[600MRG] Any FCC news on 600m?

[John Langridge]

Oh this makes my head hurt...


I  tend to agree with Steve and Warren's assertions on this matter.  I know the MRHS has an objection to us being on 500khz proper and I certainly understand and they are certainly outspoken for their convictions.  I respect that a lot.  I am also aware or a few other "objectors" and having spoken to a lot of people about the band, have heard the argument about keeping it a part 5 band.  Those are all opinions and we all know what those are like...

We should not be afraid to contact those who represent us.  Sometimes I feel like the perception is that we work for them.  I pay my dues to the ARRL and I tend to get in their face about issues that bother me.  Sometimes successfully, sometimes not but they know how I feel when I am done.

I'm also cool, to a degree, with just standing by and letting the process run its course if I can see some progress, but being on the band already makes that easier to swallow.  What I get irritated with is when I ask the league why the matter of symbol rate in digital systems  has gotten priority over the MF and LF matter and I don't get a response.  


I don't intend on this being an ARRL bashing session, although I have a lot of issues with the league.  I still agree that without them, ham radio is in trouble.  But I also think they base much of their policy and direction on responses to their "insta-polls" which is like rolling the dice much of the time.

I hope 630m gets resolved in 2014..I would love to have a larger pool of ops to QSO with...

73,

John XIQ



________________________________
 From: "sbjohnston at aol.com" <sbjohnston at aol.com>
To: 600mrg at w7ekb.com 
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2014 2:05 PM
Subject: Re: [600MRG] Any FCC news on 600m?
 


Bill wrote:

>If we do not go through channels as we have been, but rather make a sort of public demand 
>for the band space, then it is going to stir up some of the old boys on this band, many of 
>them also ARRL members and HAMs, who do NOT think we should be allowed on this region of the spectrum


It is difficult to imagine who those old boys might be - does someone have another use for this spectrum in mind?  The particular slice in question is certainly idle now except for the experimental stations.  There is talk of preserving a different small piece of the maritime band (centered on 500 kHz) for operation by museum ships and shore stations.  That seems very cool, and would complement the idea of a MF ham band.

The closest to the kind of opposition you are describing that I've come across was raised by three individuals (two emails and one hamfest conversation) who suggested those who are interested in MF operation should get an experimental license and get on the air that way - forget the ham band idea.  The rationale offered was that this method would 'preserve" the band and keep out the riffraff.  I understand the reasoning but prefer a more open approach.

It is not difficult to find opposition to change of any kind.  Through our history there were hams that opposed each new mode or band as the ideas came along. I really enjoy listening to the old timers and reading the old magazines - and these debates were common.   There were hams that felt we should never "chit-chat", message handling only.  There were hams who said we should not be allowed to operate phone, CW only.  Same with new bands.  Rarely did the nay-sayers manage to overcome those who wanted to explore a new mode or band, but it was necessary for all the opinions to be circulated to let the decision-makers know our views.

My suggestion involved ARRL members contacting ARRL leaders - that doesn't really seem to fit your description of "a public demand for band space".   At this stage I don't think we need grass-roots campaigns, or protests in Newington or Washington.  Although I kind of like the idea of putting together a "Thousand Ham March"...


73 

Steve WD8DAS


sbjohnston at aol.com
http://www.wd8das.net/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Radio is your best entertainment value.
--------------------------------------------------------------------






_______________________________________________
600MRG mailing list
600MRG at w7ekb.com
http://w7ekb.com/mailman/listinfo/600mrg_w7ekb.com