US 60 Meter Band Changes Approved by FCC - CW Issues

[Mike Markowski-2]

John and all,

On 11/20/2011 08:47 AM, John Oppenheimer wrote:
> [...]
> Using CW will be easy, for the first allocation, set your VFO to any
> frequency within the range of 5330.6 and 5333.4 and go!

There was just that argument (p. 11):

"34. ARRL states that it is possible to have multiple CW and/or PSK31
communications ongoing simultaneously within the 2.8 kHz channel, so
long as those simultaneous communications are not limited to the channel
centers."

But the prevailing one was:

"36. We adopt the center frequency requirement as proposed in the NPRM.
Because the amateur service operates in the 60 meter band on a secondary
basis, we pay particular attention to NTIA’s position
and the interests of Federal agencies that have primary status in the band."

But at least there is now cw!  73,

Mike ab3ap
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[Mike Morrow-3]

Don wrote:

> Not all transceivers shift the transmit frequency.

Hi Don.  I suspect that *most* rigs do NOT shift the transmit frequency
when changing from USB to CW.  My ancient TS-50S does not.  But that
has nothing to do with the issue.

> The Elecraft K2 and K3 dial always indicate the carrier frequency, and
> what is displayed does not change when changing modes.

That's identical to the Kenwood TS-50S.

If the TS-50S display shows 5357.0 kHz (the new 60m carrier frequency),
it will show that as LSB, USB, or CW modes are selected.  That accurately
reflects the transmitter carrier frequency remaining unchanged for all three
modes.  However, the TS-50S is normally configured when in CW mode for the
receiver to be in USB mode, but shifted down from the displayed frequency
by 0.8 kHz so that a received signal on 5357.0 kHz will produce an 800 Hz
sidetone.  So, the transmitter carrier frequency remains 5357.0 khz, and
the receiver carrier frequency shifts down to 5356.2 kHz when mode is
changed from USB to CW.

> With either Elecraft or Yaesu, there is nothing complicated to figure
> out - set the displayed frequency to the center channel frequency - but
> with the Yaesu, one must do that AFTER setting to CW mode.  With the
> Elecraft gear, you can set the frequency in whichever mode you choose,
> then switch to CW.

But "complexity" is not the issue.

Regardless of whether the receiver or transmitter is shifted to switch
between USB and CW, the point here is that one will NOT be able to have
his Elecraft (or any other rig) tuned to 5357.0 kHz on USB, and then
simply switch mode to CW and carry on.  The Elecraft, my Kenwood, and most
other rigs would then transmit on 5357.0 kHz, **violating** the
requirements of the new FCC rule 97.305(f) that CW signals on the 60
meter channels transmit on the channel center frequency (here 5358.5 kHz).
For every ham rig currently available (including the K3), some thought
will need to be exercised before transferring modes between USB and CW
on the 60 meter band.  It's NOT going to be only the simple and customary
shift of the emission mode switch to CW...it will also require ensuring that
the CW transmission takes place on the channel center frequency, 1.5 kHz
above the channel carrier frequency!  That's the ONLY point I've tried to
show.  The constraints of channelized operation are still somewhat foreign
to most hams, and this particular issue arises only due to the addition
of CW as a new U.S. 60m band mode.

For rigs whose carrier frequency never changes with mode change, the
easiest approach to add 60 meter CW capability will be by programming
five channels on the specified 60m *carrier* frequencies (like 5357.0 kHz)
for USB Phone, Data, and RTTY (but NEVER CW) modes, plus five frequencies
on the specified 60m *center* frequencies (like 5358.5 kHz) for CW mode
ONLY.

I suppose it will need to be determined if there is any value, for 60m
only, of enabling a shift from 5357.0 kHz USB operation to 5358.5 kHz
CW operation with no operator intervention other than changing mode.
Were that desired, then the rig in question would need to shift the
transmitted carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to to 5358.5, and shift
the receiver carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to 5357.7 kHz (if an
800 Hz sidetone pitch is desired).

Such issues have never been been imposed on ham band operations, and
thus represent a novelty to most.  Even those familiar with MARS, CAP,
SHARES, etc. have likely not dealt with such, since little or none of
the operations on those outside-ham-band services use CW.

