At 5/3/2007 09:46 PM, you wrote: >On 5/3/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > BTW, the 3 minute control link failure or "heartbeat timer" rule is still > > in Part 97 (97.213b). This is the most ignored rule in Part 97, as > > virtually no one implements such a control link. > >The way I read it, only a "Telecommand Station" needs the 3 minute >timer on something called a "control link".
I figured someone would get tripped up on the confusion between "telecommand" & "telecommand station" after I sent my last message. Yes, a "telecommand station" only controls a "space station". However, look just above "telecommand station" in the definitions section (97.3): "telecommand" simply refers to controlling "a device at a distance". So your repeater station may be remotely controlled by telecommand without using a telecommand station. 97.213 then spells out specifically for non-space stations (less than 50 km altitude) under what conditions telecommand may be used to control same. So yes if you use remote control, that is "telecommand" & in theory the 3 minute heartbeat timer is required. However, nobody does this so the rule will probably continue to be ignored until someone puts in a Request for Rulemaking that deletes it, which I'm sure would sail through the rulemaking process. Bob NO6B
