[Lowfer] Suggestions for Part 5 Applicants

[k2ors at comcast.net]

Hello the list,

  Having successfully gone through the Part 5 license process several times now both for myself and giving a helping hand to other applicants I would like to share some observations:

1) In your experimental description, put in a statement that as part of your experiment you would like to contact foreign hams and if you like Part 15 unlicensed stations. I have never had this request turned down.

2) If you want a 5 year license instead of a 2 year license you need to put in language justifying the 5 year term. I have been successful 100% of the time in getting 5 year licenses (actually WD2XGJ and WE2XEB both received an extra week or two beyond 5 years). Since the experimental justification is usually oriented to propagation research, I put a statement in the experimental description that I want to observe propagation over a substantial portion of the 11 year sunspot cycle and that a 2 year license would not offer sufficiently different solar conditions. This has always been accepted.

3) Don't assume that a request for lower power will be more easily granted than a request for higher power. The FCC is looking for a well thought out experimental description, they just want to see that you are justifying everything that you are requesting. They will just as easily through out a bad application for 1 milliwatt and grant a license to a good application requesting 10 kW.

4) Ditto on frequencies. The FCC Office of Engineering and Technology is not bound by or even interested in what European governments have allocated hams in other countries. I requested and received 136-140 kHz for WD2XGJ.
If I were doing it over I probably could have received a grant for 135-190kHz with one license.

Just my 2c from one that has been through the mill several times now (3 down and 1 to go!)


--
73 Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ/WD2XSH/23/WE2XEB/2
FN42hi
http://www.w4dex.com/wd2xgj.htm