FWIW, the effective date of the 60m band changes in the US is 30 days
after publication of the rule changes in the Federal Register, and
**NOT** 30 days after the FCC approval on 18 November 2011.  Folks
must take care NOT to use the new rules BEFORE they are effective,
and NOT to use the old rules afterward.

Anyone wishing to monitor the Federal Register for rule publication
can do so at:

 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR&browsePath=2011

73,
Mike / KK5F

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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Mike,

I actually was responding to a statement made in a post saying that most
transceivers shift the TRANSMIT frequency.  If there are any that do, I
believe they are in the minority.

With the K3, if 5 memories are used for 60 meters, one can set channel
hopping, but that also makes it easy to switch between SSB and CW - if
one sets VFO A to SSB (with its correct carrier frequency) and sets VFO
B to CW with its correct center channel frequency, then changing
between  SSB and CW is simply a matter of tapping the A/B button -- the
M1 - 4 buttons could be used for data modes if desired.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/20/2011 7:23 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> Don wrote:
>
>> Not all transceivers shift the transmit frequency.
> Hi Don.  I suspect that *most* rigs do NOT shift the transmit frequency
> when changing from USB to CW.  My ancient TS-50S does not.  But that
> has nothing to do with the issue.
>
>> The Elecraft K2 and K3 dial always indicate the carrier frequency, and
>> what is displayed does not change when changing modes.
> That's identical to the Kenwood TS-50S.
>
> If the TS-50S display shows 5357.0 kHz (the new 60m carrier frequency),
> it will show that as LSB, USB, or CW modes are selected.  That accurately
> reflects the transmitter carrier frequency remaining unchanged for all three
> modes.  However, the TS-50S is normally configured when in CW mode for the
> receiver to be in USB mode, but shifted down from the displayed frequency
> by 0.8 kHz so that a received signal on 5357.0 kHz will produce an 800 Hz
> sidetone.  So, the transmitter carrier frequency remains 5357.0 khz, and
> the receiver carrier frequency shifts down to 5356.2 kHz when mode is
> changed from USB to CW.
>
>> With either Elecraft or Yaesu, there is nothing complicated to figure
>> out - set the displayed frequency to the center channel frequency - but
>> with the Yaesu, one must do that AFTER setting to CW mode.  With the
>> Elecraft gear, you can set the frequency in whichever mode you choose,
>> then switch to CW.
> But "complexity" is not the issue.
>
> Regardless of whether the receiver or transmitter is shifted to switch
> between USB and CW, the point here is that one will NOT be able to have
> his Elecraft (or any other rig) tuned to 5357.0 kHz on USB, and then
> simply switch mode to CW and carry on.  The Elecraft, my Kenwood, and most
> other rigs would then transmit on 5357.0 kHz, **violating** the
> requirements of the new FCC rule 97.305(f) that CW signals on the 60
> meter channels transmit on the channel center frequency (here 5358.5 kHz).
> For every ham rig currently available (including the K3), some thought
> will need to be exercised before transferring modes between USB and CW
> on the 60 meter band.  It's NOT going to be only the simple and customary
> shift of the emission mode switch to CW...it will also require ensuring that
> the CW transmission takes place on the channel center frequency, 1.5 kHz
> above the channel carrier frequency!  That's the ONLY point I've tried to
> show.  The constraints of channelized operation are still somewhat foreign
> to most hams, and this particular issue arises only due to the addition
> of CW as a new U.S. 60m band mode.
>
> For rigs whose carrier frequency never changes with mode change, the
> easiest approach to add 60 meter CW capability will be by programming
> five channels on the specified 60m *carrier* frequencies (like 5357.0 kHz)
> for USB Phone, Data, and RTTY (but NEVER CW) modes, plus five frequencies
> on the specified 60m *center* frequencies (like 5358.5 kHz) for CW mode
> ONLY.
>
> I suppose it will need to be determined if there is any value, for 60m
> only, of enabling a shift from 5357.0 kHz USB operation to 5358.5 kHz
> CW operation with no operator intervention other than changing mode.
> Were that desired, then the rig in question would need to shift the
> transmitted carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to to 5358.5, and shift
> the receiver carrier frequency from 5357.0 kHz to 5357.7 kHz (if an
> 800 Hz sidetone pitch is desired).
>
> Such issues have never been been imposed on ham band operations, and
> thus represent a novelty to most.  Even those familiar with MARS, CAP,
> SHARES, etc. have likely not dealt with such, since little or none of
> the operations on those outside-ham-band services use CW.
>
> FWIW, the effective date of the 60m band changes in the US is 30 days
> after publication of the rule changes in the Federal Register, and
> **NOT** 30 days after the FCC approval on 18 November 2011.  Folks
> must take care NOT to use the new rules BEFORE they are effective,
> and NOT to use the old rules afterward.
>
> Anyone wishing to monitor the Federal Register for rule publication
> can do so at:
>
>   http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collection.action?collectionCode=FR&browsePath=2011
>
> 73,
> Mike / KK5F
>
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[k6dgw]

