karn (03/11/83)
Regarding Bob's comment about satellite use of the 2 meter band: Yes, we realize this is a problem. However, the current frequencies available to the Amateur Satellite Service (yes, it is a separate service apart from the regular Amateur Service, for some reason known only to the FCC) make it difficult to go elsewhere. Here are the current VHF/UHF satellite bands: 144-146 Mhz 435-438 Mhz That's ALL. By worldwide gentleman's agreement, only the segment 145.8 to 146.0 is used by satellites and will be almost fully utilized by the Phase 3-B Mode B downlink. It will also be shared with the UoSAT telemetry beacon and the RS and Oscar-8 uplinks. We don't know where we're going to put PACSAT, but we'd sure like to find a place for it on 2m also.... 6 meters is not a worldwide amateur band; neither is 146-148 Mhz or 220-225 Mhz. The next available allocation is on the 23 cm band. Phase 3-B will use 2m, 70cm and 23cm; where else can we go? Part of our problem is that our users have always screamed bloody murder whenever a new satellite is proposed to use a higher frequency band. Some users have never forgiven us for having decided to put no more downlinks on 10m, and others are just now getting the capability to use the 70cm/2m pair. Now, of course, we are asking them to get 23cm transmitters for mode L and the furor is starting again. However, this is the only way we can provide wide transponders: 800 khz on mode L (23cm up, 70cm down) as compared to 150khz for mode B (70cm up, 2m down). Two meters sure is a useful frequency band. A shame it isn't 10 Mhz wide. Phil Karn, KA9Q/2