3

Hi zap_P25,

It’s the only slice of spectrum I could think of, remember 49 MHz was the part 15 dumping ground in the 80’s and early 90’s… You’re right, the noise would not be much better, but a 1/4 wave is much smaller at 49 MHz than at 27 MHz, so the antennas are more manageable for the end users. Also, after more consideration, I don’t think the FCC will go for 25 watts of output for a license free service, possibly 10 watts max for the FM mode.

I also have a new band plan for 27 MHz (I know, more dreaming), if it was adopted, it would clean up the band over time. Check it out:

                      U.S. 27 MHz Revised HF Band Plan 
 Modes of Operation *Narrow FM (10 Watts) and USB / LSB (25 Watts PEP)

Channel / Frequency / Recommended Use & TX/RX Mod
D1. 26.930 MHz Data ONLY – 300 bps maximum
1A. 26.950 MHz Off Road Vehicle (4WD) or Wilderness channel – NFM
2A. 26.960 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
3A. 26.970 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
4A. 26.980 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
5A. 27.010 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
6A. 27.020 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
7A. 27.030 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
8A. 27.060 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
9A. 27.070 MHz Emergency / Travel Assistance ONLY – NFM
10A. 27.080 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
11A. 27.110 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
12A. 27.130 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
13A. 27.140 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
14A. 27.150 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
15A. 27.160 MHz Disaster Relief Tactical 1 (State of Emergency) – NFM
16A. 27.170 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
17A. 27.180 MHz Interstate Highway Channel – NFM
18A. 27.190 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
19A. 27.200 MHz Interstate Highway Channel – NFM
20A. 27.210 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
21A. 27.220 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
22A. 27.230 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
23A. 27.240 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
24A. 27.250 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
25A. 27.260 MHz Disaster Relief Tactical 2 (State of Emergency) – NFM
26A. 27.270 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
27A. 27.280 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
28A. 27.290 MHz Talk Around Channel – NFM
29A. 27.300 MHz Disaster Relief Tactical 3 (State of Emergency) – NFM
30A. 27.310 MHz Disaster Relief Tactical 4 (State of Emergency) – NFM
31A. 27.320 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
32A. 27.330 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
33A. 27.340 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
34A. 27.350 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB or NFM
35A. 27.360 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB or NFM
36A. 27.370 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
37A. 27.380 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
38A. 27.390 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
39A. 27.400 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
40A. 27.410 MHz Talk Around Channel – SSB
D40. 27.435 MHz Data ONLY – 300 bps maximum

27 MHz Citizens Band Radio Service (see Title 47, Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 95 Subpart D)

See band plan details and notes on page 3.

Channels 15A, 25A, 29A and 30A may be used as, “Talk Around Channels” during times of Non-Emergency.

*CTCSS and DCS Encode/Decode squelch tones are permitted when using NFM mode.