[amsat-bb] Restrictions to UHF operation at White Sands National Park

Thu Feb 27 16:00:29 UTC 2020

Rovers, et al:

Now that it has been determined that there is a limit
of no more than 50 W, we shouldn't be concerned. No
Rover would be using anywhere near that power. So,
let the fun begin!

73,    Bob  K8BL

On Thursday, February 27, 2020, 09:50:28 AM CST, JamesDuffey via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote: 

Brook - Thanks for the reply. I will look for the signs the next time I am down there.

I have roved in VHF/UHF contests on US70 from Socorro to Alamogordo, which goes through the range, US60 from San Antonio, NM to Carrizozo which skirts the northern boundary of the range, and from US54 from El Paso to Carrizozo which skirts the eastern edge of the range and also phases through Ft. Bliss. I get down that way every couple of years or so and am overdue for another rove done that way. If the range is trying to restrict things more than are in the regulations, the FCC regional director would be interested. - Duffey

James Duffey KK6MC
Cedar Crest NM

> On Feb 27, 2020, at 08:33, cbs045 at charter.net wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi James,
> 
> Great information.  I remember seeing the signs around White Sands back in the late 80's when I lived in ABQ and liked working AO-27 mobile.  Last time I worked in the area a couple years ago I remember seeing the signs again and being surprised they are still there.  I think they are located near the beginning and end of Route 70 near White Sands and Alamagordo.  Thanks for the reply.
> 
> Regards, N8OCX
> 
> 
> -----------------------------------------
> 
> From: "JamesDuffey" 
> To: cbs045 at charter.net
> Cc: "Dan Eggert", "amsat-bb at amsat.org"
> Sent: Thursday February 27 2020 8:15:48AM
> Subject: Restrictions to UHF operation at White Sands National Park
> 
> One can legally operate at 50 Watts output or less on 70cm at the White Sands National Park and in the vicinity of White Sands Missile Range, but not on the range itself. So, you should be OK for satellite operation from the park if you stay under 50 Watts. Output EIRP, that is the the type of antenna used, does not matter. Yes, I know that doesn’t make sense. The only outright prohibition on amateur operation in that area is on 902MHz. 
> 
> These restrictions are specified  in “ FCC ONLINE TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS 47 C.F.R. § 2.106” footnotes US270 and US275, available on-line at
> 
> < https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/spectrum/table/fcctable.pdf >
> 
> If there are posted signs indicating otherwise in the public access area of White Sands National Park, or public right of way near the White Sands MissIle Range, but not on the range itself, indicating otherwise, I would like to see a photograph of such a sign with its location clearly identified. Of course, on the base proper they can limit your operation as they see fit, as you are subject to military oversight there, but for the public access to the areas around the range, including the park, the restrictions in the table apply. If you are not on the base proper and you stick to <50Watts on 70cm and don’t operate on 902MHz, which you don’t need to for satellite operation, you should be OK.
> 
> The operating restrictions around White Sands Missile Range are given in footnotes US270 and US275 to : 
> 
> FCC ONLINE TABLE OF FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS 47 C.F.R. § 2.106
> Revised on February 13, 2020
> 
> US270 
> In the band 420-450 MHz, the following provisions shall apply to the amateur service:
> (a) The peak envelope power of an amateur station shall not exceed 50 watts in the following areas, unless expressly authorized by the FCC after mutual agreement, on a case-by-case basis, between the Regional Director of the applicable field office and the military area frequency coordinator at the applicable military base. For areas (5) through (7), the appropriate military coordinator is located at Peterson AFB,
> CO.
> (1) Arizona, Florida and New Mexico.
> (2) Within those portions of California and Nevada that are south of latitude 37° 10' N.
> (3) Within that portion of Texas that is west of longitude 104° W.
> (4) Within 322 km of Eglin AFB, FL (30° 30' N, 86° 30' W); Patrick AFB, FL (28° 21' N, 80° 43' W);
> and the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, CA (34° 09' N, 119° 11' W).
> (5) Within 240 km of Beale AFB, CA (39° 08' N, 121° 26' W).
> (6) Within 200 km of Goodfellow AFB, TX (31° 25' N, 100° 24' W) and Warner Robins AFB, GA
> (32° 38' N, 83° 35' W).
> (7) Within 160 km of Clear AFS, AK (64° 17' N, 149° 10' W); Concrete, ND (48° 43' N, 97° 54' W);
> and Otis AFB, MA (41° 45' N, 70° 32' W).
> (b) In the sub-band 420-430 MHz, the amateur service is not allocated north of Line A (def. § 2.1).
> 
> US275 
> The band 902-928 MHz is allocated on a secondary basis to the amateur service subject to not causing harmful interference to the operations of Federal stations authorized in this band or to Location and Monitoring Service (LMS) systems. Stations in the amateur service must tolerate any interference from the operations of industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) devices, LMS systems, and the operations of Federal stations authorized in this band. Further, the amateur service is prohibited in those portions of Texas and New Mexico bounded on the south by latitude 31° 41' North, on the east by longitude 104° 11' West, and on the north by latitude 34° 30' North, and on the west by longitude 107° 30' West; in addition, outside this area but within 150 miles of these boundaries of White Sands Missile Range the service is restricted to a maximum transmitter peak envelope power output of 50 watts.
> 
> This is an issue that we VHF/UHF operators in New Mexico and the southwest have to cope with. The table is revised every six months, the latest revision being issued two weeks ago. I review each release to see if things change. The FCC is willing to grant exemptions to the restrictions on a case by case basis, is interested in not making the restrictions tighter than they need to be, and to keep an amateur presence on the band. If the range is trying to impose tighter restrictions than are allowed in the table, in the public access areas around, but not in the range,  the FCC would be very interested in learning this. 
> 
> I hope that this helps. There is a slightly more detailed discussion of this at:
> 
> < http://www.nmvhf.org/restrictions.pdf > 
> 
> In addition to that tome, there is a lot of good information about operating UHF and VHF in NM at NMVHF.org - Duffey
> 
> James Duffey KK6MC
> Cedar Crest NM
> 
>>> On Feb 27, 2020, at 06:43, Brook Smith via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>>    Hello Dan,
>> 
>>    The entire area around White Sands and the Holloman AFB have posted
>> signs restricting use of UHF transmissions including frequencies used
>> for amateur satellite uplinks.
>> 
>>    If you are planning to uplink on L mode, 1267.359, you should have no
>> problem.
>> 
>>    Just trying to help you avoid an unexpected visit from Military
>> Police.
>> 
>>    Good Luck and have fun.
>> 
>>    Brook Smith - N8OCX
>> 
>>    -----------------------------------------From: "Dan Eggert via
>> AMSAT-BB" 
>> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>> Cc: 
>> Sent: Wednesday February 26 2020 8:36:39PM
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Rove to White Sands National Park in DM62
>> 
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> On Friday the 28th I will be at White Sands National Park in Grid
>> DM62. You will hear me on the AO-91 passes at 17:13 and 1847 UTC, and
>> the AO-92 passes at 17:26 and 19:02 UTC.
>> 
>> Dan Eggert - AC9E
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
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