[Wswss] 902-928MHz Band Plan Proposal by ARRL will restrict Weak Signal use

[Mark Casey]

Weak Signal, EME, and FM Simplex and all amateur licensees:

A few days ago the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee issued its'
"Proposed Band Plan for Amateur Band (902-928 MHz)"

The proposal will severely restrict Weak Signal, CW, SSB, Digital, FM
Simplex, and EME operation. In the Northeast US, Weak Signal/FM Simplex/EME
operators have been operating under a Band Plan that was approved by both
the Repeater Coordination Body for the State of Connecticut (CSMA) and the
North East Weak Signal Group (NEWS) back in 2005. That plan REALLY WORKS
WELL. It is a reasonable plan for Weak Signal and Repeater users, Analog and
Digital alike.

The total amount of spectrum allocated to Weak Signal/EME in  the NEWS plan
is only 1 MHz out of 26 MHz available in the 902-928 band. And, as you know,
with the increase of commercial noise on 902-928 MHz, it is absolutely vital
that Weak Signal ops have a band segment that is a free of noise as
possible. Some of those "less noisy" segments are allocated to Weak Signal
in the NEWS Band Plan. And, some of the "less noisy" segments are allocated
to Repeaters. While we all wish for a noise free spectrum, the fact is, that
Repeaters, whether FM or Digital, can stand a little more noise than Weak
Signal. With noise and interference, Weak Signal Amateurs are unable to
operate.

The 25 MHz split repeater band, (in the NEWS band plan) which is driven by
only one type of surplus commercial gear, which may or may not be available
in the future, has 39 repeater pairs, and is located in the least noisy area
of the band. Most of those allocations are unused. And many of the
"occupied" pairs are very short range or on paper only.

The first commercial ham gear has recently become available. It is the
Alinco DJ-G29 handheld, and it handles any repeater split available, whether
it is 25MHz,
12 MHz, or any other choice of offset. So, the 25MHz split will not be the
only likely choice in the future, and repeater users will be able to use
other areas of the band.

As Weak Signal, EME and FM Simplex operators, we need to make our choices
known to the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee.

Please endorse the NEWS Band Plan as the Common Sense Plan for 902-928
that gives equal weight to all modes, and leaves room for new modes
sure to come in the future.

If you agree with the fair NEWS plan, please reply email to this email or to

map1 at mapinternet.com

then Please indicate: "Yes to NEWS 902 plan" or just "Yes" and , Your
callsign and, OK or Not OK to use your name & callsign

If you say "Not OK" to use you name & call,  then we will count your choice,
but will Not identify you in any way.

If you say "OK" to use you name & call, then we will count your choice, and
may use your call and name in a list of supporters of the NEWS Band
Plan for 902-928

If you are a member of a Weak Signal Society, or Club, please bring this up
at the next meeting. Any clubs that would like to join NEWS in this band
plan will be appreciated.

The ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee has only allowed until May 7,
2012 for further comments, so we need to make our choices known soon.

Thank-You
Mark Casey, K1MAP, NEWS Spectrum Manager

--------------------------------------------------------
Here is the NEWS Plan:

On Sept. 25, 2005, after much work, the Connecticut Spectrum Management
Association (CSMA), which is the repeater coordination body for Connecticut,
and the North East Weak Signal Group (NEWS), which is the weak signal
organization of record representing Amateurs in the six New England states
and Eastern New York, completed agreement of the following Band Plan for the
902-928 MHz amateur band.

