Save Simplex

NARCC Rescinds It's Proposals
Press Release - 5/7/2011

The Northern Amateur Relay Council of California (NARCC) held it's General Membership Meeting today. There was alot that happened at the meeting, but i will skip over the boring stuff and focus on the results.

A motion was made to instruct the board to rescind the 2 proposals that were passed at the January 29th Board Meeting. The motion was immediatly seconded and a lengthy discussion ensued. The membership eventually voted and the motion was passed by an overwhelming margin.

Even though this was good news for our 2 meter simplex frequencies, there was still more that needed to be done. It turns out that according to the NARCC bylaws, the board isn't under any legal obligation to to be "instructed" by it's membership to change a decision. However, the NARCC board consists of intelligent and reasonable people and they decided to agree with it's membership. In a special meeting of the board, NARCC unanimously agreed to rescind their previous ruling and ultimately releasing their claim to our simplex frequencies.

FYI, Nearly 400 signatures were collected on a petition opposing NARCC's proposals. These signatures were collected and submitted to NARCC over the last 5 weeks.
Special Thank's to everyone that participated in this effort.

What is wrong?

2/24/2011 - The Delta Amateur Radio Club has recently discovered that a committee within NARCC is proposing that they hi-jack 13 simplex frequencies within the 2 meter band and re-use the frequencies for D-star (or other) digital repeaters.  In case you don't know, NARCC is northern California's repeater coordinating body.

The problem for us simplex users is that we don't get to vote on the NARCC proposal, because you need to be a repeater owner to vote on NARCC business.  Because of this, there are many people that think NARCC is stepping over the line and doesn't have the authority to threaten the entire band with their personal agendas.

According to the committee's proposal document, there are currently 26 simplex frequencies available for amateur radio use. If the take 13 of the, there will only be 13 left.

You can see from the list below that the local Emergency Communications groups already using 9 of the 13 frequencies listed in the proposal.

Here is the list of potentially re-allocated frequencies, comparing it to RACES/ARES EmComm Plan and showing the cities that it would affect:

1. 146.415 Pittsburg, Pinole, Local EOC to EOC, KERO/ECHO
2. 146.430
3. 146.445 Oakley, Blackhawk
4. 146.460 Walnut Creek
5. 146.475 Concord, Kensington
6. 146.490 Crockett
7. 147.405
8. 147.420
9. 147.435 Antioch, Diablo
10. 147.450 Richmond
11. 147.465
12. 147.480 Brentwood, San Ramon
13. 147.495 Pleasant Hill, San Pablo

If that's not enough, there is a second proposal to reserve 6 more freuencies just for digital Sumplex use.  The impact of this hasn't been researched by the Delta ARC, but the proposed plan conflicts with the current national frequency plan.

1. 145.510
2. 145.525
3. 145.540
4. 145.555
5. 145.570
6. 145.585

Here are the the NARCC Spectrum Committee proposals and other NARCC files.  Read them and decide for yourself.

• 2 Meter simplex Band Plan Modification Proposal (pdf)
• 2 Meter simplex Voice Port Band Plan Proposal (pdf)
• Other NARCC files

What people are saying

"Your Comments Here!"

Attend the meeting

The next General Membership Meeting is on Saturday, May 7, 2011. The loaction will be annouced closer to the meeting date, but will probably be at Contra Costa Water District Building in Concord.

Go to the NARCC Meeting Announcements page for the latest meeting information.

NARCC Rescinds It's Proposals
Press Release - 5/7/2011

The Northern Amateur Relay Council of California (NARCC) held it's General Membership Meeting today. There was alot that happened at the meeting, but i will skip over the boring stuff and focus on the results.

A motion was made to instruct the board to rescind the 2 proposals that were passed at the January 29th Board Meeting. The motion was immediatly seconded and a lengthy discussion ensued. The membership eventually voted and the motion was passed by an overwhelming margin.

Even though this was good news for our 2 meter simplex frequencies, there was still more that needed to be done. It turns out that according to the NARCC bylaws, the board isn't under any legal obligation to to be "instructed" by it's membership to change a decision. However, the NARCC board consists of intelligent and reasonable people and they decided to agree with it's membership. In a special meeting of the board, NARCC unanimously agreed to rescind their previous ruling and ultimately releasing their claim to our simplex frequencies.

FYI, Nearly 400 signatures were collected on a petition opposing NARCC's proposals. These signatures were collected and submitted to NARCC over the last 5 weeks.
Special Thank's to everyone that participated in this effort.