K2WH wrote:
>CW must share 1.800 - 1.810 with other modes if we are going
>to adhere to the new band plan and not just for CW.
Right on Bill! I would add that RM-10352 is petitioning
the FCC to restrict ONLY wideband modes to 1843 and above.
Wideband modes are AM, SSB, SSTV and any technique that consumes
>1 kHz bandwidth. Narrowband is any mode using <1 kHz
bandwidth which includes most new digital modes as well as CW.
In my opinion, the new digital modes are not yet as
effective as CW for weak signals but that day may definitely
be coming in the future. One year ago, the first transatlantic
QSO was made on 136 kHz between VA3LK and G3AQC using the
QRSS mode which utilizes extremely slow CW (0.8 words per HOUR)
and PC-based spectragraphic DSP software such as Spectrascan
or ARGO. This software can extract signals approximately 20 dB
below the noise floor by effectively creating DSP filters that
have sub Hz bandwidths. Certainly this is not a practical mode
today, but my guess is that as processor speeds improve, we
will eventually see some new digital techniques evolve which
are more practical for real time QSO's.
RM-10352 makes no distinctions between the various
narrowband modes because it was our feeling that eventually
some of them could become very popular for weak-signal DX
work and we cannot predict when that will happen. The ARRL
160 Bandplan Committee felt that, with today's technology
(PSK31, etc), it was best to put digital lower in the band
for now. Should more viable modes for DX work develop, it
may be necessary to revise the ARRL Bandplan so that digital
would be in a common worldwide area above 1810. For the time
being, I don't think anyone would object to those attempting
intercontinental digital just above 1810 (where the Region 1
allocation begins and also where the JA window begins).
This all sounds very theoretical for now but just
imagine the possibilites if you could copy signals 20 dB
below the noise floor on Topband!
73, Bill W4ZV
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