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

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

I actually was responding to a statement made in a post saying that most 
transceivers shift the TRANSMIT frequency.  If there are any that do, I 
believe they are in the minority.

With the K3, if 5 memories are used for 60 meters, one can set channel 
hopping, but that also makes it easy to switch between SSB and CW - if 
one sets VFO A to SSB (with its correct carrier frequency) and sets VFO 
B to CW with its correct center channel frequency, then changing 
between  SSB and CW is simply a matter of tapping the A/B button -- the 
M1 - 4 buttons could be used for data modes if desired.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/20/2011 7:23 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> 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
>
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