These are very good discussions.  To add a minor note to Mike's warning
at the end, US Federal Government Agency rule changes issued late in the
year [sort of like now] often take some time to appear in the Fed Reg.
They take vacations around this time too.  Patience here will be a
virtue.  And there is victory here too!  Many did not think we hams
could adapt to fairly restrictive channelized HF operation.  That NTIA,
who manages this spectrum for primary federal government users was
willing to expand our privileges says a great deal about how we proved
the doubters wrong.  Let's keep it up.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org

On 11/20/2011 4:23 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> Don wrote:
>
>> Not all transceivers shift the transmit frequency.
>
> Hi Don.  I suspect that *most* rigs do NOT shift the transmit frequency
> when changing from USB to CW.  My ancient TS-50S does not.  But that
> has nothing to do with the issue.
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[Rick WA6NHC]

Heh.  Those of us above a certain (ham) age (more than my 35 years of ham
life) will remember when some HF activity was based around crystal
operations, not wherever we chose to park.  It doesn't seem TOO long ago
either, looking back.  A VFO for transmit was less common.

And Don, using the A/B VFO for SSB/CW mode frequenciess on 60M?  You're
smarter than you look?  ;-p

Rick WA6NHC

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Jensen
Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2011 4:52 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] US 60 Meter Band Changes Approved by FCC - CW Issues

Many did not think we hams
could adapt to fairly restrictive channelized HF operation.  That NTIA,
who manages this spectrum for primary federal government users was
willing to expand our privileges says a great deal about how we proved
the doubters wrong.  Let's keep it up.

73,

Fred K6DGW

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[Tim Tucker]

On Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 4:23 PM, Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Such issues have never been been imposed on ham band operations, and
> thus represent a novelty to most.  Even those familiar with MARS, CAP,
> SHARES, etc. have likely not dealt with such, since little or none of
> the operations on those outside-ham-band services use CW.

There are CW nets, voice nets, and digital nets in NavyMARS.  The
frequency plan, at least for NavyMARS, deals with carrier shift in a
very similar manner to the new 60m FCC plan.  Carrier frequencies are
listed on the frequency plan and the operators are expected to
understand which way to shift for the appropriate mode and type of
net.  It's not that big of a deal once you get used to it.


Tim
AE6LX, Amateur Radio
NNN0ITA SCA, NavyMARS
NNN0GAF FOUR,  Southern California Training Director NavyMARS
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[Mike Morrow-3]

Don wrote:

> I actually was responding to a statement made in a post saying that most
> transceivers shift the TRANSMIT frequency.

Hi Don.  Well...er...that *might* have been me when I wrote:

> When the transceiver is shifted to CW mode, the receiver frequency typically
> remains 5357.0 kHz, while the transmitter frequency is shifted up to typically
> 5357.8 kHz (for 800 Hz CW sidetone).

:-)

> If there are any that do...

In my defense, some ancient rigs like the TS-120S and others from 30 years ago
DO maintain the RECEIVER carrier frequency the same as mode changes are made,
and maintain TRANSMITTER carrier frequency that same value for LSB and USB.  But
they shift the transmitter carrier frequency up (and change the displayed frequency)
by 0.8 kHz during CW transmission.  The TS-120S in CW mode sets the receiver to
USB mode, say, on 3550.0 kHz, and when the transmitter is keyed, the frequency and
the display shift to 3550.8 kHz.  The display always shows transmit frequency
when transmitting, and always shows receive frequency when receiving.  The
current convention always shows transmit frequency, even while receiving in CW
mode.

