Bonnie's detailed explanation looked reasonable to me. I often use the NCDXF propagation beacons and have rarely heard them QRM'd by digital signals.
73, Dave, AA6YQ --- In digitalradio@yahoogroups.com, John Bradley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > In other words Tony, despite decades of tradition of having the CW beacons on 14100, the ALE users don't give a rat's butt for anyone except a small number > of ALE users. > > and the only reason they are doing this is because they can. > > John > VE5MU > > > > > Subject: [digitalradio] 14100.5 kHz USB - ALE Channel Bandwidth, IARU Beacon Guardband > > > > Tony KT2Q wrote > > > > Bonnie, > > > > Not sure if it's been said before, but the > > 14100.5khz ALE data channel seems awfully close > > the NCDXF beacon frequency on 14100.0. > > > > Hi Tony, > > Yes, it is has been covered before in HFLINK group, and via direct > communication with IARU Region frequency coordination. I will gladly > cover it again for the benefit of new ALE operators and the > digitalradio group. This ALE channel has been in use for a long time > and there have been no complaints or problems. > > The 14100.5 kHz USB ALE channel has been frequency coordinated with > the IARU Regions, including IARU Region 1, which has the widest beacon > guardband (+/-1 kHz) for the IARU-NCDXF beacon at 14100.0 kHz CW. IARU > Region 2 and IARU Region 3 both have lesser (+/-500Hz) guardbands for > the IARU-NCDXF beacon CW channel. The ALE channel conforms to the more > strict IARU Region 1 requirements. > > All amateur radio ALE channels are based upon accurate calibration > within +/-20Hz and standard fixed audio frequencies. The ALE system > inherently fails to operate if these rigid standards are not followed. > All ALE operators are admonished to operate with the highest technical > standards. > > The lowest tone of the 8FSK ALE signal is exactly 750Hz and the > highest tone is exactly 2500Hz. For the 14100.5 kHz USB channel, it > translates to RF frequencies: > 1. Lowest tone = 14101.25 kHz > 2. Highest tone = 14103.00 kHz > > The 1750Hz "bandwidth" for the 8FSK signal has a spectrum that is > widened slightly (+/-200Hz) by the transition of the shifting of the 8 > FSK tones at the 125 baud (symbol) rate. The -23dBc bandwidth of the > RF spectrum of the 8FSK ALE signal is 2150Hz and the low end is > equivalent to an audio frequency of 550Hz. > > 14100.5 kHz + 550Hz = 14101.05 kHz > > Beacon guardband clearance bandwidth: > > Top edge of IARU Region 1 beacon guardband = 14101.00 kHz > > Bottom edge of 14100.5 kHz USB ALE Channel = 14101.05 kHz > > Channel Edge to Beacon Guardband Edge Clearance = 50Hz. > > Maximum allowed calibration frequency error = 20 Hz. > > Total clearance including calibration error = 30 Hz. > > The ALE channel meets the strictest IARU Region 1 recommended > guardband by 30 Hz and meets the less strict IARU Region 2 and IARU > Region 3 by 530 Hz. > > 73---Bonnie KQ6XA > > . > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.441 / Virus Database: 268.18.3/697 - Release Date: 2/22/2007 11:55 AM >