[CQ-Contest] 40M FT4 Frequency

[Michael Ritz]

The ARRL Bandplan on the website shows: 

7.040	RTTY/Data DX
7.080-7.125	RTTY/Data

I don't know where the 7047 kHz frequency came from, but that choice kind of surprised me when I first loaded FT8/FT4 onto one of my station computers a couple of weeks ago. The FT8 frequencies are hard coded into the software, but there are no pre-loaded frequencies for FT4. I had to research on-line to figure out where they were. 

The FCC limits for data are 7000 to 7125 kHz, (for Extras, and of course it varies by class). Exactly what do you want the Board to do here, come up with a recommended special ARRL bandplan for FT8/FT4?

73;
Mike Ritz, W7VO
Director, NW Division 

 
> On August 5, 2019 at 7:34 AM donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
> 
> 
> I fully support K9YC's recommendation that ARRL members contact 
> their directors so that they become aware of the need to quickly act 
> force a change in the unfortunate choice of 7047.5 kHz for routine 
> and rapidly growing FT4 activity. 
> 
> 
> 73 
> Frank 
> W3LPL 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: donovanf at starpower.net 
> To: "PVRC Mailman" <pvrc at mailman.qth.net> 
> Cc: "k1jt" <k1jt at arrl.net>, "W3TOM" <w3tom at arrl.org>, w2ru at arrl.org 
> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2019 2:29:13 PM 
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] 40M FT4 Frequency 
> 
> 
> What are PVRC members opinions and recommendations about the 
> unwise choice of 7047.5 kHz for FT4 activity? While the FT4 
> development team naively expected FT4 to be used only during 
> contests, inevitably FT4 use is rapidly growing for routine QSOs. 
> 
> 
> 
> In my opinion the obvious 40 meter FT4 frequency range is in 
> the much more lightly used 7100-7125 kHz segment. 
> 
> 
> Something must be done soon. 
> 
> 
> 73 
> Frank 
> W3LPL 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> From: "Jim Brown" <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com> 
> To: "cq-contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com> 
> Sent: Monday, August 5, 2019 7:57:41 AM 
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] 40M FT4 Frequency 
> 
> 7047 has been chosen, and many fans of WSJT modes have observed that 
> it's likely to start a war. That range is widely used by W1AW, state QSO 
> parties, QRP and QRS operation, county hunters, most CW contests, and 
> many others. Sure, the WSJT team think it's only for contests, but if 
> you build it, they will come, and they are coming. I had QRM from FT4 
> operators during NAQP CW. 
> 
> I am a huge fan of the work of K1JT and his team (I use FT8 extensively 
> on 160M and 6M), but they ain't perfect, and this is a massive screw-up. 
> The default 40M FT4 frequency ought to be somewhere north of 7070 kHz. 
> OTOH, I have no issue with the DXpedition mode frequency around 7058. I 
> urge all contest clubs to contact both the WSJT team and their ARRL 
> representatives about this. 
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC 
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