Topband: Radiolocation gone for good this time?

[Donald Chester]

I have noticed for several weeks now that there has been no sign of the 
strang radiolocation beacon that has resided for years in the vicinity of 
1950 kHz.  Originally it was on approximately 1953.2, then about a year ago 
moved slightly down in frequency to approximately 1947 khz.  I noticed it 
missing in the early part of the summer, and it is still not there.

With it gone, there are no longer any significant radiolocation stations in 
the 1900-2000 kHz segment where radiolocation is the primary service and 
amateur radio second.  Originally, the radiolocation industry had plans to 
eventually push amateurs out of the segment as the radiolocation industry 
expanded, but with the advent of GPS, radiolocation may about be relegated 
to the dustbin of radio history.

The FCC reallocated 1900-2000 as primary radiolocation back in the early 
80's in order to "reaccomodate" the 1600-1700 kHz beacons that were about to 
displaced by the expanded AM broadcast band.  As it turned out, the 
radiolocation beacons on 160 came and went, mostly already gone by the time 
the first BC stations began to show up in the expanded band.

Don K4KYV

_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! 
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/