Happy New Year 2016

I wish you happy, prosperous and healthy New Year 2016

PreStew here tomorrow...!

The PreStew topband distance challenge will take place from 

1500Z 17 Oct
until 

1500Z 18 Oct. 

This is a CW only event that takes place on 160 meters.  The band has been
coming alive with good solid openings during darkness. 

The "distance" aspect of this is a unique rule where you get more QSO
points for working stations that are further away. 

For example - a station
in Oregon would get 2 or 3 points for working California - 8 or 9 points
for working the East Coast - and 15 or 16 points for working Japan.  VK6 is
worth 30 points!!

Furthermore - if you - or the other station - are running either low power
- or QRP power - the QSO is worth more for BOTH stations involved in the
QSO. 

This unique scoring method encourages and rewards working those weaker
signals - and benefits those who have put a lot of effort into hearing
well. 

This PreStew is a warmup for the "big" Stew that takes place on December
27th. 

Full rules and results of previous events can be found at
http://www.kkn.net/stew/.

Hope to hear you on the band tomorrow night. 

Tree N6TR/7

Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband

73 - Petr, OK1RP

.../-.-

Comments to FCC needed ASAP, regarding Fish Net Beacons in 1900-2000 kHz

Hello,

as it is very important on 160m band for DXers I am re-posting here the article from Don, K4KYV regarding the proposed new MF and LF allocations in FCC Docket 15-99 even although it is a bit late...

Re Docket 15-99

While most attention so far has focussed on the proposed new MF and LF allocations, there is also the issue of fish net beacons on 160m. The initial comment deadline is past due, but REPLY COMMENTS ARE STILL OPEN THROUGH THE 30th of SEPTEMBER.  We can reply to the ARRL comments; they pretty much have the issue identified and defined spot on, except for a suggestion that fish net beacons on 1900-2000 kHz be moved to the "lightly used" portion of the Radiolocation frequencies between the broadcast band and 160m ham band, specifically 1750-1800 kHz. From what I hear on my receiver at this location, THE ENTIRE SEGMENT OF FREQUENCIES between 1705 kHz and 1800 kHz is lightly used.  I rarely ever hear a signal of any kind in that segment, which was once packed full of now-discontinued radiolocation beacons.  I would strongly urge everyone to submit a reply comment explaining why you support the ARRL position,  with a further suggestion that the entire band of Radiolocation frequencies between 1705 and 1800 kHz be considered for re-accommodating beacons presently on 1900-2000.

I am not familiar with the beacon transmitters except for a few online ads for the products, but I suspect it would be very easy to move the transmit frequency, requiring only re-setting a synthesised master oscillator and tweaking the antenna tuning network. A technician could probably complete the task in less than 10 minutes.

The beacons would suffer far less interference operating in the now-vacant Radiolocation spectrum, than in the heavily used amateur band. Even though they operate at low transmitting power, amateurs, particularly those living in coastal areas, frequently complain of interference. Likewise, signals from high power amateur transmitters are undoubtedly capable of causing harmful interference to the beacons.

When the FCC released the Report & Order upgrading amateur status to primary, it wasn't immediately clear that this included a new docket proposal (15-99) with a subsequent comment deadline.  It is unusual for the FCC to combine a R&O for one proceeding with a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking all in the same release, so this did not come to the attention of most amateurs until a recent news item appeared on the ARRL website.


73, Don k4kyv


Some useful links:

Here, you see a list of links to recent comments, plus a link to the text of the original FCC Release in the right-hand pane. If you wish to submit a (reply) comment, click on "Submit a Filing in 15-99", which is located at the top of the page just above the main heading.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/proceeding/view?name=15-99  


Here is the entire FCC Docket, which is very lengthy.  The pertinent section addressing the 1900-2000 kHz issue begins with paragraph 30.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001030137  


Here are the ARRL's submitted comments. The 160m issue is addressed in Section II, beginning on page 4 and running through page 11.
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001198635   



73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-

160m band beacons list (update 29Nov17)

Hi,

 

there is an improved list of the TOP band beacons. As You can see it is still "trial" and it's not final version and many of the beacons listed over here was reported years ago... maybe an operation has been cancelled or so. I will be appreciated to get any report or info about beacons from 160m band in Your location to put it into the list.

