Many power limited locations in US

[Burns FISHER]

We all (should) know about “Line A” in FCC Part 97 which limits our UHF use as we get too close to Canada.  This is one of the questions in the technician test.  But I just found out (via Facebook) that there are a number of places, often near military or space bases where there are additional limitations in a footnote of part 97.  For example, the 70cm band is limited to 50 watts in ALL of Arizona!  But for those local club members, the most important one is that 70cm is also limited to 50 watts PEP within 160km of Otis Air Force Base (on the Cape).  We in southern NH are just outside that limit, but you don’t have to go far into MA from Nashua NH to get there.  Certainly Boston is within that limit, for example.

Many radios can’t exceed 50 watts on 70cm in any case, but it’s worth paying attention.   (You can get case-by-case authorization–see Part 97)

This URL copies the part 97 footnote:  http://www.arrl.org/us270

Note:  Not a lawyer, etc etc

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

I’ve often wondered about the NRAO (The National Radio Astronomy Observatory) VLBA (Very Long Baseline Array) satellite dish in Hancock near me. It’s a 218 ton 82′ dish hidden in the woods. It monitors deep space, black holes, tracks Near-Earth Asteroids, etc.

I think it uses microwave frequencies. It’s not a designated “quiet zone” but it seems like a nearby ham could cause problems. Maybe it’s on a need-to-know basis, at least until several large black vehicles show up at someone’s house…

 

[Burns FISHER]

Hancock NH?  I did not know about that!

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Here’s a link about VLBA.

Very Long Baseline Array

Here’s a link to a webcam at the Hancock, NH site. It periodically repositions itself throughout the day.

http://www.vlba.nrao.edu/sites/SITECAM/HNcam.shtml

 

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