NEWS and CSMA Bandplan 902.000-928.000 MHz
> 902.0000-902.4000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, Beacons, EME
> 902.1000 National Calling Frequency-Weak Signal USB, CW
> 902.2500 SSB/CW/FM DX Calling Frequency
> 902.3000-902.3750 CW Propagation Beacons, Simplex, Experimental & Mixed
> Use
> 902.4000-902.4875 FM Repeater Inputs, 25kHz channels-11-16kBW, 12.5kHz
> channels-6-11k BW*
> 902.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency
> 902.5125-902.8750 FM Repeater Inputs, 25kHz channels-11-16kBW, 12.5kHz
> channels-6-11k BW*
> 902.9000-903.4000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, Beacons, EME.
> 903.1000 National Calling Frequency-East Coast & Alternate-Weak
> Signal-USB, CW
> 903.2500 SSB/CW/FM DX Calling Frequency
> 903.3000-903.3500 CW Propagation Beacons
> 903.4000-905.0000 Mixed use & Experimental
> 905.0000-906.000 Digital, Links, Experimental & Mixed Use
> 906.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency
> 906.0000-910.0000 FM Repeater Inputs, Links,& Coordinated Uses*
> 910.0000-917.0000 Amateur TV (primary), Experimental & Mixed Use
> (secondary)*
> 917.0000-918.0000 Digital, Links, Experimental & Mixed Use
> 918.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency
> 918.0000-922.0000 FM repeater Outputs, Links,& Coordinated Uses*
> 922.0000-927.0000 Experimental & Wideband Digital Repeaters*
> 927.0000-927.4000 FM Simplex & Links
> 927.4000-927.4875 FM Repeater Outputs, 25kHz channels-11-16kBW, 12.5kHz
> channels-6-11k BW*
> 927.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency
> 927.5250-927.8750 FM Repeater Outputs, 25kHz channels-11-16kBW, 12.5kHz
> channels-6-11k BW*
> 927.9000-927.9250 CW Propagation Beacons
> 927.9000-928.0000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, EME
> *Repeaters will be coordinated only in the segments indicated

The following segments are important to weak signal and contest operators:

902.0000-902.4000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, Beacons, EME
902.1000 National Calling Frequency-Weak Signal USB, CW
902.2500 SSB/CW/FM DX Calling Frequency (primarily used as an FM simplex
freq during contests)
902.3000-902.3750 CW Propagation Beacons, Simplex, Experimental & Mixed
902.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency (see 927.500 pair)
902.9000-903.4000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, Beacons, EME.
903.1000 National Calling Frequency-East Coast & Alternate-Weak
Signal-USB,CW
903.2500 SSB/CW/FM DX Calling Frequency (primarily used as an FM simplex
freq during contests)
903.3000-903.3500 CW Propagation Beacons
906.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency (not used very much)
918.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency (not used very much)
927.5000 FM Simplex Calling Frequency (used for general FM simplex &contest
contacts across the country, note that this pairs with 902.500 as a 25MHz
split)
927.9000-927.9250 CW Propagation Beacons
927.9000-928.0000 Weak Signal, SSB, CW, EME

As much as possible, we considered uses in other areas when designing this
plan. Many of the bandplan segments were created specifically to agree with
those segments created in existing the ARRL bandplan, the SERA coordination
plan for the Southeast US, and the Florida Repeater Council. It would be
good if each regional weak signal group would consider the NEWS
bandplan, and either adopt it, or a version of it, or even create their own
bandplan consistent with usage in their region of the country.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee's Proposed ARRL Band Plan
for a 902-928 MHz Amateur Band as shown in the April 5, 2012 ARRL Letter and
ARRL Website. The proposal pretty much leaves Weak Signal & FM Simplex
operators out in the cold. It leaves EME out completely.

Proposed Band Plan for Amateur 33 cm Band (902-928 MHz)
Frequency Range--Mode--From To --Functional Use--Comment

902.0000-902.0875--FM/other including DV--Repeater inputs 902.0125-902.0750
paired with 927.0125-927.0750 (12.5 kHz channels)

902.1--CW/SSB--Weak signal calling--Regional option

902.1125-903.0000--FM/other including DV--Repeater inputs 902.1250-902.9875
paired with 927.1250-927.9875 (12.5 kHzchannels)

903.0000-903.0875--CW/SSB--Weak signal

903.1--CW/SSB--Weak signal calling--Regional option

903.1125-903.2000--CW/SSB--Weak signal

903.2000-903.4000--CW Beacons

903.4000-909.0000--Mixed modes, Mixed operations including control links
909.0000 915.0000 Analog/digital Multimedia includingATV,DATVand SS

915.0000-921.0000--Analog/digital Multimedia including ATV,DATVand SS

921.0000-927.0000--Analog/digital Multimedia including ATV, DATVand SS

927.0000-927.087--FM/otherincluding DV--Repeater outputs 927.0125-927.0750
paired with 902.0125-902.0750 (12.5 kHz channels)

927.1--FM/other--Simplex calling

927.1125-928.0000--FM/other including DV--Repeater outputs 927.1250-927.9875
paired with 902.1250-902.9875 (12.5 kHz channels)