While I am new to this group, I have been following the FCC's actions stripping Amateur Radio of its 3.3 GHz-3.5 GHz allocation and re-ordering the 5 GHz allocation. The language in the NPRM stripping us of our operating privileges was both firm and harsh. Their minds were made up, no matter what the personal and collective costs to the individual operators are. And they left no doubt in anyone's mind that 5G and Wi-Fi6 are more important than the interests and needs of a few hundred licensed Amateur Radio operators.
Hams who are operating wireless digital voice repeaters in lower bands should not have to rely on short haul Part 15 links or commercial, pay to play Internet service (wired or cellular) to provide the connectivity to "connect the dots". The 3.3 GHz spectrum was one of the last real places Hams could look at to develop high speed, longer haul links that were not going to be subject to interference from the masses. Moreover, there was enough spectrum available to seriously look at building a data superhighway with twenty-first century speeds and throughput.
As I said at the top, I am new to this Forum. So what I am about to put on the table may have already been thoroughly considered and put on the shelf. Forgive me if the subject has already been broached.
I think there may be an opportunity to carve out some additional bandwidth from the lower end of the 5 GHz band where there is some Part 15 activity as well as some Radiolocation Services. A search of the ULS database shows NO CURRENT LICENSEES assigned between 5.160 GHz and 5.250 GHz. What is there is Part 15 access for indoor and outdoor use with a maximum EIRP of 4 watts. Affordable, off-the-shelf equipment seems readily available for this spectrum. What's missing is the ability is "official recognition" from the FCC that they have an obligation to the Amateur Radio Service to provide a spectrum offset for the loss of the 3.3 GHz allocation and the re-ordering of the 5 GHz frequencies current up the band. One way to get that "recognition is to petition the FCC for assignment of 5.160 GHz to 5.250 GHz to the Amateur Radio Service complete with all the rights and privileges that go with our hard earned licenses. At the same time, a lobbying effort could be undertaken with members of Congress (particularly members of the House and Senate Telecommunications and Commerce committees) to support this effort as well as seek some compensation for the displacement from the 3.3 GHz spectrum and cost of all the equipment that has turned into glorified paperweights.
Looking and listening for feedback....
73 de Paul-NB9X
Hams who are operating wireless digital voice repeaters in lower bands should not have to rely on short haul Part 15 links or commercial, pay to play Internet service (wired or cellular) to provide the connectivity to "connect the dots". The 3.3 GHz spectrum was one of the last real places Hams could look at to develop high speed, longer haul links that were not going to be subject to interference from the masses. Moreover, there was enough spectrum available to seriously look at building a data superhighway with twenty-first century speeds and throughput.
As I said at the top, I am new to this Forum. So what I am about to put on the table may have already been thoroughly considered and put on the shelf. Forgive me if the subject has already been broached.
I think there may be an opportunity to carve out some additional bandwidth from the lower end of the 5 GHz band where there is some Part 15 activity as well as some Radiolocation Services. A search of the ULS database shows NO CURRENT LICENSEES assigned between 5.160 GHz and 5.250 GHz. What is there is Part 15 access for indoor and outdoor use with a maximum EIRP of 4 watts. Affordable, off-the-shelf equipment seems readily available for this spectrum. What's missing is the ability is "official recognition" from the FCC that they have an obligation to the Amateur Radio Service to provide a spectrum offset for the loss of the 3.3 GHz allocation and the re-ordering of the 5 GHz frequencies current up the band. One way to get that "recognition is to petition the FCC for assignment of 5.160 GHz to 5.250 GHz to the Amateur Radio Service complete with all the rights and privileges that go with our hard earned licenses. At the same time, a lobbying effort could be undertaken with members of Congress (particularly members of the House and Senate Telecommunications and Commerce committees) to support this effort as well as seek some compensation for the displacement from the 3.3 GHz spectrum and cost of all the equipment that has turned into glorified paperweights.
Looking and listening for feedback....
73 de Paul-NB9X
Orv W6BI
Call Sign/Lease ID Name FRN Radio Service Status Status Expiration Date
1 WNNW506 Racal NCS Inc. 1735299 RS Expired 06/14/2004
2 WPWH542 Deerfield Media (Port Arthur) Licensee, LLC 21989033 RS Active 11/18/2022
3 WQEU627 ITT Gilfillan 4496584 AR Expired 12/17/2007
4 WQIS567 ITT Gilfillan 4496584 AR Expired 05/02/2009
5 WQNL596 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 3462488 RS Expired 03/07/2012
6 WQOD760 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 3462488 RS Expired 09/02/2012
7 WQOE714 Port Authority of New york and New Jersey 3462488 RS Expired 02/26/2012
8 WQOF495 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 3462488 RS Expired 03/02/2012
There have been only 8 licensees in the last 16 years.
Perhaps we should petition the FCC to grant secondary usage of 5150 - 5250 MHz to Part 97 licensees.
Chuck
73 de Paul-NB9X
I've not seen many manufacturers with devices that can be modified with the ease we have now. The ones we use now are commercially produced, and in most cases, only modified via firmware. Privately developed equipment may find resistance to installation near commercial equipment due to potential interference.
True of the suggested replacement to 3100-3300 MHz.
Asking for the, basically, unused 5150-5250 MHz segment which is already available.
Chuck
I would like to point out that there is a loophole for high-ERP part-15 operation at the bottom of the band, subject to certain restrictions, chiefly that such operation is a point-to-point link using highly directional antennas.
(iii) For fixed point-to-point access points operating in the band 5.15 – 5.25 GHz, the maximum
conducted output power over the frequency band of operation shall not exceed 1 W. Fixed point-to-point
U-NII devices may employ antennas with directional gain up to 23 dBi without any corresponding
reduction in the maximum conducted output power or maximum power spectral density. For fixed point-to-
point transmitters that employ a directional antenna gain greater than 23 dBi, a 1 dB reduction in
maximum conducted output power and maximum power spectral density is required for each 1 dB of
antenna gain in excess of 23 dBi. Fixed, point-to-point operations exclude the use of point-to-multipoint
systems, omnidirectional applications, and multiple collocated transmitters transmitting the same
information.
So this is 1 watt with 23 dB antenna gain for 200 watts EIRP (at 20 MHz BW). There are other considerations. See the full rules for details
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-14-30A1.pdf
73 de Paul-NB9X