[Lowfer] FCC Denies 136khz Band [Other Viewpoint]

[Lewis Denton]

Les, I fully agree with you, who knows what the next 5 years will bring on
160/190, now that we can fully concentrate on it.
I think we would have lost something if we had been able to raise power and
made a few contacts. 160/190 probably would have been forgotten.
On to improving antennas, modes and noise immunity.
Lewis
God Bless America
----- Original Message -----
From: "Les Rayburn" <les@highnoonfilm.com>
To: <lowfer@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 06:47 AM
Subject: [Lowfer] FCC Denies 136khz Band [Other Viewpoint]


>
> As usual, look for me to have a different viewpoint on all this.
>
> I submit that the FCC decision might be a good thing in the
> long run. Like most hams, I was disappointed initially by
> the decision, and the less than perfect logic that went into
> it.
>
> But let's face facts, the electrical utilities invest a lot of
> money into political contributions and have a strong
> lobby, opposed only by the ARRL. In the world of
> politics, money usually wins.
>
> But the other fact is that a 136khz band would have
> brought with it a lot of "reinventing the wheel" by
> the amateur community-most of whom would have
> ignored decades of amateur research into LF
> conducted by LOWFERS!
>
> You'd have been subjected to an endless debate of
> why a longwire really could be made to work within
> the antenna restrictions, or my favorite subject, "136khz
> from my apartment".  And hey, that whole "CW
> is the only logical mode" thing would have been fun too.
>
> In the end, you'd have had a few hams on both coasts
> who would have made successful trans-Atlantic and trans-pacific
> contacts via QRSS (much hyped by QST) and then five years
> from now, perhaps some real innovations by a handful of
> dedicated souls (most of whom would be the same group
> who have been subscribed to this list for years!)
>
> The only real downside is that we will lose some new blood
> in our ranks...hams who would have pushed the envelope.
> Those who would not have been happy with just running
> a QRSS beacon year after year, or trying to squeeze another
> .005db of loss out of some loop TX antenna.
>
> But the upside is that we still have this group, we still have
> 160-190khz...and it still isn't as easy as building a 100 watt
> PA and loading up a big coil. You still have limitations and
> restrictions, and those will continue to define LF experimentation
> in this country.
>
> I for one, plan on returning next season with a new beacon...
> and continuing with this obscure, insane pursuit for years
> to come. This is the real "Topband" gentlemen---no hams
> allowed.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>
>
> Les Rayburn, director
> High Noon Film
> 100 Centerview Drive
> Suite 111
> Birmingham, AL 35216
> (205) 824-8930
> (205) 824-8960 FAX
> (205) 253-4867 CELL
> http://www.highnoonfilm.com
>
>
>
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