++++++++++++++++++ See also 60 Meter Band ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 09:37:06 +0100 To: "Sandy W5TVW" From: Neill Taylor Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Exact 5 MHz Channel Frequencies (was KRC2 first!) Cc: At 10:44 15/05/2003 -0500, Sandy W5TVW wrote: >Sounds like a good way to work "split"!!! Did they restrict the emission >for you >chaps over on that side of the pond? I don't believe so - I think our usual 400W pep is allowed, and SSB CW or data are OK. But I can't be sure as I don't have one of the permits (they stopped issuing them in October 2002). Maybe one of the permit-holders can answer this? By the way, the UK "channels" are also defined in terms of the centre frequencies. They are 3kHz width, so for USB (the preferred mode) operators set their dial 1.5kHz low of the nominal channel frequency. RSGB made this very clear in their guidance - no doubt ARRL will for you guys. Neill G4HLX K2 #2425 ++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" From: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" To: "Elecraft List" Subject: [Elecraft] Exact 5 MHZ Channel Frequencies Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 07:00:18 -0400 > The way I read the FCC statement means the specific assigned > frequencies are the suppressed carrier frequencies to be used. I quote from the Report and Order: "Amateur operators shall ensure that their transmission occupies only the 2.8 kHz centered around each of these frequencies". If your signal is 2.8 kHz wide and must be centered in the assigned channel then your suppressed carrier must be 1.4 kHz below the assigned channel frequency for USB. This is the standard Government/Military way of doing frequency assignments. It makes sense that they would do it this way in order to maintain compatibility between the amateurs and the existing Government users. I know of no amateur transceiver (old or new) that displays anything other than the suppressed carrier frequency on the dial for USB. I believe you are confusing this with the 3 Khz jump in dial reading that older radios displayed when switching between USB and LSB. They still display suppressed carrier frequency however, just as the newer radios do. +++++++++++++++++++ Reply-To: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" From: "Bob Lewis (AA4PB)" To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Exact 5MHZ Channel Frequencies Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 13:47:36 -0400 Yes, of course you are correct - the dial should be set 2.8 kHz below the upper end of the band (for USB) to keep all of the signal inside the assigned band. I should have had my coffee first :-) +++++++++++++++++++ From: Unifiedtx at aol.com Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 08:03:51 EDT To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] Exact 5MHZ Channel Frequencies If the FCC intends allow us to use 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 Khz, then they should have told us we can use 5330.6, 5346.6, 5366.6, 5371.6 and 5403.6 USB. This would make the 1.4 Khz shift allowance to center the sideband in the channel. It seems to me the FCC needs to go back to the drawing board and restate the above frequencies for the amateur service since we use the suppressed carrier frequency on all other bands. It seems to me that the FCC is causing unnecessary confusion in the amateur service which may result in many hams using the wrong frequencies. If we have to use 5403.6, would this put us off 1.4 Khz from the UK hams who will be using 5405? Roy W4WFB ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 08:20:39 -0400 From: Reply-To: To: Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Exact 5MHZ Channel Frequencies > ...since we use the suppressed carrier > frequency on all other bands. Actually, all of the present ham bands are assigned that way. For example, when the FCC specifies the upper end of the 20M band to be 14350 kHz, you must set your dial frequency (suppressed carrier) to keep your signal within the band. Your dial should never go higher than 1.5 kHz below 14300 kHz for USB. Same principle. +++++++++++++++++++ Date: Fri, 16 May 2003 18:47:07 +0100 To: Unifiedtx at aol.com Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net From: David Pratt Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Exact 5MHZ Channel Frequencies In a recent message, Unifiedtx at aol.com said.... >If the FCC intends allow us to use 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 Khz, then >they should have told us we can use 5330.6, 5346.6, 5366.6, 5371.6 and 5403.6 >USB. But they do. The footnote [54] at the bottom of page 11 of the FCC document 03-105 explains this and gives the example that when operating on 5332kHz the carrier frequency should be 5330.5kHz. In the UK we are allowed to use 200W output (23dBW) using all the usual modes of emission (Morse, Telephony, RTTY, Data, Facsimile and SSTV) and a very comprehensive band plan is available. But unlike the US, our permits to operate on the 5 To: Subject: [Elecraft] RE: Exact 5 MHz Channel Frequencies David wrote: > The footnote [54] at the bottom of page 11 of the FCC document > 03-105 explains this and gives the example that when operating > on 5332kHz the carrier frequency should be 5330.5kHz. I noticed that footnote. It implies using a 3 kHz-wide channel to support a 2K8J3E 2.8 kHz bandwidth transmission. That would dictate a carrier frequency 1.5 kHz below a USB signal on 5332 kHz, rather than the more obvious 1.4 kHz that one would have supposed appropriate for 2K8 bandwidth. It's splitting hairs to raise a 100 Hz distinction. Personally, I hope the 1.5 kHz value is accepted as standard for ham use of these channels. There's something aesthetically more pleasing=20 about a dial reading of 5330.5 rather than 5330.6 kHz. :-) All this channel offset business should be old hat to hams that have been participants in US M.A.R.S, C.A.P., C.G. Auxiliary, and S.H.A.R.E.S. HF operations. They've applied a 1.5 kHz offset to their nominal channel frequencies for decades. 