On 2/9/2010 11:42 AM, Adrian wrote:
We've already had one ruling by the FCC about D-STAR repeaters and
that didn't go the way that many organizations had hoped. Let's not
force another ruling.
Ed WA4YIH
Hi Ed, What was that ruling, for those of us unaware please?
Adrian,
He's referring to the FCC's published opinion that D-STAR repeaters are
repeaters and must be operated in our repeater sub-band. Folks early on
were asserting that since they're digital, they're "data" and could be
operated lower than our repeater sub-band in our "data" segment. FCC
didn't agree.
In general, the problem only came up on immensely overpopulated areas of
the country that any sane person would move away from. (GRIN! Poke,
poke, Californians... LOL! Just kidding.) In other areas, we managed
to find open repeater pairs and wedge D-STAR into the existing
band-plans and repeater spectrum.
Today, the problem is somewhat alleviating itself in *most* areas
because *finally* coordinators have gotten around to clearing paper
repeaters and opening up spectrum that wasn't adequately utilized in
VHF. In *most* areas UHF was not a problem. 1.2 Ghz, ditto of
course... plenty of spectrum there to play in.
Nate WY0X
