Yo... 60... You're Up — HamRadioNow Last spring, the FCC issued an ORDER and NPRM covering a lot of stuff that originated with the 2015 World Radio Conference (WRC 2015). Um… checking our calendar, we see that it’s 2023 and ¾. But who’s counting? For hams, we care mostly about the part concerning 60 meters. And apparently not all that many of us care about that, but we’re pressing on anyway. Back at the WRC, they officially approved a band plan for worldwide secondary status for ham radio on a 15 kHz wide band between 5351.5 – 5366.5 MHz. With an effective power level of 9 Watts. Ugh. In this NPRM, the FCC is asking if that’s what they should do. Or if they should thumb their nose at the world (as many other countries have done… especially Canada) and keep the existing 5 ‘channels’ and 100 Watt (EIRP) power level. Or some combination of the above. That NPRM was issued last April. We’ve been waiting for ‘publication in the Federal Register’ to make it official, and begin the 60-day comment period. And waiting. And waiting. That shoe finally dropped on September 30. But even though the NPRM promised 60 days, the FCC says you have until October 30 to file comments. We did the math. That’s 30 days. We can handle that, but it is curious. Meanwhile, it’s our chance to review East Coast Host Gary K4AAQ’s Genius Plan for 60 Meters once again (because we’ ve done like two shows about that just this year). And this is the first time West Coast Host David W0DHG gets to weigh in. David thinks it’s too complicated. You decide… and file your comments by October 30. LINKS: File your comments here, on the ECFS site Review everybody else’s comments here, also on the ECFS site HamRadioNow’s YouTube Playlist of our previous shows on 60 meters (way more than you think) FCC NPRM with Gary’s Notes (pdf) Gary’s Genius Plan CHART (pdf) HamRadioNow shows are also available as audio podcasts. Search for HamRadioNow in your podcast app
I routinely operate with 20W and also 5W when I'm in a park with my ATS-3A rig. If we're limited to 9W, it wouldn't be the end of the world. QRP is great fun!
The 'Genius plan' sure loves narrow modes, what a waste of the new band. How about this, we keep the narrow modes on one of the fixed channels, and let the world enjoy the new 15khz band...
for us UK Full license operators 60m is a very good DX band ,of course when the conditions are right, the possibilities are endless, as i found out one morning, when i happened to turn my radio on for the days ft8 working and there was a single solitary ZL station calling CQ, so quick as a flash i utilised my license priviliges of 100w on 60m, and hey presto ZL2CC in the log on 60m, end result Ocenia on 60m giving me 9 bands on all 6 georgraphic zones, imho 100w is the right max power for 60m
It is vital that hams chime in on this! To engage in public service, we not only need to continue use of the band but also higher EIRP limits and the additional spectrum that the ARRL has requested. See my comments to the FCC at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/1011961926520
Thanks for at least acknowledging the 'Genius Plan'. So, you propose the narrow modes have a whole 2.8 kHz to roam about it (assuming NTIA can be pursuaded to allow more than one signal per channel)? They're gonna love that. Meanwhile, SSB ops squeeze maybe 6 'channels' into 15 kHz, plus the three other legacy channels. Well, that'd work for me, as I don't use much cw/psk/ft. But you haven't convinced me to put that in my comments to the FCC.
I never tried 60 m... spun the dial a few times to listen in on the Moose and Squirrel Net. Isn't one channel supposed to be dedicated for FT-8/FT-4 under the Gentleman's Agreement? As I look at the US Amateur Radio Bands (ARRL rev. 9/22/2017) shows all five channels can use: USB phone, CW, RTTY, and Data. I think I'll tune up on CW there this morning.
The fact that only one narrow band signal (CW, digital, etc.) is allowed per current channel is ridiculous. This is a waste of almost 3kHz per channel (a potential 15kHz total) of VERY limited spectrum in a portion of the HF bands that has unique propagation characteristics. The proposed 15kHz contiguous allocation should allow all modes with a 9W power limit, and the current 3kHz channels should be retained for SSB voice ONLY, with the current 100W ERP limit. This would provide the maximum efficient usage of the 60M allocation, and it would be the best possible resource for emergency communications.
Well, here's a more direct way of looking at it. The 60 meter band is used by government and emergency services - as primary users, and as such we are secondary users of that band. Thus, it should only be populated by modes that are listened to by human ears - not computers. This approach to the FCC just might improve the chances of getting not only the 15khz segment, but also keeping the other channels. As far as narrow modes? Don't they have their own dedicated band, something to do with 30 meters... ?
If there is a 'gentleman's agreement' it never reached me. Still, one FT signal tying up 2.8 kHz? Makes no sense (CW either)
Here in the states, the NTIA went along with digital modes on the current channels, but limited it to 'one signal per channel'. If they're worried about knowing who's transmitting, they must have the freely available software to decode that signal (there's no requirment to ID using either voice or cw). If they have that software, they can decode 10 signals as easily as one signal. Anyway, my 'genius plan' does recommend limiting the 4 outside-the-'band' channels to USB voice, as 'the band' can then accommodate many narrow mode signals. It's not for easier identification, just separation of not-very-compatible modes. As for 30 meters - that is a really good band for propagation almost everywhere, day and night. But what missing is the close-in NVIS territory between 'next door' and about 400 miles (daytime). That's what 60 meters does that no other band can. Even 30 meters.
