This is already happening in Australia. Amateurs are secondary users for 420-450MHz, with military and radio location being primary. A few years ago our ACMA introduced "Low Interference Potential Devices" license class (any modulation, for any purpose, 25 mW maximum, no license required). Allegedly this was to allow luxury cars to be imported without modifying their electronic door and security keys. Not surprisingly there are a few luxury cars still parked near amateur repeaters that can't be unlocked :-) Due to poorly written legislation, a whole lot of other devices have now flooded the market, including continuously transmitting data modules, and all cause a lot of trouble to amateur operators and repeaters. The bottom end of the band 420-430MHz of the amateur band has also been eroded by government digital radio networks (because it's cheaper to import equipment from overseas that's already in that band). Amateurs in parts of the country are no longer allowed to use that part of the band. I hope the FCC doesn't follow suit although it sounds like they already are! Mark, VK3BYY
_____ From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Thursday, 4 March 2010 07:11 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Repeater-Builder] Fw: FCC R&O Involving the Amateur 70cm Band I feel a little pessimistic about this, in that I expect it to happen more frequently as time passes. I hope I'm wrong, but I can't help feeling that we are going to gradually lose our spectrum as companies with deep pockets buy our frequencies out from under us. Richard www.n7tgb.net <http://www.n7tgb.net/> Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives. -- Ronald Reagan _____ From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:repeater-buil...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of George Henry Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 11:15 AM To: repeater-builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Fw: FCC R&O Involving the Amateur 70cm Band Re: the waiver request by ReconRobotics for 420 - 450 MHz operation. Hams get the shaft again... George, KA3HSW / WQGJ413
