[CQ-Contest] [RTTY] I just have to ask

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

> The Beacon System doesn't own the frequencies they occupy
> (all the time). OTOH, many of us greatly appreciate their 
> presence and make use of the propagation information 
> provided.  If the beacon service weren't seen as broadly 
> valuable, it would probably be QRM'd more.  My hope is that 
> we work together to keep the Beacon frequencies clear because 
> we choose to do so.

Since the beacon network is CW, why isn't it moved to 14.000.0, 
21.000.0, etc.?  Moving them to the bottom of the band, they 
provide a nice band edge marker and the multi-KW, multi-multi 
stations can worry about protecting the beacons during 
contests <G>. 
 
Like everything else that nobody wants in "their" back yard 
(including the 2 KHz wide quasi-commercial "mailboxes"), the 
beacon network gets shoved into the "digital" band ... they 
don't belong in the "digital" spectrum, much less the middle 
of it. 



> -----Original Message-----
> From: rtty-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:rtty-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of J. Edward (Ed) Muns
> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2009 11:44 AM
> To: 'W0MU Mike Fatchett'
> Cc: cq-contest at contesting.com; rtty at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RTTY] I just have to ask
> 
> 
> > Would using the beacon system to check propagation put you into the
> > assisted category?
> 
> No, because listening to the Beacon System or WWV solar
> conditions is not directly finding potential QSOs for you.
> 
> (Let's not start another heated thread about the Assisted vs.
> Non-Assisted categories, hi!)
> 
> > I am all for the beacon network.  What I don't like is the apparent
> > feeling of ownership of the frequencies by the beacon 
> operators.  If
> > someone can point me to the exact waivers and rulings by the FCC
> > giving anyone exclusive
> > right to the beacon frequencies I would appreciate it.
> 
> The Beacon System doesn't own the frequencies they occupy
> (all the time). OTOH, many of us greatly appreciate their 
> presence and make use of the propagation information 
> provided.  If the beacon service weren't seen as broadly 
> valuable, it would probably be QRM'd more.  My hope is that 
> we work together to keep the Beacon frequencies clear because 
> we choose to do so.
> 
> Ed - W0YK
> 
> _______________________________________________
> RTTY mailing list
> RTTY at contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rtty