One correction. The 100 watts on the channels is 100w ERP (164w EIRP). In my case, given my feedline and antenna, my TS-590SG will be able to run at 100w output. You will have to make your own calculations.
73, Don AD0K Don Inbody Buda, Texas On Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 17:06 Don Inbody <[email protected]> wrote: > I have been doing some research on the new FCC rules/guidance on the 60m > band. > > In short, we will have use of a contiguous band from 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz. > This band will be limited to 15w EIRP (~9w ERP). You will have to calculate > your own line losses and any gain your particular antenna has to find out > what power level that translates to on your radio. In my case, I will have > to keep my TS-590SG to about 10 or 11 watts. > > We will also have the use of 4 channels: > Channel ID Dial Freq (USB) Center Freq Status > Channel 1 5330.5 kHz 5332.0 kHz 100W Allowed > Channel 2 5346.5 kHz 5348.0 kHz 100W Allowed > Channel 4 5371.5 kHz 5373.0 kHz 100W Allowed > Channel 5 5403.5 kHz 5405.0 kHz 100W Allowed > > Note that Channel 3 (5357.0 Dial frequency) (the current standard FT-8 > channel) will no longer be permitted as a 100w channel. That channel falls > within the contiguous band and so must be limited to 15w EIRP. No guidance > has been provided by ARRL or any other authority as to which channel is > going to become the FT-8/digital channel. > > Why has this occured? In short, the US is falling in with most of the rest > of the world. However, the background is a bit more convoluted. > > The Federal Government is the Primary User of the entire 5 MHz spectrum. > Amateur Radio operators are guests ("Secondary Users"). > > This means if you hear any non-amateur traffic on these frequencies, you > must cease transmitting immediately. You are legally protecting these > specific agencies and operations: > > 1. The "Big Three" Primary Users: These agencies use the 60m band for > secure voice, digital data links, and Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) > networks. > (a) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / FEMA: This is the heaviest > user. They use these frequencies for cross-agency emergency coordination. > > (b) Department of Defense (DoD): US Navy, Army, and Air Force use 5 MHz > for tactical communication and data links. > > (c) US Coast Guard (USCG): They utilize this spectrum for ship-to-shore > communication and cutter-coordination, often using digital modes that sound > like "chirps" or "hissing." > > 2. The SHARES Program (Shared Resources): You will often hear traffic from > the SHARES network on or near amateur frequencies. > > What it is: A federal program managed by DHS that coordinates HF radio > resources for national security and emergency preparedness. > > Who is on it: It allows Critical Infrastructure entities (power companies, > telecom providers, hospitals, NGOs like Red Cross) to talk directly to > Federal agencies using government frequencies. > > The Conflict: SHARES traffic often uses upper sideband (USB) voice, just > like hams. If you hear a net checking in stations with strange callsigns > (e.g., "NNA4AC", "AAR3MC"), that is a Federal SHARES net. Do not transmit. > > 3. Department of State: Embassy and consular traffic occasionally appears > here, usually as encrypted digital bursts. > > Why "Old Channel 3" (5357.0 kHz) Was Demoted > The frequency 5357.0 kHz (dial) was likely targeted for the power > reduction because it sits in a segment heavily utilized for ALE (Automatic > Link Establishment) sounding. > > What you might hear: A rapid "warbling" sound that lasts for 1–2 seconds. > > What it is: A government radio automatically "pinging" the band to see if > propagation is good enough to establish a link. If you transmit 100W on top > of an ALE sounding, you can disrupt an automated federal network trying to > sync up. > > If you hear anything else about 60m, let us know. Right now, we are > waiting to see if they proposed rules actually go into effect (they likely > will in January sometime) and we are awaiting guidance for any gentlemen's > agreements on where FT-8 traffic will go. > > 73, Don AD0K > Buda, TX (EM10bc) >
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