I'm posting the message below from Skip (KH6TY). We were touching on this
subject recently on this reflector, and I think Skip's observations are
important starting points for discussion about how this might effect the
RTTY contesting community. - John, WA9ALS
--------------------------------------
>From Skip:
Read this: http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html
This proposal, drafted in the main by Winlink operatives, is intended to
give Winlink robot Pactor transmitters unfettered reign all over the PSK31
and RTTY segments of the bands. Winlink has previously avoided RTTY
contesting frequencies, such as 14080 to 14100 on 20m, preferring to trample
weaker PSK31 stations, but since the ARRL is supporing Winlink for ARES
traffic, they intend to expand instead of administering frequencies
efficiently, and the only place to expand is by taking away the RTTY
contesting frequencies, as you can see from the proposed petition. Remember
that one side, and usually two sides, of the Pactor link are not manned -
they just transmit whenever they wish, under timers or automatic control.
Winlink likes to spread everywhere just to reduce the waiting time for one
of their 5000 mobile stations to find a frequency not being used by Pactor
instead of making them wait a little or efficiently administering a more
narrow band of frequencies. Since they use ARQ, they are always able to run
anyone off a frequency so they can take it over, and they do.
What is missing (intentionally) from the ARRL proposed petition is any
limitation on the use of "semi-automatic" operation (with the statement that
it is "practical", which is a LIE).
I suggest that the RTTY contesting community unite behind a proposal to the
ARRL to limit "semiautomatic" operation to above 14100 on 20m and similarly
on other bands, and if ARRL resists, file a separate petition with the FCC.
--
73, Skip KH6TY
http://www.qsl.net/kh6ty
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