60 Meters Information

The NTIA advised in a letter to the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) that users of 60 meters should set their carrier frequency 1.5 kHz lower than the channel center frequency, according to this NTIA chart:

Channel Center/ Amateur Tuning Frequency

5332 kHz/ 5330.5 kHz

5348 kHz/ 5346.5 kHz

5368 kHz/ 5366.5 kHz

5373 kHz/ 5371.5 kHz

5405 kHz (common US/UK)/
5403.5 kHz

Noting that high-frequency audio response can vary considerably from radio to radio, Hare has suggested a more conservative approach. He suggests restricting audio bandwidth to 200 Hz on the low end, and 2800 Hz on the high end--for a total bandwidth of 2.6 kHz. Hare notes that some transmitters that the Lab has looked at are capable of bandwidths of 3.0 kHz or greater.

In its letter to the FCC, the NTIA also stipulated that radiated power should not exceed "the equivalent of 50 W PEP transmitter output power into an antenna with a gain of 0 dBd." The FCC R&O set the requirement at 50 W ERP and said it would consider a typical half-wave dipole to exhibit no gain.

Hare said that amateurs' willingness to adhere to the channel-bandwidth and power constraints imposed on 60 meters will be an important factor in ham radio's use of this band--now and in the future.

When the five new 60-meter channels become available to US Amateur Radio operators at midnight (12 AM) local time on July 3, the rules will impose a new record-keeping requirement for hams. The requirement applies only to those using something other than a simple half-wave dipole on the 5 MHz allocation.

According to Part 97.303(s);
a half-wave dipole on the 5 MHz allocation will be presumed to have a gain of 0 dBd. "Licensees using other antennas must maintain in their station records either manufacturer data on the antenna gain or calculations of the antenna gain," states the newest addition to the FCC's Amateur Service rules.

Because the new rules also require hams to run no more than 50 W effective radiated power (ERP) on the new channels, the choice of antenna becomes an important compliance factor. The FCC rules stipulate, "For the purpose of computing ERP, the transmitter PEP will be multiplied (by) the antenna gain relative to a dipole or the equivalent calculation in decibels."

ARRL has posted a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ)concerning 5 MHz operation on the ARRL Web site, ARRL 60 meter FAQ .

Please press here for the oringinal release from the League website, and press here for an update story about the anticipated challenges of operating in the new band.