[Fists] 80 meter Band Plan

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

A post I made to SKCC reflector.

I think the 80 meter CW band should be 3.500-3700 - 200 kHz should be the 
ballpark.

Why do Extras need so much SSB space?  It is useless - all we want to do is 
have a QSO with our CW buddies once in a while :-)

Compare 15 meters - that should be the guidelines - 15 is a daytime band - 
when MORE frequencies are available for amateur use.  80 meters is the 
lowest band and at night often the ONLY band for all USA amateurs.

(The SKCC post continues below)

73

David


I agree with this, but perhaps people don't understand two additional 
problems.

1)  "Foreign SSB" will be moved down below 3.600"

2)  RTTY which is normally around 3610-3630 will be moved down below 3.600.

3)  Novices and Technicians also will populate 3.525-3.600.

4)  Displaced traffic nets will now be between 3.525 and 3.600 - along with 
foreign SSB, digital RTTY and regular conversational and contest CW.

I see a "probably band plan" of being:

3.500-3.515 DX

3.520-3.525 Regular QSOs - Extra class only.

3.525-3.535 DX - General Class and above.

3.535-3.545 RTTY between ITU regions (Europe uses this area as does Asia).

3.550 to 3.565 General/Novice/Tech general CW work.

3.565 to 3.575 RTTY.

3.575-3600 Foreign SSB.

OK - now please tell me where traffic nets are going to go?

73

David Ring
N1EA



--- In skcc at yahoogroups.com, "Frank Thrash" <fwt at ...> wrote:
>
> Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 11:54 AM
> Subject: Latest From The FCC
>
>
> The recent re-allocation of 3600-3700kHz to Extra Class SSB operations has 
> stirred up a hornet's nest.  Many folks have called me to express their 
> "extreme displeasure" (to put it mildly) with this action.  It's obvious 
> to most of us that the FCC hasn't thoroughly examined the impact of such a 
> change.
>
> - It virtually eliminates access for CW and Digital operation in that 
> area.  This impacts most Section, Region and Area nets.
>
> - By being for "Extra Class Only", this limits access for General and 
> Advanced Class to all of 75 kHz of the 80 meter band.
>
> - Many Emergency Response nets use the 3600-3700 kHz portion for local 
> nets and would be crammed into that narrow portion.
>
> In addition to disenfranchising Advanced/General CW and Digital operators, 
> it severely limits Amateur Radio's capabilities in many ways.
>
> I've spoken with Steve Ewald WV1X at Hqs. who told me that the Board of 
> Directors and other folks at Hqs. are discussing possible courses of 
> actions that can be taken to address this situation.  Let's all hope that 
> some reasonable solution can be found before NTS, NTSD and ARES are 
> crippled on the 80-meter band.
>
> 73, Jim KB5W
> Chair, CAS
> Mgr. RN5 Cycle 3&4
>
>
> Frank W4DLZ
>