[OZAPRS] HF Frequencies

[Gerard Hill]

Ray Wells wrote:
> I think that wherever you move to you will run foul of bandplan 
> differences and ultimately you'll be shifting again, and again. Given that;
> a) by moving to 7035.33 (USB with 1600/1800Hz tones) I eliminated the 
> problem of me clobbering weak PSK signals
> b) I'm no longer running a BBS, so that's a lot less traffic.
> c) there's only two stations left on 40m with a BBS
> d) the low amount of beacon traffic HF aprs generates,
> 
> it might be worth considering negotiating with VK2AAB (Sydney)  and 
> VK2SLM (Casino) to share the frequency they use, or something fairly close.

Moving to another frequency would bring with it a new set of problems 
and may not solve the ones that we have. I find that 7036.5 is fine 
during the day, but at night and during contests there can be voice 
traffic down in that segment and occasionally CW. With the limited 
bandwidth available on 40m I don't think we can expect to find a 
frequency that is clear all the time. It is certainly a lot better than 
above 7040.

The BBSs are operating 3.17 kHz up the band and I don't think it is a 
good idea to shift there either. APRS is all about transferring short 
messages with weak signals from mobiles. BBSs are about fixed stations 
sending long(er) bursts of data to each other. Channel utilisation is 
much higher and I would not like APRS to compete, and I don't think it 
needs to. I actually find the APRS frequency clearer than the BBS one. 
Also, it allows users who want to access BBSs on 40m free reign.

I think we should try and establish a good network on the frequency 
we're on and encourage more utilisation, especially by mobiles.

Cheers ... Gerard, VK2IO