In a way, that process more clearly shows what is happening.  Today, most rigs
show no change in displayed frequency on CW between transmit and receive.  The
casual observer knows something is changing frequency, but it's not obvious
what.

> ...I believe they are in the minority.

I'm sure you're correct.  Few rigs today follow that convention.  I prefer the
current convention.

73,
Mike / KK5F
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Mike,

This new ruling (when it takes effect) amplifies the cardinal rule -
"User, know your transceiver and how it handles both the transmit and
receive frequencies for all modes".

Knowing the frequency you are transmitting on has been an FCC
requirement from day one.  They do not care about your receive
frequency.  not only that, but the transmit frequency is defined in
their terms.  We hams use the SSB suppressed carrier frequency,, but (at
least for 60 meters), the FCC regs refer to the center channel frequency
- the suppressed carrier frequency is left for us to figure out.  You
did answer that question on your ham exam correctly, did you not - 2.8
kHz width divided by 2 equals 1.4 kHz, so shift the suppressed carrier
down by 1.4 kHz.  NOW, I can't resolve why everyone uses a downward
shift of 1.5 kHz instead of a shift of 1.4 kHz - perhaps someone can
explain that difference to me.  I see nothing in the FCC documents that
provides for a 100 Hz guard band which would increase the effective
channel width to 3.0 kHz and thus yield a suppressed carrier shift of
1.5 kHz from the channel center.  Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries - but
that is the way we are told to do it, and the FCC has not complained so
far - maybe just "let sleeping dogs lie" is the best recourse.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/20/2011 11:22 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> Don wrote:
>
>> I actually was responding to a statement made in a post saying that most
>> transceivers shift the TRANSMIT frequency.
> Hi Don.  Well...er...that *might* have been me when I wrote:
>
>> When the transceiver is shifted to CW mode, the receiver frequency typically
>> remains 5357.0 kHz, while the transmitter frequency is shifted up to typically
>> 5357.8 kHz (for 800 Hz CW sidetone).
> :-)
>
>> If there are any that do...
> In my defense, some ancient rigs like the TS-120S and others from 30 years ago
> DO maintain the RECEIVER carrier frequency the same as mode changes are made,
> and maintain TRANSMITTER carrier frequency that same value for LSB and USB.  But
> they shift the transmitter carrier frequency up (and change the displayed frequency)
> by 0.8 kHz during CW transmission.  The TS-120S in CW mode sets the receiver to
> USB mode, say, on 3550.0 kHz, and when the transmitter is keyed, the frequency and
> the display shift to 3550.8 kHz.  The display always shows transmit frequency
> when transmitting, and always shows receive frequency when receiving.  The
> current convention always shows transmit frequency, even while receiving in CW
> mode.
>
> In a way, that process more clearly shows what is happening.  Today, most rigs
> show no change in displayed frequency on CW between transmit and receive.  The
> casual observer knows something is changing frequency, but it's not obvious
> what.
>
>> ...I believe they are in the minority.
> I'm sure you're correct.  Few rigs today follow that convention.  I prefer the
> current convention.
>
> 73,
> Mike / KK5F
> ______________________________________________________________
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[k6dgw]

On 11/20/2011 8:45 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> This new ruling (when it takes effect) amplifies the cardinal rule -
> "User, know your transceiver and how it handles both the transmit and
> receive frequencies for all modes".

Yeppers, just like it's always been.

> We hams use the SSB suppressed carrier frequency,, but (at
> least for 60 meters), the FCC regs refer to the center channel frequency
> - the suppressed carrier frequency is left for us to figure out.

That's pretty standard on the planet, except for us.  But then in our
defense, no one "tunes around the band" like we do ... indeed, most
can't "tune" at all.

> NOW, I can't resolve why everyone uses a downward
> shift of 1.5 kHz instead of a shift of 1.4 kHz - perhaps someone can
> explain that difference to me.

I suspect it comes from the fact that a single-channel analog audio
radiotelephone baseband generally is considered to extend from 300 to
about 2500 or so Hz, give or take a little on each end.  So, in the
rules, the FCC "helped us out," and told us where to put our suppressed
carrier [what most of our radios show us] such that our RF signal will
be more or less centered in the channel allocation after our transmitter
processes the baseband.

