I understand most of the new FCC rule changes that will go into effect on 11 Nov 06, but I am a bit confused when it comes to the digital changes.
Under Item 15 below, they state: "Nevertheless, our Part 97 rules do not now authorize amateur stations to transmit both image and data emission types on any HF frequency segments," I am probably misunderstanding something, but I had thought that we could transmit both image and data and voice throughout the 160 meter band. It is not necessarily meeting the band plans, but I had thought the FCC rules permitted it. Hopefully, others will have a lot more understanding than I have on what it is they are permitting on the "data" portions of the bands which to me means anything that is not the phone section. If I understand it, they will allow both analog and digital image in the non-phone areas, but only if they are narrow bandwith or under 500 Hz? But no data to be transmitted in the phone areas except for "image" and digital voice. I am very disappointed if we can not include "data" when using WinDRM types of programs in the phone portion of the band and I can not understand their reasoning on this. Unless what they really mean is that you could use WinDRM (wide band modes) in the phone section to transmit "data," but you can not use the narrow band modes in the phone band section such as RTTY. I find Item 19 to be not fully clear about NOT accepting the ARRL's request to NOT impose a 500 Hz bandwidth limitation in the data area: "ARRL also requests that we not impose a 500 Hz bandwidth limitation in the definition of data emissions, arguing that this limitation would have unintended consequences because the limitation also applies to amateur service bands in which a higher symbol rate or bandwidth is permitted. We understand ARRL's concern, but we note that eliminating or relaxing the bandwidth limitation would de facto eliminate the separation of narrow bandwidth and wide bandwidth emissions. We believe that separation of emission types by bandwidth is accepted in the amateur service as a reasonable means to minimize interference on shared frequencies and bands and, therefore, we will not replace the 500 Hz bandwidth limitation with a 3 kHz bandwidth limitation. To accommodate the concern raised by ARRL, however, we will revise our rules to clarify that the 500 Hz limitation applies only to the emission types we are adding to the definition of data when transmitted on amateur service frequencies below 30 MHz. By amending the rule in this manner, the 500 bandwidth limitation will not apply to other data emission types or amateur service bands in which a higher symbol rate or bandwidth currently is permitted." It seems to be saying that there is some kind of narrow bandwidth limitation in the non-phone parts of the HF bands. I had thought that this new rulemaking would define those different areas, but it seems that they have sidestepped this (unless this is something additional that is still pending?) When they say they will "not replace the 500 Hz bandwidth limitation with a 3 kHz bandwidth, they appear to only be referring to the newly permitted modes being 500 Hz? And those newly permitted modes are basically analog FAX and analog image? Could you use WinDRM on the non-phone areas as long as you were sending "data," but when you wanted to send images, you would have to use something else since it doesn't accomodate? Is this the final decision on how the bands were to be divided up, or is there another NPRM for that to be decided later on? What about the whole issue of baud rates exceeding the 300 baud speed? I apologize to those who think these are dumb questions, but I really find it confusing. 73, Rick, KV9U Andrew O'Brien wrote: >New FCC rules....digital related, see below. > > >Oct 10, 2006 > > >. >15. Image Emissions. Background. Amateur radio operators have >recently been using personal computers with sound cards and software >to develop new communication systems and technologies that are >capable >of transmitting both image and data emission types. One system in >use, for instance, combines a digital emission and a narrowband >facsimile (FAX) emission. Another system, sometimes referred to as >the "Hellschriber" system, uses transmitted pulses to directly write >images on paper or a computer screen. Amateur radio operators >worldwide have been using these new communications systems without >causing harmful interference to other amateur service >communications. > Such use appears to be consistent with one of the purposes of >amateur >service, namely, to contribute to the advancement of the radio art. >Nevertheless, our Part 97 rules do not now authorize amateur stations >to transmit both image and data emission types on any HF frequency >segments, though they do authorize image emission types to be >transmitted on frequency segments also authorized for phone >communications. >16. In the NPRM, the Commission sought comment on whether it >should >revise the definition of data emission types contained in Section >97.3(c) of our Rules to include emission types A1C and F2C. This >would permit amateur stations to transmit FAX emissions having an >occupied bandwidth of 500 Hz or less on the frequency segments used >for data communications. The NPRM also noted that limiting the >occupied bandwidth of image emissions in data segments of the HF >bands >to 500 Hz or less would provide the amateur service community greater >flexibility in developing communication systems and communications >technology, thereby furthering that purpose of the amateur service >while maintaining the narrow bandwidth nature of the data emission >band segments. >17. Decision. All commenters who addressed this issue support >the >NPRM proposal to revise the definition of data in the amateur service >rules. We agree that permitting images to be transmitted on data >emission frequency segments will "allow amateur radio to make the >most >of new [software] programs" thereby "advanc[ing] its technology." >18. We agree with the majority of commenters that analog >emissions >should not categorically be excluded from the definition of data >emission types because the frequency segments authorized for data >emissions also are authorized for certain analog emission types. >Although ARRL agrees with the concept of permitting images to be >transmitted in HF segments where data emissions are currently >allowed, >it requests that we exclude analog image emissions from the >definition >of data, because it asserts that analog emissions "would be >inhomogeneous with the digital emissions in the segments in which CW, >RTTY, and data emissions are permitted." However, many other >commenters request that we include emission designators J2C and J3C >in >the definition of data so that data communications transmitted by >amateur stations may include narrow bandwidth analog images. We >also >note that no commenter has claimed that interference occurs between >these different types of emissions and that many commenters support >allowing narrow bandwidth analog image emissions in digital frequency >segments. Based on the record before us, we believe that we should >allow amateur stations to transmit narrow bandwidth analog image >emissions in digital frequency segments. Accordingly, we revise the >definition of data to include emission designators J2C and J3C. We >also include emission type F1C, because F1C is the emission type that >amateur stations transmit when they are using multiple frequency >shift >keying (MFSK). >19. ARRL also requests that we not impose a 500 Hz bandwidth >limitation in the definition of data emissions, arguing that this >limitation would have unintended consequences because the limitation >also applies to amateur service bands in which a higher symbol rate >or >bandwidth is permitted. We understand ARRL's concern, but we note >that eliminating or relaxing the bandwidth limitation would de facto >eliminate the separation of narrow bandwidth and wide bandwidth >emissions. We believe that separation of emission types by >bandwidth >is accepted in the amateur service as a reasonable means to minimize >interference on shared frequencies and bands and, therefore, we will >not replace the 500 Hz bandwidth limitation with a 3 kHz bandwidth >limitation. To accommodate the concern raised by ARRL, however, we >will revise our rules to clarify that the 500 Hz limitation applies >only to the emission types we are adding to the definition of data >when transmitted on amateur service frequencies below 30 MHz. By >amending the rule in this manner, the 500 bandwidth limitation will >not apply to other data emission types or amateur service bands in >which a higher symbol rate or bandwidth currently is permitted. > >Andy K3UK >Skype Me : callto://andyobrien73 >www.obriensweb.com >www.myspace.com/k3uk > > > > > >Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org > >Other areas of interest: > >The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ >DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org Other areas of interest: The MixW Reflector : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/themixwgroup/ DigiPol: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Digipol (band plan policy discussion) Yahoo! 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