[SFDXA] Southeastern Division Survey Question

[Sebastian, W4AS]

I also voted No.  I don’t think this proposal was well thought out.

1. This cannot be called a “Technician Digital Subband” while specifically authorizing only RTTY & PSK in those segments;

2. There are several more efficient digital modes available now, and there will be more in the future; 

3. Why impact other licensees by changing their allocations?  

4. I also do not understand how granting additional privileges will result in “an enticement to upgrade to General and beyond.”.

73 de Sebastian, W4AS



On Jun 26, 2014, at 12:45 AM, Mickey Baker <n4mb at arrl.net> wrote:

> I replied with a No vote, not in principle, but in details of the proposal.
> Here's why:
> 
> *1. 10kHz is too small for an allocation. *
> There are a few Extra-only 25kHz segments, currently the smallest unique
> allocation. We would allocate the weakest technical license class the
> smallest divisions of all? Would they be cautious or aware enough to fit
> their entire signal in a crowded 10kHz segment? I would support 25kHz
> segment*s, starting *AFTER* the extra band...*
> 
> *2. Extra - keep the lower 25.*
> There's a lot going on in the Extra cw segment. Generally, this is a
> "quiet" place where DX can pop up and have a conversation with a US ham,
> and the US ham can readily work some dx.  Extras don't get much for the
> much more difficult license exam, taking this much spectum away to give to
> Techs won't be popular. Keep the lower 25 and allocate a frequency closer
> to what's currently used.
> 
> *3. IARU Bandplan compliance*
> Before we float this change, we need to make sure the international
> agencies are in agreement and that the proposed changes don't violate any
> agreements.
> 
> 4. Terms, definitions and legalese.
> RTTY and PSK? Don't think you're going to be able to get what you want
> without opening the door to a wide variety of modes.
> 
> 5. Incentive for Technicians to upgrade to General is mitigated.
> "Why upgrade, I have all the frequencies that I need now."
> 
> 6. Technical skill is needed to operate an HF station, particularly digital
> modes.
> At almost any time, you'll see various quality of signals on the popular
> digital frequencies. Some are great, some have compression or
> overmodulation artifacts that cause interference. The barrier to entry with
> the current Technician exam is very low and does not require training in
> techniques that would avoid this interference.
> 
> ​73,
> 
> Mickey N4MB​
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 3:11 PM, Bill <bmarx at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
>> With the July Board Meeting a little less than a month away, Vice
>> Director Mike Lee and I are busy getting ready. While in Birmingham a
>> few months ago for the Hamfest, a member explained an idea that he had.
>> I've discussed the idea with other Board members and have come up with a
>> potential motion to present to the Board in July. In deciding whether to
>> bring the motion to the Board, I want to solicit input from the
>> membership.
>> 
>> In the days when the Technician written exam was the same as the
>> General, with 5 wpm CW versus 13 wpm separating them, Novices and
>> Technicians worked CW in the Novice subbands, polishing their operating
>> skills and listening to all of the great DX out of reach in the General
>> subbands—especially on 20m. This provided both a training grounds for
>> new licensees and an enticement to upgrade to General and beyond.
>> 
>> The idea of the proposal is to try to recapture the motivation for
>> upgrading and advancing within our hobby that previously existed
>> through the Novice Sub-bands.
>> 
>> Proposal:
>> 
>> Create a 10 KHz Technician Digital Subband with a limit of 200 watts in
>> the 80m, 40m, and 15m bands. Digital modes would be limited to RTTY and
>> PSK. The subbands would be 3.600-3.610 KHz (moving the bottom of the
>> Extra phone band to 3.610 KHz), 7.115-7.125 KHz, and 21.190-21.200 KHz.
>> This mirrors the bands and power levels where Technicians already have
>> CW privileges (Technicians already have digital privileges on 10m at
>> 200w).
>> 
>> This would take a rule change by the FCC.
>> 
>> Request:
>> 
>> If you support the idea, send an email before 7/5/2014 to
>> yes at arrlse.org that includes your callsign in the body of the email.
>> 
>> If you oppose the idea, send an email before 7/5/2014 to no at arrlse.org
>> that includes your callsign in the body of the email.
>> 
>> Please only send one email and share this information with as many
>> amateurs as possible.
>> 
>> Thanks & 73, de K4AC
>> 
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ARRL Southeastern Division
>> Director: Doug Rehman, K4AC
>> k4ac at arrl.org