Or ... maybe not, but the math does work out :-)

One big thing we ALL need to understand:  As currently proposed, the new
CW and digital modes are also to be centered.  It says so, and in the
discussion, the Commission explains why they did not accept the ARRL
recommendation that the channel be treated as a 2.8 KHz "ham band" for
PSK purposes.  The good news:  We started with 5 USB channels, NTIA
agreed to swap one for another channel with less primary user activity,
and to give us both CW and digital use.  If we behave with this as we
apparently have with USB-only, we might get more.  5 MHz is a really
cool spectrum, quite different than 7 or 3.5 MHz, that's probably why
the NTIA/FCC feel somewhat protective of it.

73,

Fred K6DGW
- Northern California Contest Club
- CU in the 2012 Cal QSO Party 6-7 Oct 2012
- www.cqp.org
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[Mike Morrow-3]

Fred wrote:

> One big thing we ALL need to understand:  As currently proposed, the
> new CW and digital modes are also to be centered.

But only the CW signals are anchored on the channel center frequency.
All the others are anchored at the channel carrier frequency, which
"may" be 1.5 kHz below the channel center frequency.

The new rule 97.303(h) states:  

"...control operators of stations transmitting phone, data, and RTTY
emissions (emission designators 2K80J3E, 2K80J2D, and 60H0J2B,
respectively) may set the carrier frequency 1.5 kHz below the center
frequency as specified in the table..."

That "may set" wording hasn't near the same force as "must set" or
"will set", so one wonders why the one form is used, if the others are
the intent.

We can be thankful that PSK31 won't be required to be on the channel
center frequency.

> ...5 MHz is a really cool spectrum, quite different than 7 or 3.5 MHz,
> that's probably why the NTIA/FCC feel somewhat protective of it.

Without the events of 11 September 2001, it is likely that a small
*continuous* segment would have been made available in the 5 MHz range.

73,
Mike / KK5F
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[N5GE]

This is just my opinion, I could be wrong...

We will have to be very careful that we don't end up with a channelized mess
like the U.S. CB channels.  I for one probably won't use it for amateur
communications, due to the congestion that will be on those channels.

Me thinks the ARRL AND the FCC made a mistake when it originally allocated the
channelized 60m Amateure band.  It would have been smarter to allocate a
continuous band as Mike suggests.  It didn't have to be 60m.  It could have been
a continuous segment of the old 11m band.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member

On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:12:48 -0600 (GMT-06:00), Mike Morrow <[hidden email]>
wrote:

[snip]
>Without the events of 11 September 2001, it is likely that a small
>*continuous* segment would have been made available in the 5 MHz range.
>
>73,
>Mike / KK5F

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[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Folks - We are well past the posting limit for a single topic. Let's end
the thread for now.

73, Eric
Elecraft List Moderator

---
www.elecraft.com


On 11/21/2011 8:36 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> The stated objective for permission to use the 60-meter channels was not to
> acquire more spectrum for casual operating. It was to provide communications
> frequencies between 80 and 40 meters needed by the various emergency nets,
> particularly the hurricane nets in the southeast, who often found the skip
> too long on 40 and too short on 80.
>
> Of course casual operation is perfectly okay as long as the channel isn't
> being used by an emergency net or the primary holder of the allocation.
>
> Ron AC7AC
>

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[N5GE]

That being the original intent, the FCC should have made the allocation like The
Alaskan Emergency Frequency allocation.

73,
Tom
Amateur Radio Operator N5GE
ARRL Lifetime Member
QCWA Lifetime Member


On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:36:55 -0800, "Ron D'Eau Claire" <[hidden email]> wrote:

>The stated objective for permission to use the 60-meter channels was not to
>acquire more spectrum for casual operating. It was to provide communications
>frequencies between 80 and 40 meters needed by the various emergency nets,
>particularly the hurricane nets in the southeast, who often found the skip
>too long on 40 and too short on 80.
>
>Of course casual operation is perfectly okay as long as the channel isn't
>being used by an emergency net or the primary holder of the allocation.
>
[snip]

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[Phil Kane-2]

On 11/20/2011 8:45 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> down by 1.4 kHz.  NOW, I can't resolve why everyone uses a downward
> shift of 1.5 kHz instead of a shift of 1.4 kHz - perhaps someone can
> explain that difference to me.  I see nothing in the FCC documents that
> provides for a 100 Hz guard band which would increase the effective
> channel width to 3.0 kHz and thus yield a suppressed carrier shift of
> 1.5 kHz from the channel center.  Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries - but
> that is the way we are told to do it, and the FCC has not complained so
> far - maybe just "let sleeping dogs lie" is the best recourse.

