[Elecraft] 60 meters and the K3S

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Comments on the R & O - Effective 0000 EST on March 5, 2012.

Amateurs are permitted to operate on five specific frequency channels, 
each having an effective bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

*Table 1:*
Channel 1: 5330.5 kHz
Channel 2: 5346.5 kHz
Channel 3: 5357.0 kHz
Channel 4: 5371.5 kHz
Channel 5: 5403.5 kHz

These frequencies are available for use by stations having a control 
operator holding a General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class license. It 
is important to note that the frequencies shown above _are suppressed 
carrier frequencies_ – the frequencies that appear in your transceiver’s 
tuning display when your transceiver is in the USB mode.

Amateurs may transmit with an effective radiated power of 100 W or less, 
relative to a half-wave dipole. If you’re using a commercial directional 
antenna, FCC Rules require you to keep a copy of the manufacturer’s gain 
specifications in your station records. If you built the directional 
antenna yourself, you must calculate the gain and keep the results in 
your station records.

When using a directional antenna, you must take your antenna gain into 
account when setting your RF output power. For example, if your antenna 
offers 3 dB gain, your maximum legal output power on 60 meters should be 
no more than 50 W (50 W plus 3 dB gain equals 100 W Effective Radiated 
Power).

*Upper Sideband Operation*
Upper Sideband operation on 60 meters is simple. Just tune your 
transceiver to one of the channel frequencies shown in Table 1 and 
operate, being careful you do not over modulate and create “splatter” 
that would fall outside the 2.8 kHz channel bandwidths. If your 
transceiver allows you to adjust your maximum SSB transmit bandwidth, 
setting it to 2.4 kHz should keep you well within the legal limit.

*CW Operation*
CW operation must take place at the _center of your chosen channel_. 
This means that your transmitting frequency must be 1.5 kHz above the 
suppressed carrier frequency as specified in the Report and Order (see 
Table 1). Operating at strict channel-center frequencies may come as a 
disappointment to many, but cooperating with the NTIA is key to expanded 
privileges in the future.
The channel center frequencies are:

Channel 1: 5332.0 kHz
Channel 2: 5348.0 kHz
Channel 3: 5358.5 kHz
Channel 4: 5373.0 kHz
Channel 5: 5405.0 kHz

Consult your transceiver manual. Some transceivers transmit CW at the 
exact frequencies shown on their displays, but others offset the actual 
transmission frequency by a certain amount (for example, 600 Hz). If 
your manual is not clear on this point, contact the manufacturer. If you
have access to a frequency counter, this is an excellent tool for 
ensuring that your CW signal is on the channel center frequency.

*Digital Operation*
Our expanded privileges on 60 meters were the result of collaboration 
between the FCC and the NTIA – the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, the agency that manages and coordinates 
telecommunications activities among US government departments, the 
primary users of the band. The NTIA expressed concern about possible 
interference and requested that amateurs limit digital operating to 
PSK31 and PACTOR III only.

It is certainly possible to interpret the FCC Report and Order somewhat 
broadly as it concerns digital operating on the band, but be careful not 
to read too much into the text.Therefore, as a practical matter it 
appears that any J2D data emission is to be permitted up to a bandwidth 
of 2.8 kHz, provided that care is exercised to limit the length of 
transmissions

With an eye to the potential for expanded 60 meter privileges in the 
future, the ARRL believes it is critical to cooperate fully with the 
NTIA. Therefore, the ARRL asks all amateurs to *_restrict 60-meter 
digital operations to PSK31 or PACTOR III._**_
_*
With PSK31 you must operate on the following channel center frequencies:
Channel 1: 5332.0 kHz
Channel 2: 5348.0 kHz
Channel 3: 5358.5 kHz
Channel 4: 5373.0 kHz
Channel 5: 5405.0 kHz

The easiest way to achieve this is to place your transceiver in the USB 
mode and tune to one of the suppressed carrier channel frequencies shown 
in Table 1.

With your PSK31 software display configured to indicate audio 
frequencies, click your mouse cursor at the 1500 Hz mark (see below). 
With your radio in the USB mode, this marker indicates the center of the 
channel and it is the frequency on which you should be transmitting.

PACTOR III operation on 60 meters is straightforward. With your 
transceiver in the USB mode, tune to one of the suppressed carrier 
channel frequencies shown in Table 1. Note that only live 
keyboard-to-keyboard operation of PACTOR III is allowed. Unattended 
automatic operation is not permitted.


73
Bob, K4TAX