[TenTec] Operating SSB in Canada on CW frequencies

[Adam Farson]

Bill,

Here in Canada, we have IARU Region 1 and Region 2 amateur-band allocations.
This means that there are no subbands by emission type/usage in the US
sense. Our radio regulations specify maximum occupied bandwidth per channel
in each band, not authorised emission types by subband.

Industry Canada (our radio regulatory agency) and RAC (our national society)
ask Canadian amateurs to observe "gentlemen's agreements" in force, and
avoid interfering with QSO's in progress in other modes. However, the
segments you mention have no legal or regulatory binding force in Canada.

Generally speaking, Canadian 40m SSB operators will avoid the traditional CW
areas at the bottom of the band. However, it must be remembered that the
Region 1 40m allocation is 7000 ~ 7100 kHz. Typically,  European and Asian
hams use the entire 7040 ~ 7100 kHz area for SSB, and 7030 ~ 7040 kHz for
digimodes. A Canadian amateur wishing to work, say, a JA on 7045 kHz will
not let US CW subbands stop him (because he does not have to), but will
avoid interfering with CW QSO's in progress - that is, if he can hear the CW
signals.

The other side of the argument is that a receiver with a good, narrow CW
filter should be able to pull out a CW signal adjacent to an SSB signal
without too much trouble. Admittedly, if the two signals are co-channel, the
task is a little tougher - although the power density of an SSB signal in a
250 Hz bandpass is often insufficient to overwhelm a CW signal.

The choice of 7050 ~ 7070 kHz as the informal US CW QRP segment was
unfortunate; the people who made that decision apparently did not take
cognisance of band usage outside the US. 7025 ~ 7035 kHz would have been a
much better choice.

Cheers for now, 73,
Adam VA7OJ/AB4OJ