  Enter stage left, the U S Coast Guard whose GMDSS (Marine
  safety) SITOR (commercial version of AMTOR) transmissions say:

  NMC GMDSS SITOR FEC BROADCAST

  FREQUENCIES: 8416.5 KHZ
              16806.5 KHZ

  TIMES: 0015 AND 1735 UTC

  NOTE: CARRIER OR DIAL FREQUENCY IS LOCATED 1700 HZ BELOW THE
  ASSIGNED FREQUENCY (-1.7 KHZ).

  On my (some say ancient) ICOM R-7000 HF receiver in FSK mode,
  I set the dial 800 Hz below the assigned frequency.  On my
  TenTec RX 320D SDR HF receiver in LSB mode, I set the dial 2.19
  kHz above the assigned frequency.

  Mysteries indeed.

  My K2 doesn't tune those frequencies so I can't comment on
  that, but I do like the idea of setting the first five memory
  channels for USB/data/RTTY mode in VFO A and for CW mode in
  VFO-B.  Cheap and easy solution.

--  73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
    Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

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[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ]

Folks - This thread was closed earlier today. Its well over the max
posting limit,

Please take further correspondence off list.

73, Eric  WA6HHQ
List moderator

---
www.elecraft.com


On 11/21/2011 11:27 AM, Phil Kane wrote:

> On 11/20/2011 8:45 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>
>> down by 1.4 kHz.  NOW, I can't resolve why everyone uses a downward
>> shift of 1.5 kHz instead of a shift of 1.4 kHz - perhaps someone can
>> explain that difference to me.  I see nothing in the FCC documents that
>> provides for a 100 Hz guard band which would increase the effective
>> channel width to 3.0 kHz and thus yield a suppressed carrier shift of
>> 1.5 kHz from the channel center.  Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries - but
>> that is the way we are told to do it, and the FCC has not complained so
>> far - maybe just "let sleeping dogs lie" is the best recourse.
>    Enter stage left, the U S Coast Guard whose GMDSS (Marine
>    safety) SITOR (commercial version of AMTOR) transmissions say:
>
>    NMC GMDSS SITOR FEC BROADCAST
>
>    FREQUENCIES: 8416.5 KHZ
>                16806.5 KHZ
>
>    TIMES: 0015 AND 1735 UTC
>
>    NOTE: CARRIER OR DIAL FREQUENCY IS LOCATED 1700 HZ BELOW THE
>    ASSIGNED FREQUENCY (-1.7 KHZ).
>
>    On my (some say ancient) ICOM R-7000 HF receiver in FSK mode,
>    I set the dial 800 Hz below the assigned frequency.  On my
>    TenTec RX 320D SDR HF receiver in LSB mode, I set the dial 2.19
>    kHz above the assigned frequency.
>
>    Mysteries indeed.
>
>    My K2 doesn't tune those frequencies so I can't comment on
>    that, but I do like the idea of setting the first five memory
>    channels for USB/data/RTTY mode in VFO A and for CW mode in
>    VFO-B.  Cheap and easy solution.
>
> --  73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
>      Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402
>
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[Phil Kane-2]

On 11/21/2011 12:12 AM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> Without the events of 11 September 2001, it is likely that a small
> *continuous* segment would have been made available in the 5 MHz range.
>

  Several decades of experience in both Federal and non-Federal
  spectrum management have taught me that one should never bet on
  something like that happening. Both the government and
  non-government users were firmly entrenched in that band long
  before 9/11 and no one in their right mind gives spectrum back.
  The Los Angeles Police Department had allocations at 1730 and
  2466 kHz and finally released it twenty-plus years after they
  stopped using it for anything substantial.

--  73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
    Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

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[Phil Kane-2]

On 11/21/2011 8:36 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Of course casual operation is perfectly okay as long as the channel isn't
> being used by an emergency net or the primary holder of the allocation.