(kHz)	Call	beacon (available) informations
1700.0	CRJ	Maraba (Carajas), Brazil, B 06:06.7S 050:00.2W
1725.0	GA	Goroka, Papua New Guinea, PNG 06:04.3S 145:23.3E
1730.0	FRA	Juiz de For a, Brazil, B 21:46.0S 043:23.0W
1734.0	XPC	Chapeco, Brazil, B 27:07.0S 052:38.9W
1735.0	XPR	Unid Oil Platform? Off coast of Brazil?
1804.8	VP8VHF	GD18DH, Stanley, 16wpm (26Oct17)
1805.0	VO1NA	gm38na, 1W -> inactive (29Nov17)
1810.5	YR2TOP	KN04RU, Zlatita "v v v", 8 s carrier, no 24/7 op., 100W, inv. L, via YO2LC, YR2TOP (11Oct17)
1812.1	AI5	beacon (0011 01 May)
1816.0	GT1	fishnet beacon (0223 01 Aug)
1817.0	ZS1J	kf15pf, 1W
1818.1	4EMU	fish beacon (0450 16 Sep)
1818.5	DIGI	ZL beacon (0952 18 May)
1818.6	ZL	beacon ? (1429 02 Oct)
1820.8	3IBY	fishnet beacon (0059 01 Aug)
1821.1	UT8	beacon (2118 11 Sep 2008)
1822.0	3RPD	beacon (1007 18 Jan)
1822.2	BA4EE	fish beacon
1823.2	UMTL	beacon (2118 11 Sep 2008)
1824.0	PAU	fishnet beacon (0239 08 Aug)
1825.0	FG5	beacon, regular ID (0453 09 Sep)
1825.1	IS0	fish beacon (0209 29 Apr)
1825.4	9V1PC	beacon mode (2141 14 Apr)
1826.0	IV2	fishnet beacon (0215 20 Aug)
1826.9	4BOI	beacon (1103 01 Mar)
1826.9	3RAD	fish beacon (0504 02 Apr)
1827.0	3RAD	fish beacon (0456 13 Feb)
1827.0	4BOI	beacon, three ID's every few mins (0221 27 Oct)
1827.0	3RAD	fish net beacon (0615 03 Jan)
1827.0	3BOI	driftnet beacon (0157 13 Dec)
1828.0	3NQA	fishnet beacon (0107 15 Feb)
1828.0	LL5	fishnet beacon (0303 07 Oct)
1828.2	DST	Loud fishnet beacon
1829.0	3RLX	beacon, fishnet ? (1340 20 Nov)
1830.4	3LPB	driftnet beacon (0107 12 Feb)
1830.5	3LPB	driftnet beacon
1831.5	3LVP	beacon ?
1832.0	PW2	fishnet beacon (0247 24 Jul)
1833.3	NH1	beacon (2118 11 Sep 2008)
1835.0	KB4	beacon (0549 30 Sep)
1836.2	SK50AU	KP04LQ
1837.0	IW3FZQ	JN55VF, Monselice PD, 8W, Dipole
1840.0	OK0EK	JN89QG, 4W (29Nov17 -> inactive)
1843.2	I1YRB	JN35UB, Torre Bert, QRSS3, 0.2W, vert., 24/7, via I1RFQ
1843.2	I1DFS	JN54AC, Nr La Spezia, QRSS3
1854.0	OKM1	JO70UF, Stezery, on air 0400-1800UTC, 60m vertical, 100W, via OK1FMZ, http://www.ok0ev.cz
1875.0	DL3KR	JO63LV, Demmin “test”, 5W, dipole (27Dec14)
1960.0	GB3SSS	IO70IA, off (Poldhu), 9 pwr steps, -6 db each, id+carr(30s)+PSK at 0,15,30,45 min each hr, GB3SSS
1995.6	XE3EOL	EL51HH
1998.0	SA6RR	JO67KI, Oxaback, "qrpp+id+ttt", 0.8W, inv.L, SM6BGP (4Feb17)

Last update : 29-Nov-2017

 

Do not hesitate to email me if any information is not valid or if You have any new one...

 

 

73, Petr OK1RP

.../-.-

Thanks for update to:
Per, SM2LIY (29-Jul-2015)
Jul, OK1SP (28-Nov-2017)
Jan, OK1FMZ (29-Nov-2017
Martin, LU5DX (29-Nov-17)

Beacons unconfirmed > under investigation (29Nov17):
1836.2   SK50AU  KP04LQ                       
1837.0   IW3FZQ  Monselice PD, JN55VF, 8W, Dipole
1843.157 I1DFS   Nr La Spezia, JN54AC, QRSS3
1843.167 I1YRB   Torre Bert, JN35UB, 0.2W, Vert., QRSS3, 24/7
1995.6   XE3EOL  EL51HH
1804.8   VP8VHF  GD18DH, Stanley, (26Oct17), 16wpm
1875.0   DL3KR   JO63LV, Demmin "test", 5W, dip. (27Dec14)
1998.0   SA6RR   JO67KI, Oxaback, "qrpp+id+ttt", 0.8W, inv.L, SM6BGP(4Feb17)