On May 19, 7:13 pm, Michael Coslo wrote:


I'm all about technology. I do want it to be relevant, not just
technology for it's own sake.


"Relevant" is a moving target, Mike. I think we should encourage technology
"just for it's own sake".

Some percentage (invariably a LARGE percentage) mosly likely will end up no more
than a technical curiousity (for the moment, anyhow). But if ARRL can light a
technological campfire for us to gather round, even small percentages of PBI's
maturing will justify the effort.

Good technology:

Getting more people on narrow digital modes.

I still want a PSK31 HT. Young people like to text. Having an HT that
can display text that costs nothing beyond the initial cost of the HT,
and the cost of charging batteries.

Oh yeah, while we're at it, I don't know if that HT with the camera is
still being produced


None of that is new technology, Mike, just "more of the same old stuff in a
different sack". "Texting" and "cameras in an HT" are mass marketed by the
millions and already owned by every bubble-gummer in the country who has access
to a cheap cell phone!

As much as I prefer regular transceivers, SDR radio would be a pretty
interesting way to go. Big hint to the mfgr's: Sell something usable
that isn't a kilobuck+. I saw the ones out at Dayton, and a better price
point is advised.

Hopefully this new "pillar" isn't about hints to manufacturers defining
their product offerings, but about fostering an amateur radio environment which
breeds a spirit of experimentation and tinkering among amateur licensees.

I want to see more pages of ham-authored articles in QEX, not more commercial
advertising in QST.

Hopefully this new "pillar" is about petitions to FCC to loosen up our spectrum
to new modes and techniques. Back when ARRL/FCC were haggling about how to
refarm the so-called "Novice bands", I suggested that they be set up as
experimental reservations where forward looking amateurs would be encouraged to
try new or unconventional technologies. Instead, FCC copped out and just
shuffled some mode-boundaries around.

What an opportunity lost!

Perhaps it's time to send a new copy of my remarks to FCC. See below.

73, de Hans, K0HB
Grand Exhalted Liberator of the Fumes of Solder

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20554


In the Matter of )
)
Amendment of Part 97 of the Commission's ) RM-10413
Amateur Service Rules Governing )
Operating Privileges )
)


PERSONAL COMMENTS OF HANS BRAKOB, K0HB


OVERVIEW


These comments are in response to the ARRL proposal for "refarming"
the existing HF "Novice sub-bands".


I. Discussion:


The ARRL petition does not address the implementation of
new technologies as repeatedly requested by the Commission in
WT Docket 98-143. It simply proposes to eliminate the Novice
segments and reshuffle that spectrum among existing legacy
modes. Rather than gain consensus, the ARRL polling method
produced a popularity poll among several non-responsive (to
98-143) choices.


Rather than just "more of the same old stuff", I propose
that the Commission take this opportunity to provide the
Amateur Radio service with a new incentive to concentrate
on paragraph 97.1(b) of the Commission's Rules.


97.1(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven
ability to contribute to the advancement of the
radio art.


While I agree that the declining Novice license population
no longer justifies several significant chunks of spectrum
as a "reservation" for improving their Morse skills, and that
these "reservations" have outlived their regulatory purpose,
I propose that we retain these 50-year old "reservations" and
convert them to a new purpose which will ensure the future
Amateur Radio service continues our "proven ability to
contribute to the advancement".


II Proposal:


A. To "de-populate" the current Novice segments, I propose
that all Novice (and Technician with code credit) licensees
be authorized to use Morse code in the same band segments
now authorized for General class licensees.


B. I propose that the current Novice sub-bands be set aside
as a new "Experimental Reservation" for non-traditional
and experimental modes such as digitized voice, digitized
image, and other "forward looking" communications methods.


C. I propose that the current power output level of 200W
be retained for those segments, and additionally propose
that transmitters in those segments must be equipped with
auto-adaptive circuitry to reduce output to the lowest
level consistent with reliable communications.


D. I recommend that the Commission grant broad discretion
to amateurs operating in this "experimental reservation"
as to innovative modulation schemes and non-traditional
technologies.


Respectfully,

H. Hans Brakob, K0HB