73, Mike / KK5F +++++++++++++++++++ SB QST. ARL $ARLB038 ARLB038 New 60-meter band becomes available July 3 ZCZC AG38 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 38 ARLB038 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT June 3, 2003 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB038 ARLB038 New 60-meter band becomes available July 3 The new five-channel 60-meter domestic secondary amateur allocation becomes available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight local time on July 3. The FCC Report and Order granting the allocation was published June 3 in the Federal Register. Federal government users are primary in the 5 MHz band. The FCC has granted amateurs use of five 2.8 kHz-wide channels with center frequencies of 5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz. The channels will be available to General and higher class licensees. The only permitted mode will be upper-sideband USB phone, and 50 W ERP is the maximum power allowed. Users of the 60-meter channels should set their carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel center frequency. ARRL suggests restricting transmitted audio bandwidth to 200 Hz on the low end and 2800 Hz on the high end for a total bandwidth of 2.6 kHz. ARRL recommends that amateurs considering modifying existing amateur equipment for operation on 60 meters contact the equipment's manufacturer for advice. +++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2003 14:45:07 -0700 From: Wayne Burdick Organization: Elecraft To: Elecraft Cc: qrp Subject: [Elecraft] How to put an Elecraft K2 on 60 meters (updated) Our K60XV option (60 m + transverter I/O) isn't available yet, but it looks like U.S. hams will get limited privileges (USB mode only, 5 discrete frequencies) as of July 3rd. So we thought we'd update and re-post information on how to put the K2 on 60 meters for those who are anxious to try out the band now. K2 firmware does not at present include 60 m in the band map, so the modification works by "sharing" 40-meter components. Note: This modification is recommended for experimentation only, as we have not yet fully characterized the K2 on this band. However, a few hams in the UK have made these changes successfully, and our own initial tests show that performance is the same as on the other bands. 1. The 40 meter band-pass filter must be resonated on 60 meters: Install a DPDT switch on the rear panel, close to the 40-m band-pass filter. The two switch commons should be wired to either side of C6, the top coupling cap in this filter. In the 60 m switch position, a 4.7 pF capacitor should be placed in parallel with C6. From either side of this capacitor to ground, you'll need a 50 pF trimmer and a 47 pF fixed cap, in parallel. The filter will be peaked later. 2. Memories can be set up for easy 60m or 40m access: Turn on the K2 and switch to 40 meters. Select the 1-kHz-per-step VFO tuning rate and tune the VFO down from 40 m to the center of the 60 meter band (~5.3 MHz). Hit A=B to set both VFOs to this frequency, then STORE the setup in a frequency memory (I used #5 since this is 5 MHz). Then tune back up to 40 meters, hit A=B, and STORE this in another memory (#7 makes sense: 7 MHz). Now you can jump to either 60 or 40 meters using the RCL button. Of course you could assign up to 5 memories for use on the new channelized 60-meter assignments. 3. The VCO requires additional capacitance: Use RCL #5 to get back to 60 meters. The PLL will be out of lock because the 40-meter VCO capacitance is too small to allow the VCO to tune down to 5.3 + 4.9 = 10.2 MHz. To get the PLL to lock, you'll have to parallel some 30-70 pF of extra capacitance across C71. Connect a voltmeter to R30, and find a value of C that results in a VCO voltage of 1.5-7.5 V over the desired 60 m segment. Then install a tiny SPST switch on the board which, when thrown to the 60 m position, puts this cap into the circuit. Use very short leads, and cut an access hole in the bottom cover. (Note: the K60XV will be supplied with two MV209 varactor diodes, D19 and D20, that will work in combination with the K2's new "D19" menu entry to change the VCO tuning range so that it covers both 40 and 60 meters with new VCO relay combinations. You don't need new K2 firmware to use the fixed capacitance method described here. But if you have it, leave "D19" set to "N".) 4. With both the VCO and BPF switches in the 60 m position, and a 60-m memory recalled, align the BPF trimmers on 60 meters in RX or TX mode. 5. The K2's original 40-m low-pass filter and push-pull PA does a decent job of suppressing the 2nd harmonic on 60 meters, but if you want some extra margin, use the new 40m/60m elliptic low-pass filter components shown in the Revision D K2 manual. These components are already present in K2s s/n 3000 and up. You're now ready to use the K2 barefoot on 60 meters (up to 15 W). Remember to use upper sideband *only* as we haven't yet convinced the FCC to let us use CW :( The KAT2 and KAT100 automatic antenna tuners will both work on this band, so you can use a 40 or 80-meter antenna or a random wire. DO NOT use the KPA100 on 60 meters unless you have the means to check 2nd harmonic suppression. Since the KPA100 uses a 40/30 meter low-pass filter, the 2nd harmonic attenuation on 60 meters would be determined solely by the balance of the PA strip, which may or may not meet FCC specs. A future modification to the KPA100 will allow use on 60 meters. (Also note the carefully-defined 50-watt power limit on this band. See www.arrl.org for details.) Now: Who will be the first to work all states on 60 meters? (Probably no award certificate....but don't let that stop you!) 73, Wayne N6KR +++++++++++++++++