[Lowfer] It's time that everyone hears this...

[Ed Phillips]

> to convince them the benefits of QRP and QRSS modes. Many are interested in
> QRSS. Others and I have convinced the group that there is no need to have an
> allocation above 170kc as the Lowfers need their space for QRP operation.
> There is also talk of QRT times for the sake of the Lowfers. We have
> listening only times on the MW bands for the sake of any emergency traffic
> near 500kc. Just like the amateurs, we have the authority to communicate
> with any other service for the purpose of an emergency. People still do use
> 500kc as was proven a couple of weeks ago. The group is open for any amateur
> to participate in. I can forward the contact info for whoever wants to join.
> It costs nothing. I think there is some or at least a couple of the Lowfer
> members that are in the SHMRG group. It has been quiet until I spoke of it
> tonight. Our administrator, Ken, said some nice words about the Lowfers
> tonight, and I thought that it was appropriate that the Lowfers know how
> much we appreciate their experimentation and discoveries. It appears that
> this permit to operate QRO on 1750 is the beginning of an amateur
> allocation. It appears now that there might be an allocation in the MW band
> as well. This is good as far as antenna experimenting goes. Yes when it goes
> amateur there will be the jerks and so forth, but I think that after seeing
> how the non-Lowfer people are having a tough time figuring out how to get a
> signal out, this will follow with the amateurs in keeping out the
> non-serious jerks.

	Unfortunately, lousy signals in this part of the spectrum will almost
certainly cause BCI and attract a lot more public attention than
operation in the HF bands; I worry about the ultimate consequences when
appliance operators give the band a try, as they most certainly will. As
for 200 watt+ amplifiers, to my personal knowledge that has been tried
with considerable success (not by me!) on the present Lowfer band.  Not
recently.

Ed