  You may be in a better part of the state than I am, but every
  time that I punch up the 60m channels in the Portland area it's
  "All Quiet on the Western Front"  (except for the Navy's 850-Hz
  encrypted RTTY signals, of course).  Neither the State of
  Oregon Emergency Management nor its equivalent in Washington
  County (the most active in ham communications) have 60m nets
  and may not even have 60m capability.  Wanna' make a sked?

--  73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
    Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

    Member, Washington County, OR
    Emergency Communications Team


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[Kevin Cozens-2]

On 11-11-19 02:36 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> Yesterday (18 November 2011), the FCC published its approval of changes
> to the US 60 meter band.
[snip]
> (3) Three emission modes (CW, RTTY, Data) are authorized in addition to
> the existing USB mode.

Is that a typo at the end of (3) above? It would be a break with (amateur
radio) convention to use USB in that part of the radio spectrum.
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

No typo.  USB is required on 60 meters by regulation.  It is also the
common sideband in use by the government.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 11/22/2011 11:54 AM, Kevin Cozens wrote:
> On 11-11-19 02:36 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
>> Yesterday (18 November 2011), the FCC published its approval of changes
>> to the US 60 meter band.
> [snip]
>> (3) Three emission modes (CW, RTTY, Data) are authorized in addition to
>> the existing USB mode.
> Is that a typo at the end of (3) above? It would be a break with (amateur
> radio) convention to use USB in that part of the radio spectrum.
>
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[w5tvw]

Another recent post by Don Wilhem as to commercial use of only USB is
correct and has always "been" to my recollection.
A bit of a history lesson is in order here.  The use of LSB on 75 meters and
USB on 20 meters (there was NO 40 meter voice band at the time!) in all
probability is a phenomenon started by a "phasing" exciter known as the "SSB
Jr." and it's derivatives, the most famous one being the Central Electronics
Model 10A, then the model 10B and 20A which were possibly the most popular
"factory made" transmitters at the time.  All these exciters had no USB and
LSB markings on the mode switch, but they were designated "SB1" and SB2".
The reason this was done was due to the conversion process employed  as the
SSB signal was generated at 9 Mhz and heterodyned to either 14, or 4 Mhz
with a 5 MHz VFO signal.  Whichever position of the mode switch was used
(SB1 in all probability, it's been too many years for me to precisely recall
and not really important at this time for me to research it!)  At any rate,
the result was Upper sideband signals on 14 Mhz and lower sideband signals
at 3.8-4.0 Mhz.  Why switch the switch when changing bands to maintain the
"same" sideband?  Laziness prevailed!
"Convention started"  (LSB on 75, USB on 20) continued on 10 and later 15
meters by the use of USB and when voice was permitted on 40 meters, LSB
there.  The "tradition" has continued thru the present day.  Commercial SSB
has ALWAYS been upper, used extensively for Shipboard and aeronautical HF
communication ever since.  Some "Fixed" HF communications have made use of
"ISB" in which the lower and upper sidebands carried simultaneously
independent information on the two sidebands.  In this case "lower" is
utilized.  It is rather difficult to get a radio receiver built for
commercial use that is actually fitted with a "Lower sideband" filter unit!
Many very fine receivers used in the maritime service are almost, if not
impossible to actually find a "filter module" for to enable "LSB" use!

Government users almost ALWAYS utilize Upper Sideband, hence the use of it
on 60 meters where the Amateur Service is a "secondary user" of the spectrum
space.

Hope this clears up the WHYS of upper on high bands and lower on lower bands
and why it started.  My information is what I recall years ago, so don't
hold me responsible for small errors or minute details about the why's and
when's!

73,

Sandy W5TVW

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Cozens
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 10:54 AM
To: K2
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] US 60 Meter Band Changes Approved by FCC

On 11-11-19 02:36 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
> Yesterday (18 November 2011), the FCC published its approval of changes
> to the US 60 meter band.
[snip]
> (3) Three emission modes (CW, RTTY, Data) are authorized in addition to
> the existing USB mode.

Is that a typo at the end of (3) above? It would be a break with (amateur
radio) convention to use USB in that part of the radio spectrum.
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