Band plans

I've added a few links, over there on the right margin, to the band plans for the 2m and 70cm amateur bands. The band plans are "gentlemen's agreements" amongst us all that divide the band in to different areas for different uses.

The band plans also incorporate FCC regulations, namely our frequency allocations.

Do they have the force of law? In some cases directly, yes. For example you may not, as a matter of FCC rule, operate anything but CW between 144.000 and 144.100.

In other cases, indirectly, yes. The FCC has said that it is good amateur practice to follow the various band plans and since §97.101(a) of the amateur service rules says "In all respects not specifically covered by FCC Rules each amateur station must be operated in accordance with good engineering and good amateur practice.", then it follows that band plans have the force of law!

For an excellent discussion of band plans, please see this discussion from the Utah VHF Society.

Almost all here

We're still searching for a permanent cabinet. This reporter was up at Total Radio (a Motorola Service Station) in OKC last week to have an NMO mount installed in a vehicle and noted a number of surplus cabinets in their shop. The tech committee may send an expedition there to see if they'd be willing to part with any of them and whether or not any are suitable for our use.

The repeater itself, the controller and Arcom accessories, power supply, and most of the smaller components have arrived so assembly should start soon.

Again, it will still be a while until the equipment is assembled, tested, programmed, installed and tuned, so don't expect to hear the new machine this weekend!

And ... we're back!

Ken KC5OU and I went out to the repeater site. We found that three fuses had given their lives in service to the club. The VHF, UHF, and NØELS digipeater are all now back in service!

Your reporter thanks Ken for his "tour of the cables"!