[South Florida DX Association] DXing on 60 Meters Has Downside, ARRL Notes

[Bill Marx]

Important Information from Bernie W3UR!
-Bill W2CQ

If you are QRV on 60 meters please read the following, which is from the
ARRL Web page.  Let's make sure we follow the rules so we don't lose this
band!

Bernie, W3UR


NEWINGTON, CT, Apr 3, 2007 -- The ARRL is expressing concern that negative
consequences could result from chasing DX on 60 meters. Some DXpeditions
have announced plans to operate on Amateur Radio's only channelized band,
where amateur operations hold secondary status to fixed service operations,
including some US government stations. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says
that while it's legal for DXpeditions to operate on the 5-MHz band provided
the licensing administration extends privileges there, DX pileups on 60
meters pose the potential for real and unique problems.

"US amateurs are limited to five channels on 60 meters, USB only, maximum
effective radiated power (ERP) 50 W, audio bandwidth not exceeding 2.8 kHz,
and not all of the channels are useable because of ongoing fixed service
operation," Sumner points out. "It is absolutely imperative that any amateur
transmitting on a 60 meter channel be prepared to relinquish the channel
immediately upon being requested to do so."

Among other things, Sumner says, this means constantly monitoring the
transmitting channel, thus ruling out any split-frequency operation while
using a single-channel receiver.

The impending Swains Island N8S DXpedition has announced plans on its Web
site to operate SSB on the 60-meter frequency of 5.4035 MHz, although that
band was not among those on an updated frequency list released this week.
While Sumner said he wasn't singling out the N8S operation, working into the
South Pacific on 5 MHz running just 50 W ERP on phone would be a challenge
under the best of circumstances.

"Amateurs must resist the temptation to exceed the radiated power limit,"
Sumner stressed.

He also warned amateurs in countries that do not authorize amateur operation
on 60 meters to resist the temptation to make contacts on the band. Radio
amateurs transmitting on a 5 MHz frequency without authorization, Sumner
asserts, not only are breaking the law but are putting their continued
participation in the ARRL DXCC program in jeopardy.

"Anyone who submits a 5 MHz confirmation for DXCC credit may be asked to
provide evidence that their operation on that frequency was authorized," he
said.

Even countries that authorize operation on 60 meters impose the express
condition Amateur Radio stations not cause harmful interference to fixed and
mobile service stations.

"Should such interference occur and not be immediately corrected, it will
place in jeopardy our existing limited privileges, our chances of increasing
those privileges on a domestic basis, and any chance we might have of ever
obtaining an international allocation," Sumner emphasized.

Last fall, the ARRL asked the FCC to expand 60 meter operating privileges
and substitute a new channel for one that's often occupied by a federal
government user. The League filed a Petition for Rule Making (PRM) October
10. The petition said amateurs have proven, through interference-free
operation on the five channels, that compatible sharing of the channels is
possible.

The League wants the FCC to authorize radio amateurs of General and higher
class to run 100 W ERP and to allow Morse code and data communication. It
also asks the Commission to replace the 5368.0 kHz center-frequency channel
with 5358.5 kHz, so amateurs can avoid federal government digital traffic on
the current channel.

If the FCC goes along with the ARRL's suggested changes, operation on 60
meters would remain on a secondary basis, and radio amateurs would still
have to avoid interfering with incumbent federal government and other
services.

In an unrelated move, the ARRL has supported efforts to have World
Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) establish a worldwide secondary
amateur allocation of 5.260 to 5.410 MHz. A participating national
administration must formally propose the change for it to be considered this
fall at WRC-07.


Bernie McClenny, W3UR
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