Since I've been FAR from satisfied with the answers we're getting regarding the new Region 2 bandplan, I sent another message to ARRL and IARU Region 2 officials today, repeating my concerns about the new bandplan and also taking a slightly different approach: pointing out that the existing plan is far better than the new one. Here's what I wrote, and the response I received from the President of the ARRL. If you've been following this issue you should get a laugh out of it. Guess what? I'm ignorant and wrong again.
73 Steve WD8DAS - - - - - - - - - ARRL and IARU Officials - I see that the IARU has adopted, effective January 1, 2008, a new voluntary band plan for Region 2 that would place restrictive limitations on transmitted signal bandwidths and overlooks commonly-used modes and practices on the bands 160 - 10m. I am against such bandwidth and mode controls - tight regulation and restrictions like these goes completely against the experimental and innovative nature of ham radio. The new Region 2 plan does not match common practice on the bands and would likely be ignored by thousands of operators. What about AM operation? How is bandwidth defined and measured? Voluntary or not, my position is that we need no such plans restricting operation by bandwidth. Bandplans like this have a history of increasing the stress among amateurs with arguments and finger-pointing. And without the details of how bandwidth is to be defined and measured, the figures in the bandplan are meaningless - except to cause fights among hams as they argue about them! The existing IARU Region 2 bandplan is excellent - why the need for change to bandwidth specifications? Thank you. Steve Johnston, WD8DAS - - - - - - - - - Steve, Thank you for your email. Your information is not correct. The IARU Region 2 band plan will not restrict AM operators in any way and you will notice no change whatsoever to your operating preference as a result of it. ARRL has no regulatory petition pending, proposed or planned that would limit or restrict AM phone operation in any way. I have copied your ARRL Division Director, Dick Isely, W9GIG, on this email so he will be aware of your comments as well. 73 Joel W5ZN - - - - - - - - - - ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word unsubscribe in the message body.
