Don, I have looked at the PropNet software and what it seems to be doing is acting as an unattended beacon. Also, I am not familiar with any "allocated digital PSK31 portion of the band." Are you referring to the the automatic subbands?
From Part 97: /(9) Beacon/. An amateur station transmitting communications for the purposes of observation of propagation and reception or other related experimental activities. Isn't this exactly what you PropNet is doing? It does not seem that the receiving stations are connecting with the transmitting station but are reporting their reception through the internet. Both APRS and PropNet appear to operate as beacons if they are unconnected. This is legal on part of 10 meters and other higher bands but not on HF. They don't seem to be operating as automatic stations where they are responding to interrogation by another station. They are just sending out unconnected packets or data which would seem to be a beacon. Does anyone have insight into this and how the rules cover these modes? 73, Rick, KV9U Don wrote: > Hi Rick KV9U, > > You bring up a good point actually and don't blame you for asking the > question. First I must say my choice of words might be misleading as > I see it because I used `beacon' you might have reference to part 97 > section 203 on beacons: > > http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/ > http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/13nov20061500/edocket.access.g > po.gov/cfr_2006/octqtr/47cfr97.203.htm > > "A beacon may be automatically controlled while it is transmitting on > the 28.20-28.30 MHz, 50.06-50.08 MHz, 144.275-144.300 MHz, 222.05- > 222.06 MHz, or 432.300-432.400 MHz segments, or on the 33 cm and > shorter wavelength bands" > > Again my choice of words 'beacon' is incorrect because actually a > PropNet PSK Station is using PSK31 within the allocated digital PSK31 > portion of the band and not only transmits but receives other PropNet > stations so it is not really a beacon since a beacon as described in > part 97 section 203 is described as one way communications. I think > the creator and owner of PropNet Ev W2EV had stated before on the > question you ask saying: > "Sure! We operate under the same provision that APRS does in the USA: > FCC Part > 97.221. Obviously, this applies only to USA stations". > http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/13nov20061500/edocket.access.g > po.gov/cfr_2006/octqtr/47cfr97.221.htm > > You might email Ev W2EV (email [EMAIL PROTECTED] or ask > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PropNET-Online/ ) to ask him for the > legal run down on this but to my knowledge it is a legal activity > using a legal digital mode or I would not be participating or > promoting illegal operation (I think PropNet has been covered by most > all major Ham Radio Mags including the ARRL/QST, CQ, etc and Ev > involved with the FCC over this subject matter and to date no > issues). > > Again I would not operate or promote this if I thought it to be > illegal. I actually have operated PropNet like any other digital > mode of communication where as I'm sending out my call and > information and receiving others. The neat thing about this is that > it's all logged in a database for propagation study and also is set > to a map for real time propagation mapping so everyone can see in > real time the band activity. > > I don't know if my response helps but its my honest understanding and > thought your question needed a response. We are trying to promote > more 30m digital activity and if you can prove otherwise about > PropNet then I surely would not promote it. We always have our > regular Thursday and Sunday night 30m PSK nights and that has > promoted more activity on 30m also (of course other modes other than > bpsk31 are being use too). If you have time please give PropNet a > look over and you can always use just the `lurker' mode for receive > only and still participate by reporting what stations/areas you are > receiving. The information will be sent automatically via the > Internet to the PropNet map where your location and received stations > will be listed. I can't participate the whole weekend and don't > expect anyone to 24 x 7 (although in 'lurker mode' you really can > participate 24 x 7)but when in the shack I will be sending out my > call and participating the most I can. Thanks again for the reply. > > De kb9umt Don > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/30meterPSKGroup/ > http://www.30meterdigital.com > >
