Are digital mode operators spoiling your enjoyment of 4m?

[G7CNF]

Just of late there has been a bit of a 'tiff' going on regarding the use of WSJT in the section of the 4m band which also houses phone and CW. (All narrow band modes).

Despite trying to mitigate the differences and explain the current rationale which although far from ideal has been created through serious inequity of international allocations, still it appears that some operators are unhappy.

I am posting this poll so that the 4m community can better gauge the effects the current ad-hoc arrangement. If the poll shows there to be a significant problem, we take this to the VHF Manager with a view to medium term organising of the current band plan - not an easy undertaking.

The question is NOT about whether you think the current allocations are fair, whether the band plan is abused or even whether you agree or disagree with digital modes. Nor is it about what you have seen on the cluster or what 'Fred' down the road said, last week.

The question is simply - have digital mode operations negatively impacted your 4m experience in the SSB/CW portion of the band. Please don't include AX25 or APRS in the 'FM' end of the band, only 70.050 - 70.250 and especially around 70.200.

73

Nige.
G7CNF

[EI2IP]

No but there should be a dedicated qrg, like every other band.

Tnx.
Ei2iP
IO61CX

[G7CNF]

Hello Robbie!

Frankly I couldn't agree more, or at least a centre of activity BUT arbitrarily assigning one automatically locks out several legitimate countries. Until all DXCC entities with valid 4m access have the same allocated spectrum, the record just keeps going round, and round and...

What I want to avoid in this thread are debates over the rights and wrongs of the problem or fairness or otherwise of the current allocations and focus just on whether there is a "real" or "perceived" problem.

I'm not looking for opinions or to form camps or lines in the sand I want the facts, stripped of all innuendo, personality or nomenclature.

73

Nige.

[G7CNF]

Just noticed the typos in the poll on the word "around" both times. Sorry I've got such a lazy r's

73

[G3PTU]

Oh dear, here we go again........... What we need is some form of bandplan.....But some countries do not have...........
I note that we have a "common" SSB calling channel of 70.2, with some fairly international spectrum above this, so why not try and get a concenous on a digital calling frequency. 70.26(125) has to be avoided as some places use this for Fm calling and AM working so if you take half a Fm channel away from 70.26 then you have perhaps even on the minima side 20khz to play with
so why not? must have missed something!
I will play side 1 track 1 again, in that the present Uk band plan leaves me confused over digital modes, FM/ Am calling etc - its been like that for years. Whatever is decided lets have it publiseds so we all know.
Apologies to Nige.
David g3PTU

[OZ2M]

Hi

I never got much response on this post:
http://70mhz.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1588&highlight=

So I guess the issue cannot be that important.

Use common sense and ALWAYS avoid centre of activity, if you can, for planned and long-duration QSOs no matter mode.

I believe it is as simple as that given that a stringent bandplan will hardly ever work and definately not in a forseeable future given the scattered allocations. Activity should always rule over no activity.

73
Bo, OZ2M - Looking for DX? Try VUSHF DX-peditions www.rudius.net/dxp

[G7CNF]

Sorry Bo,

"The topic or post you requested does not exist"

could you repost or edit the link??

73

Nige.

[OZ2M]

Hi

Hmm . . . Strange. It was there yesterday and also in the search engine caches.

Will investigate what happened.

73
Bo, OZ2M - Looking for DX? Try VUSHF DX-peditions www.rudius.net/dxp

[OZ2M]

The ultimative bandplan

... is it not. But would it be an idea that we try to design one. I know that there is no such thing as an ultimate solution. Every thing changes that is the only thing that does not change.

However, an allocation 000-500 is what we are aiming for. Given this fact and that we from time to time have discussions about the current use how about planning for the entire allocation. Then for those of us who can fulfil this now and in the future we can adapt it. If a country is not able to apply “The Ultimate Bandplanâ€

[EI2GLB]

cant be as bad as 6m everyone on .230 and the size of the band

[G3LVP]

I think that this question should have been posted on the General News section of the forum to ensure responses from the wider 4m community.

Bearing in mind the differing 4m allocations it seems to me that it must be accepted that split frequency operation will have to be the norm between some countries and I can't see any excuse for operators in the UK using weak signal digital modes not confining their transmissions to 70.150 +/- as per the existing band plan. Just because 50.230 is used for MS operation on 6m isn't a reason for using 70.230 as suggested by Bo. It's my understanding that the 6m band plan is a bit of a mess anyway.

I think that anyone transmitting a digital signal for hours on end using full power into (for example) a 10dB gain antenna producing an ERP of around 1.5 kW (+ RX antenna gain) should consider the potential effects to other local users of the band regardless of the frequency used. A question that follows on from that, if some WSJT "QSO's" take over 3 hours to complete how long do people spend attempting to make contacts that are not completed?

73....

Ken

G3LVP

[OZ2M]

A second thought.

Why not use 475 for AM calling and then QSY downwards.

As far as I understand AM is primarily a UK thing.

I.e.
000-100: Beacons
100-300: Narrow band
300-500: FM and AM

where
200: DX activity centre
230: MS activity centre (or perhaps 270?)
325: FM calling channel
475: AM calling channel

73
Bo, OZ2M - Looking for DX? Try VUSHF DX-peditions www.rudius.net/dxp

[GW8IZR]

" AM is a UK thing " should actually read AM is an OLD UK thing ;-)

However I expect those using that mode probably have older xtal controlled equipment and might not wish to invest in any move.

Whilst this discussion is interesting I suspect its like the poll - pointless.

[G3LVP]

I agree with Paul that there appears to be very little AM activity on 4M these days. This is not to say that there might be small pockets of AM activity in some areas and if so the frequency used is probably 70.26. I've probably not used AM for 20 years.

FM activity in the UK is well established with 70.45 as the calling frequency and 'working' frequencies using 12.5 kHz channels above & below this frequency. Many stations use ex PMR crystal controlled equipment for FM.

I don't think that a DX 'center of activity' is a good idea, see my previous comment about the 6m band plan, all that's required is the sensible use of 70.2 as a calling frequency (yes I know that sometimes it's impracticable to QSY when signals are right down in the noise).

I see stations in Europe requesting replies to JT6 transmissions on 70.205, I don't understand the reason for this when 70.150 is designated as the MS frequency, perhaps someone can enlighten me.

73.....

Ken

G3LVP

[OZ2M]

Hi

Six countries cannot TX on 150: www.70mhz.org/bands.htm

73
Bo, OZ2M - Looking for DX? Try VUSHF DX-peditions www.rudius.net/dxp