[NLRS] Beacon Question and a Modest Proposal

[Bill Ockert]

Good morning everyone,

I have been considering a 6m beacon for EN07 for some time but rather than 
sticking with the
traditional CW beacon I was thinking of an updated one.  With the technology 
that the WSJT
protocols made available and the  margin that those protocols provides there 
are likely potential
 openings that are being missed.

What I am considering is a new generation of beacon  that would run CW for 
30 seconds in a
 period, ISCAT (or similar) for 30 seconds and FSK441 for 30 seconds. 
Unfortunately I immediately
ran into a rules issue. Automatic beacon operation is only allowed from 
50.060 to 50.080 (97.203d)
and that segment is CW only (97.305a&c).  It also appears that 6m is the 
only band where automatic
beacon operation is allowed that such operation is limited to CW.

This leads to the question.  I have noticed that at a beacon located in the 
area is not in the 50.060
to 50.080 segment.  Does anyone know how the rules are being accomodated by 
that beacon?  Obviously
it could be being run with a control operator either present or remote but 
the control operator would need
to be available 24/7/365 if the beacon is being run that way.  While 
possible that seems unlikely so curious
what is being done and would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows.

And to the proposal.  With the advent of the WSJT protocols the limitation 
in the rules at least as far as
50MHz may be a dated.  I have been thinking about petitioning the FCC for a 
rule change to allow
automatic beacon operation in the 50.3 to 50.4 (or some other suitable) 
segment with the argument that
use of protocols with margins greatly enhanced from the current CW beacons 
would be of general usefullness
both to amateurs as a whole and specifically to folks studying propogation 
on one of the more dynamic bands.
I know that I can petition as an individual and have actually started 
writing the petition requesting the appropriate
change to 97.203(d).   However it is likely that if a group such as Northern 
Lights and / or Central States were to
sponser the petition it would get more traction from the get go.

Just some food for thought and discussion.  I would especially like to hear 
comments on the proposed band segment
along with possible alternates and justifications.  50.3 to 50.4 seems 
fairly underused, does not show up much if at all
in the band plans and is close enough to the major weak signal activity that 
most antennas should receive well there.

I also want to hear from people think this is an idiotic idea but please let 
me know the reasons why.

Thanks in advance!

73 de Bill ND0B