[OFARC] We're Fixin' to get the 2200m & 630m Bands !

Tue Apr 28 23:19:36 EDT 2015

I guess it may finally be time to dig out the auto - variometer coupler
system for my Skanti and finish the refurbishment of it: tunes down to 400
kHz into a 50 ft vertical with a top hat.

Matt
W2NS
On Apr 28, 2015 5:31 PM, "N5DWI" <JOHN at n5dwi.com> wrote:

> Get out your Big Coil winding gear and get ready !
>
> ===================
>
> FCC Proposes to Permit Amateur Access to 2200 and 630 Meters
>
>
> http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-proposes-to-permit-amateur-access-to-2200-and-630-meters
>
> 04/28/2015
>
> Amateur Radio is poised to gain access to two new bands! The FCC has
> allocated a new LF band, 135.7 to 137.8 kHz, to the Amateur Service on a
> secondary basis. Allocation of the 2.1 kHz segment, known as 2200
> meters, was in accordance with the Final Acts of the 2007 World
> Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). The Commission also has proposed
> a new secondary 630 meter MF allocation at 472 to 479 kHz to Amateur
> Radio, implementing decisions made at WRC-12. No Amateur Radio operation
> will be permitted in either band until the FCC determines, on the basis
> of comments, the specific Part 97 rules it must frame to permit
> operation in the new bands. Amateur Radio would share both allocations
> with unlicensed Part 15 power line carrier (PLC) systems operated by
> utilities to control the power grid, as well as with other users. In
> addition, the FCC has raised the secondary Amateur Service allocation at
> 1900 to 2000 kHz to primary, while providing for continued use by
> currently unlicensed commercial fishing vessels of radio buoys on the
> "open sea."
>
> The allocation changes, associated proposed rules, and suggested topics
> for comment are contained in a 257-page FCC Report and Order, Order, and
> Notice of Proposed Rulemaking addressing three dockets --- ET-12-338,
> ET-15-99, and IB-06-123 --- which affect various radio services in
> addition to the Amateur Service. The FCC released the document on April 27.
>
> With respect to the new LF sliver band at 135-7-137.8 kHz, the FCC
> concluded that Amateur Radio and PLC systems can coexist there. "Since
> the Commission last considered this issue, amateurs have successfully
> operated in the band under experimental licenses without reported PLC
> interference," the FCC said. "We are also encouraged by the fact that
> numerous fixed radionavigation beacons, which operate at much higher
> powers, share spectrum with PLC systems without reported interference."
>
> In 2003 the FCC turned down an ARRL proposal to create a 135.7-137.8 kHz
> Amateur Radio allocation, after utilities raised fears of a clash
> between Amateur Radio and PLC systems operating below the AM broadcast
> band. This time, the FCC said, "It is clear that we will have to
> establish appropriate requirements for amateur use of the band, if we
> are to ensure compatibility with PLC systems." WRC-07 set a maximum
> effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) limit of 1 W, which is what
> the FCC is proposing.
>
> The FCC said it "explicitly" rejects the suggestion that it choose one
> use of the spectrum over the other. "Our objective is to allocate
> spectrum on a secondary basis to amateur stations in a
> manner...compatible with existing PLC systems," the FCC said. "However,
> we also expect to permit amateur operators to make use of the allocation
> in a manner that is less burdensome and more productive than they are
> currently afforded under the experimental authorization process."
>
> The Commission said that if it concludes, after considering the record,
> that Amateur Radio and PLC systems cannot coexist, it would "defer the
> adoption of service rules, and amateur users will have to continue to
> use the experimental licensing process to operate in the band."
>
> With respect to the proposed 630 meter allocation, the FCC has proposed
> limiting amateur stations in the US to a maximum 5 W EIRP. In the US,
> 435-495 kHz is allocated to the Maritime Mobile Service on a primary
> basis for federal and non-federal use, and to the aeronautical
> radionavigation service on a secondary basis for federal use.
>
> The ARRL submitted a Petition for Rule Making in 2012 asking the FCC to
> allocate 472-479 kHz to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis and to
> amend the Part 97 rules to provide for its use. Several countries,
> including Canada, already have access to the band. The ARRL has pointed
> out that during its extensive course of experimentation in the spectrum
> around 500 kHz, no interference reports have been received.
>
> The FCC said that the "cornerstone" of the technical rules it's
> proposing for both bands is "physical separation between amateur
> stations and the transmission lines" carrying PLC signals. "Such a
> separation, in conjunction with limits on the amateur stations'
> transmitted EIRP and antenna heights, will enable PLC systems and
> amateur stations to coexist in these bands," the FCC asserted. "In
> addition, we propose to limit amateur stations to operations at fixed
> locations only, to ensure that this separation distance can be
> maintained reliably."
>
> The FCC said it wants to hear from both PLC system users and radio
> amateurs regarding technical requirements it would have to put into
> place to permit both users to operate comfortably and without
> compromising the PLC systems. The Commission suggested that other
> requirements might include limits on antenna heights, transmitter power
> limits, and operating privilege limits based on license class or mode.
> The ARRL will file comments in the proceeding.
>
> The FCC will accept comments for 60 days following publication of the
> Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the
> Federal Register. Reply comments would be due 30 days after the comment
> deadline.
>
>
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