[Laser] Changes to ARRL VHF contest rules

[C. Turner]

Hi Tim,

I would second Jim's admonition to wait until the rules are published 
before making any specific comments.

***

As for the "5 milliwatt" limit for lasers, that was there all along.

Reading the Federal rules that govern such things, the lawful use of 
Class 3b/4 lasers (generally, those above 5 milliwatts, although it's 
more complicated than that!) is limited to certain very specific 
situations.  In general, however, you can't (legally) simply take a >5mW 
laser into the field without having obtained a variance:  The higher the 
power, the greater the restrictions and more extensive the precautions 
required to avoid accidental exposure.

Because the ARRL contest rules have ALWAYS disqualified operations done 
in an unlawful manner, one could easily argue that those who have used 
such high-power lasers in the past have done so at the peril of running 
afoul of this provision - unless they had already jumped through the 
necessary hoops of taking the appropriate precautions and obtaining the 
necessary permits.

To assert that the ARRL has somehow straitjacketed the use of lasers by 
stipulating the power restriction wouldn't be entirely fair - although 
one would hope to see the caveat  of something like "...unless proper 
variances have been obtained..." included.

Again, we have yet to see the new rule.

Clint
KA7OEI


Tim Toast said:
> I don't see any problem with that by itself, but the low power 
> restriction is kind of strange...that's new isn't it? It seems to put an unfair burden on LEDs and lasers. As long as there are not any eye-safety issues, why have a power limit so low? I hope that is some sort of "per square cm" thing and not a blanket "output" power.