Zack... No I did not know that! Thanks for posting the information and links.
This information helps reinforce my position that the (ingenious, forward
looking, important, useful, priceless, add your favorite adjectives here) NCDXA
International Beacon System needs to be relocated to clear channels outside the
Amateur Radio bands. The exact frequencies would be secondary to the idea of
relocating them to a clear "channel".
If anyone does not know about this beacon system, first launched in 1979, you
will find everything about it here: http://www.ncdxf.org/beacons.html
After the 2006 CQWW RTTY Contest there were calls to "clear the channel" on the
rtty@contesting.com reflector. This is what I had to say about this
interference topic at that time:
http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/RTTY/2006-09/msg00182.html
Relying upon non-enforceable band plans, gentleman's agreements, chastising
clueless newbies or old farts that CRS (can't remember stuff) will only restart
endless debate and stir everyone's emotions. The myriad of opinions and
conclusions are not an effective solution to the recurring problem. Can and
should the interference be reduced, certainly. I stay away from that frequency
and encourage others. I always mention this issue when making RTTY
presentations.
The Worldwide Beaconing System is an ingenious amateur radio project created
and managed by the Board of Directors of NCDXA. I have always believed it held
tremendous commercial potential. Can you imagine the consequences if the
amateur community had "invented" the WWV time services and launched the
reference signals inside the amateur bands? I suggest the importance of the
NCDXA International Beacon system increases every day, especially when
government and commercial users are using it.
The HAARP site indicates their project and system is supported by US Navy, US
Air Force, and Department of Defense funding. You would expect these agencies
would carry enough weight in a petition to convince the FCC to provide clear
channels for this system.
I am NOT saying the NCDXA and the amateur community should hand over this
system to a government agency. My recommendation is to petition the FCC for
special frequencies outside the amateur radio bands. This move would solve the
amateur radio interference that is occurring.
73 de Bob - KØRC in MN
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:42:31 -0600 (CST)
From: Zack Widup <w9sz@prairienet.org>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] HAARP propagation monitors
To: cq-contest@contesting.com
Message-ID:
<Pine.LNX.4.64.0801090941040.21412@bluestem.prairienet.org>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Do you all know that the HAARP project site monitors the NCDXF beacons
(among other things)?
http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/data.html
http://maestro.haarp.alaska.edu/data/spectrum2/www/beacon14.html
http://maestro.haarp.alaska.edu/data/spectrum2/www/beacon18.html
73, Zack W9SZ
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