At its January meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors instructed the League’s FCC counsel to prepare a strong response to protect amateur access to spectrum in the 3 GHz range. In its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket 19-348, the FCC proposed to relocate all non-federal operations, including amateur uses, to spectrum outside the 3.3 – 3.55 GHz band. The Commission anticipates auctioning this spectrum to expand commercial use of 5G cellular and wireless broadband services, if agreement can be reached on relocation of — or sharing with — the federal incumbents that operate in the same band. Publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register on January 22 established deadlines of February 21 for comments and March 23 for reply comments.
The FCC has requested comment on the uses radio amateurs make of the spectrum and appropriate relocation options. Complicating matters is the fact that radio amateurs must consider the possibility that the immediately adjacent 3.1 – 3.3 GHz band is included in the spectrum that Congress has identified for similar study. FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, in a December statement, referenced the fact that the lower band may also be considered for non-federal reallocation, potentially limiting relocation possibilities.
Amateurs make substantial use of the 3.3 – 3.5 GHz band that would be hard to replicate elsewhere, and they have filed more than 150 comments before the designated comment period even began. Among users looking at options are those who use this spectrum for Earth-Moon-Earth (moonbounce) communication, mesh networks, experiments with communication over long distances, radiosport, and amateur television. A portion of the band also is designated for use by amateur satellites in ITU Regions 2 and 3 (the Americas and Asia/Pacific).
A report is due by March 23 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) evaluating the feasibility of having federal users share all or part of the 3.1 – 3.55 GHz band with commercial wireless services. This report is required by the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act. The results of the NTIA report will impact how much spectrum ultimately may be re-allocated for auction to wireless providers.
ARRL urges amateurs who comment to inform the FCC about the uses they make of the 3 GHz spectrum. Short comments and longer statements may be filed electronically. Visit the FCC “How to Comment on FCC Proceedings” page for more information. Commenters should reference WT Docket 19-348.
Source:ARRL
Antenna
Reference Station Antenna Redux: MFJ-2010 OCFD for 40, 20, 10, 6m
“The MFJ-2010 off-center-fed dipole (OCFD) looks like a much better candidate for the reference station antenna. This video looks at is features... Read more
Comet GP-15 Tri-Band VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antennas GP-15
Comet GP-15 Tri-Band VHF/UHF Base Vertical Antennas provide good gain figures on the 6-meter, 2-meter, and 70-centimeter bands in a compact 7.9 foot p... Read more
Free Azimuthal Maps by NS6T
Request for free an Azimuthal Map for any place in World: http://ns6t.net/azimuth/azimuth... Read more
W8AMZ 80-6m OCF Dipole / Windom Multi-Band Antenna w/ 4:1 Balun
Introducing the W8AMZ 80–6m OCF / Windom Multi-Band Antenna using a 4:1 Balun and rated for 2 KW. The SWR is generally below 1.5:1 on 6, 10, 20, 40... Read more
App - Mobile
Learn Morse Code in Minutes A Day [ APP ]
– Learn Morse Code with different modes of learning, using the letter frequency and spaced repetition to help you learn. – Customize your... Read more
My LoTW – Free app for iOS and Android
My LoTW is a viewer app for ARRL’s Logbook of the World. With My LoTW, you can: – View all the QSOs you have submitted to LoTW. –... Read more
Nifty app uses Morse code to send Apple Watch messages
Although there are ways of messaging people with the Apple Watch — either with Siri dictation, or using pre-written responses and emojis — as far as I... Read more
Updated Android Digital QST App Now Available
A completely rebuilt digital QST app for the Android platform now is available from publisher Nxtbook Media, which responded to readers’ frustrations... Read more
VHF
TYT DM-UVF10 GPS DPMR Digital Transceiver VHF + UHF
TYT DM-UVF10,a dualdisplay, dual standby two-way radio,adopts high-technology and novel design DM-UVF10 adopts humanism design,making it smart in sh... Read more
OM Power OM3006 50MHz 6m 3kw Linear Amplifier
OM Power The linear amplifier OM3006 is designed for 50 MHz amateur bands from 50 till 52 MHz and all modes . It is equipped with a ceramictetr... Read more
HYS TC-MAUV11 Dual Band with DTMF
HYS TC-MAUV11 Product Detail Basic Info Model NO.: TC-MAUV11 Type: Vehicle Mouted Function: Mobile Radio Place of Origin: Fujian, China (Mainland) Bra... Read more
Review
Best Handheld Ham Radio for Off Grid | HunVting – Survival Ham Radio
“Today I talk about my 5 current picks for Handheld Ham Radios at my Hunting Lease, where we operate off grid. All radios have various features... Read more
mcHF SDR QRP RS-918 Review
RS-918SSB Main Features Spectrum Dynamic Waterfall Display Multiple Working Modes: Receive,Transmit,Tune,VFO,SPLIT DSP Digital Signal Processing Noise... Read more
Chameleon F-Loop TOTAL! Kit and CHA Single Loop
Chameleon F-Loop TOTAL! Kit and CHA Single Loop The CHA F-LOOP 2.0 was designed with portability, ease of use simplicity, ruggedness and high performa... Read more
TenTec 506 Rebel Transceiver – ARRL – QST Magazine
The Rebel 506 utilizes a chipKIT Uno32 prototyping board which give users access to an Arduino based programming environment. With its 32 bit computin... Read more