
> >frequencies was emergency use - especially between the Southern U.S. and
the
> >Caribbean when 80 was too short and 40 was too long during Huricane
season. How
> >many frequencies do we need for that?
> >
> >Maybe if we were better regulated (from within), more 'professional', and
> >serious about maintaining order on the bands, the government would
actually
> >welcome us. It makes perfect sense why they only gave us five channels if
> >you've ever spent 15 minutes listening to some of those jokers on 80 and
20m
> >SSB. SSB ops are what have driven me to CW only.
> >
> >- Daniel/AA0NI