At 01:55 PM 4/8/2010, you wrote:
>I don't know if this coordination problem is only in the USA. Here, >it seems some regions are finding solutions and others aren't. As >a fan of DStar, and knowing that some regions have slowly and >diplomatically refarmed portions of 2 meters, then taken advantage >of DStar's narrower bandwidth, I'm disappointed that isn't happening >everywhere. But, we are all human, and people normally don't like change. Well, the issues are different in different parts of the world. Like in Australia, we kept 25 kHz spacing, because of our lower density of activity. There was talk at one stage of changing the spacing on 2m to 20 kHz, because 2m pairs were running out in Melbourne and Sydney. We also had the additional problem (until 2005) that only 146-148 MHz was available to all licence classes, so opening up repeaters in that part of the band might cause issues. Since then, a few things have changed. Firstly, the regulation changes now allow all licence classes to use the entire band (144-148 MHz). Next, the simplex frequencies between 145.2 and 148.8 MHz became heavily used by groups on simplex, as well as IRLP and Echolink simplex nodes. Finally, D-STAR came along. As it turns out, there's enough room in the guard band between 25 kHz repeater channels to fit new D-STAR allocations in between them, provided that there's no nearby analog repeaters on the adjacent frequencies. So D-STAR repeaters on 2m occupy the guard band between FM repeaters, and on simplex, part of the (now under utilised) packet sub band was set aside for D-STAR. Of course, in the "general use" area, there's room to slip in between FM users between 25 kHz channels. I know this doesn't help the US one iota, but it's an illustration of different situations in different parts of the world. >Our coordination group does a very good job of avoiding >interference. It allows only repeater owners or trustees of >coordinated repeaters to vote. That makes sense, but of course it >means the majority vote against any change that would make them move >frequency, or loose coordination due to virtual non-use or being a >paper repeater. The WIA is our coordinating body, so it's in the hands of the national organisation here. >But in practice, the best use of the spectrum and interests of the >amateur community do not appear to be factors in these >decisions. Many frequency pairs are held by low-use coordinated >repeaters, but there is no policy to periodically review >coordination decisions to see the spectrum continues to be used in >the best way. And the existing members are unlikely to vote in a >change to the policies to do that. Here, while it's possible to have "paper repeaters" (I have some due to various circumstances), one has to pay for them, because repeaters are licensed separately. That probably helps keep the number of paper repeaters down, and they tend to be on lesser used bands, because one licence can be used for multiple co-sited systems (providing the other frequencies have coordination), and it's cheaper to get as many frequencies up front, than to do it later (as each change attracts a change of licence fee). At this time, I have one 70cm repeater physically operating, a 23cm allocation (no hardware yet :( ) on the same licence, as well as a 70cm and 23cm (on a separate licence) that I'm looking for a site to host. Because a change of licence is necessary, I could get these also changed to allow the possibility of D-STAR at no extra cost. Still have to sort out the site issue, as due to local politics (some fool found out that the owners of the repeater don't live in the area), I lost access to the old site in 2008. Pity, it was an excellent site too. :( > >These are not easy issues, and I respect our coordinators for the >excellent technical work they are doing. Repeaters that exist for >emergencies and emergency training exercises probably should stay >coordinated even though the repeater is hardly every used. Finding >the best solution is really hard. > >So I am impressed when some places in the US seem to be finding >solutions to these difficult problems. Well, hope you guys keep finding solutions. :) 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
