There are many fish beacons from 1800 to 1900 KHZ also. They are not
appreciated when they jam a weak Ham DX staton.
73
Bruce-K1FZx
On Fri, 11 Sep 2015 19:23:22 +0000, Donald Chester wrote:
Re Docket 15-99
While most attention so far has focussed on the proposed new MF and LF
allocations, there is also the issue of fish net beacons on 160m. The
initial comment deadline is past due, but REPLY COMMENTS ARE STILL OPEN
THROUGH THE 30th of SEPTEMBER. We can reply to the ARRL comments;
they pretty much have the issue identified and defined spot on, except
for a suggestion that fish net beacons on 1900-2000 kHz be moved to the
"lightly used" portion of the Radiolocation frequencies between the
broadcast band and 160m ham band, specifically 1750-1800 kHz. From what
I hear on my receiver at this location, THE ENTIRE SEGMENT OF
FREQUENCIES between 1705 kHz and 1800 kHz is lightly used. I rarely
ever hear a signal of any kind in that segment, which was once packed
full of now-discontinued radiolocation beacons. I would strongly urge
everyone to submit a reply comment explaining why you support the ARRL
position, with a further suggestion that the entire band of
Radiolocation frequencies between 1705 and 1800 kHz be considered for
re-accommodating beacons presently on 1900-2000.
I am not familiar with the beacon transmitters except for a few online
ads for the products, but I suspect it would be very easy to move the
transmit frequency, requiring only re-setting a synthesised master
oscillator and tweaking the antenna tuning network. A technician could
probably complete the task in less than 10 minutes.
The beacons would suffer far less interference operating in the
now-vacant Radiolocation spectrum, than in the heavily used amateur
band. Even though they operate at low transmitting power, amateurs,
particularly those living in coastal areas, frequently complain of
interference. Likewise, signals from high power amateur transmitters
are undoubtedly capable of causing harmful interference to the beacons.
When the FCC released the Report & Order upgrading amateur status to
primary, it wasn't immediately clear that this included a new docket
proposal (15-99) with a subsequent comment deadline. It is unusual
for the FCC to combine a R&O for one proceeding with a new Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking all in the same release, so this did not come to
the attention of most amateurs until a recent news item appeared on the
ARRL website.
73, Don k4kyv
Some useful links:
Here, you see a list of links to recent comments, plus a link to the
text of the original FCC Release in the right-hand pane. If you wish to
submit a (reply) comment, click on "Submit a Filing in 15-99", which is
located at the top of the page just above the main heading.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=15-99
Here is the entire FCC Docket, which is very lengthy. The pertinent
section addressing the 1900-2000 kHz issue begins with paragraph 30.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001030137
Here are the ARRL's submitted comments. The 160m issue is addressed in
Section II, beginning on page 4 and running through page 11.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001198635 ;
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