[Elecraft] US 60 Meter Band Changes Approved by FCC - CW Issues

[Mike Morrow]

Don wrote:

> Not all transceivers shift the transmit frequency.

Hi Don.  I suspect that *most* rigs do NOT shift the transmit frequency
when changing from USB to CW.  My ancient TS-50S does not.  But that
has nothing to do with the issue.

> The Elecraft K2 and K3 dial always indicate the carrier frequency, and 
> what is displayed does not change when changing modes.

That's identical to the Kenwood TS-50S.

If the TS-50S display shows 5357.0 kHz (the new 60m carrier frequency),
it will show that as LSB, USB, or CW modes are selected.  That accurately
reflects the transmitter carrier frequency remaining unchanged for all three
modes.  However, the TS-50S is normally configured when in CW mode for the
receiver to be in USB mode, but shifted down from the displayed frequency
by 0.8 kHz so that a received signal on 5357.0 kHz will produce an 800 Hz
sidetone.  So, the transmitter carrier frequency remains 5357.0 khz, and
the receiver carrier frequency shifts down to 5356.2 kHz when mode is
changed from USB to CW.

> With either Elecraft or Yaesu, there is nothing complicated to figure 
> out - set the displayed frequency to the center channel frequency - but 
> with the Yaesu, one must do that AFTER setting to CW mode.  With the 
> Elecraft gear, you can set the frequency in whichever mode you choose, 
> then switch to CW.

But "complexity" is not the issue.

Regardless of whether the receiver or transmitter is shifted to switch
between USB and CW, the point here is that one will NOT be able to have
his Elecraft (or any other rig) tuned to 5357.0 kHz on USB, and then 
simply switch mode to CW and carry on.  The Elecraft, my Kenwood, and most
other rigs would then transmit on 5357.0 kHz, **violating** the 
requirements of the new FCC rule 97.305(f) that CW signals on the 60
meter channels transmit on the channel center frequency (here 5358.5 kHz).
For every ham rig currently available (including the K3), some thought
will need to be exercised before transferring modes between USB and CW
on the 60 meter band.  It's NOT going to be only the simple and customary
shift of the emission mode switch to CW...it will also require ensuring that
the CW transmission takes place on the channel center frequency, 1.5 kHz
above the channel carrier frequency!  That's the ONLY point I've tried to
show.  The constraints of channelized operation are still somewhat foreign
to most hams, and this particular issue arises only due to the addition
of CW as a new U.S. 60m band mode.

For rigs whose carrier frequency never changes with mode change, the
easiest approach to add 60 meter CW capability will be by programming
five channels on the specified 60m *carrier* frequencies (like 5357.0 kHz)
for USB Phone, Data, and RTTY (but NEVER CW) modes, plus five frequencies
on the specified 60m *center* frequencies (like 5358.5 kHz) for CW mode
ONLY.

I suppose it will need to be determined if there is any value, for 60m
only, of enabling a shift from 5357.0 kHz USB operation to 5358.5 kHz
CW operation with no operator intervention other than changing mode.
Were that desired, then the rig in question would need to shift the
transmitted carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to to 5358.5, and shift
the receiver carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to 5357.7 kHz (if an
800 Hz sidetone pitch is desired).

Such issues have never been been imposed on ham band operations, and
thus represent a novelty to most.  Even those familiar with MARS, CAP,
SHARES, etc. have likely not dealt with such, since little or none of
the operations on those outside-ham-band services use CW.

FWIW, the effective date of the 60m band changes in the US is 30 days
after publication of the rule changes in the Federal Register, and
**NOT** 30 days after the FCC approval on 18 November 2011.  Folks
must take care NOT to use the new rules BEFORE they are effective,
and NOT to use the old rules afterward.

Anyone wishing to monitor the Federal Register for rule publication
can do so at:

 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR&browsePath=2011

73,
Mike / KK5F