[SFDXA] Urge the FCC-Reject ARRL's Symbol Rate Petition

[Norm Alexander]

The following is an argument for writing the FCC opposing the ARRL Symbol Rate Petition written by Dave AA6YQ author of DXLab logging program, and active DXer.


What I thought sounding like a reasonable request by the ARRL, after reading Dave's argument, I have changed my mind -  something to think about.  Note comments are due by Dec. 17th

Norm W4QN


-----Original Message-----

Sent: December 07, 2013 14:33
To: dxlab at yahoogroups. com
Cc: Dave AA6YQ
Subject: [dxlab] Why (and How) You Should Urge the FCC to Reject the ARRL's
Symbol Rate Petition

Note: the message below is not directly relevant to DXLab, but as I consider
this issue critical to all amateur radio operators, I am taking the liberty
of posting it here.

73,

Dave, AA6YQ

The ARRL has filed a petition with the FCC to replace the current symbol
rate limits with a bandwidth limit. If accepted, digital modes as wide as
2800 hertz would become legal for use by US hams on HF bands. Pactor 3,
which is legal under the current symbol rate limit, is 2200 hertz wide.

If the ARRL's petition were accepted, automatic (unattended) digital mode
stations currently using Pactor 3 could be upgraded to wider modes. Many
automatic stations lack the ability to forego transmitting on a busy
frequency, and thus interfere with ongoing QSOs. If automatic stations are
permitted to use modes with bandwidths up to 2800 hertz, the incidence of
this interference will increase significantly.

While US-based automatic stations using digital modes wider than 500 hertz
are restricted to specified sub-bands (e.g. 10,140 - 10,150, 14,095 -
14,099, 14,101-14,112, 21,090 - 21,100, 24,925 - 24930), these frequencies
are shared with QSOs between live operators. Furthermore, the WinLink
network now claims that its automatic stations are actually under the
control of the remote stations that invoke them, and are therefore no longer
restricted to these sub-bands. This network now advertises US-based
automatic stations running Pactor 3 outside the automatic sub-bands -
automatic stations that could be upgraded to 2800 hertz modes if the ARRL
Petition is accepted.

Allowing automatic stations to use wider digital modes without first taking
steps to reduce the interference they cause to ongoing QSOs is a recipe for
increased conflict and ill will - the opposite of what's needed. In the
interest of continued innovation, we should allow the use of wider digital
modes on HF bands - but in a manner that reduces interference and conflict,
rather than making it worse as the ARRL's petition would do.

I therefore urge you to oppose the ARRL's petition by filing comments with
the FCC before December 17. Don AA5AU has provided instructions for doing
so: