Any interest in a West Coast US net?

[Mooneer Salem]

Hi all,

Given how successful the East Coast net on Tuesday evenings has been, is there any interest in a West Coast one? It'd be on a different time and day of the week, of course. Or maybe there's already one and I don't know about it yet?

BTW, any suggestions for changes to the third weekend Activity Day events? 

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[Chris Viningre]

I would be happy to see a west net. Anything that can promote the mode and amateur radio would be greatly appreciated. Maybe other bands if volunteers are available.

Chris WS5B 

Chris Viningre

Website: ws5b.com

Email: ch...@ws5b.com

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[Brock Nanson]

This is something I was hoping someone would champion.  I can sometimes hear the Tuesday evening net enough to know it's on, but mostly not copyable.  Something closer to me would be fantastic.

Brock VA7AV

[Art Botterell]

I’m interested.  60 meters, maybe?

73

Art KD6O

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[Dave - VK2DWG]

Hi Mooneer

A US West Coast net with timing that takes in propagation to the Western Pacific (VK, ZL etc) would be very welcome here in Australia

Something like 04:00 to 05:00 UTC would currently put us at 21:00 to 22:00 US PST and 15:00 to 16:00 VK EADT with early gray line on 40m and 20m.

There is a growing FreeDV group here in Australia. It would be good to expand beyond our local shores.

[Gary Harrold]

I am in West Texas and would be interested.  I am still working to get everything properly set up, but I have successfully made one two way communication so hopefully I will continue to progress.

 

Gary W. Harrold WA5TED

Amateur Radio Active

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[Thomas Hall, Ph.D.]

East coast guy here. I cannot make the Tuesday net, but would be very interested in trying to join on a different night. Propagation might allow this depending on the band chosen- hope a second net can get started

73,

Tom ai4th

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[D Smith]

Ditto

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[Rick' EM]

I could be wrong.....I don't think we're authorized Digital voice on 60m......

[Art Botterell]

OK, I think the floor is open for other suggestions.

Art KD6O

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[Mooneer Salem]

FreeDV is allowed between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz now: https://www.arrl.org/60m-channel-allocation

That said, higher bands may work better for the Western US net, especially for those who are antenna compromised. What works best for everyone who's responded so far?

-Mooneer K6AQ 

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[Chris Viningre]

I like the ideal of the possible band opening on 40 meters for Australia. 

Chris Viningre

Website: ws5b.com

Email: ch...@ws5b.com

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[Rick, W4XA]

It appears to me that they put a 9.15w limit using that segment.

FreeDV on 60m at 9.15w ERP might not work well unless the band is on VERY good shape......  I think they intended that segment for people to use CW or digital modes suitable for QRP

I have used FreeDV on 75m (early evening)  with pretty good results running 25-75W

Openings to Australia on 40m  do happen but very late at night.

A couple of weeks ago, I worked a ZL on the South Island south of Christchurch around midnight PST on or about 7150kHz.

I was running about 400W with FreeDV  

[Rick, W4XA]

Let me also add that I don't see that they appear to specifically allow FreeDV unless you go by the ARRL's interpretation that FreeDV could loosely "qualify" as "any J2D  DATA emission".

AND if we can argue that FreeDV DOES IN FACT "qualify" as a "J2D DATA emission" , then we can operate in ANY digital band from 160-10m as long as we do not exceed a 2.8kHz bandwidth.

I think this should be presented to the FCC for their opinion.  (or at least ask Riley Hollingsworth if he would see it that way) 

I don't have a can-opener but I think this might be the can of worms that ought to be opened!!

[Mooneer Salem]

FWIW, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/part-97#p-97.303(h) seems to indicate that the further restriction of "phone" to effectively analog USB only applies to the remaining discrete channels (though IANAL and could easily be misinterpreting this).

Re: QRP power, I've actually heard of people having pretty good success with FreeDV at lower power levels, albeit on bands higher than 60m where it's easier to put up a good performing antenna. As with other modes, the antenna (yours and/or the other person's) is everything when QRP is involved.

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Art Botterell]

I apologize for launching us on what appears to have become a sidetrack.  I believe we were talking about a FreeDV net for the U.S. West Coast.

73

Art KD6O

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[Walter Holmes]

40m has worked the best for the Tuesday night net in the evenings due to the wider coverage, so far.

 

There would be great value in operating on a band that your able to elevate the power as needed, to help with some of the fast fading conditions we seem to be experiencing right now.

 

For you guys on the Western side of the country, please share with us which bands work better in your areas, as there may be opportunities that differ from what we see out this way.

 

I hope to be able to participate as well from here.

 

All the best,

Walter/K5WH

 

From: digita...@googlegroups.com <digita...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Mooneer Salem
Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2026 3:51 AM
To: digita...@googlegroups.com

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[Tom Azlin W7SUA]

I think FreeDV is a voice mode so must be up in the phone segment. 73 de
w7sua

On 3/13/2026 11:25 PM, Rick, W4XA wrote:
> Let me also add that I don't see that they appear to */specifically /
> *allow FreeDV unless you go by the ARRL's interpretation that FreeDV

> could loosely "qualify" as "any J2D  DATA emission".
>
> AND if we can argue that FreeDV DOES IN FACT "qualify" as a "J2D DATA
> emission" , then we can operate in ANY digital band from 160-10m as long
> as we do not exceed a 2.8kHz bandwidth.
>
> I think this should be presented to the FCC for their opinion.  (or at
> least ask Riley Hollingsworth if he would see it that way)
>
>
> I don't have a can-opener but I think this might be the can of worms
> that ought to be opened!!
>
>
> On Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:14:49 PM UTC-7 Rick, W4XA wrote:
>
> It appears to me that they put a 9.15w limit using that segment.
>
> FreeDV on 60m at 9.15w ERP might not work well unless the band is on
> VERY good shape......  I think they intended that segment for people
> to use CW or digital modes suitable for QRP
>
>
> I have used FreeDV on 75m (early evening)  with pretty good results
> running 25-75W
>
>
>
> Openings to Australia on 40m  do happen but very late at night.
>
> A couple of weeks ago, I worked a ZL on the South Island south of
> Christchurch around midnight PST on or about 7150kHz.
>
> I was running about 400W with FreeDV
>
>
>
> On Friday, March 13, 2026 at 10:28:04 PM UTC-7 Mooneer Salem wrote:
>
> FreeDV is allowed between 5351.5 and 5366.5 kHz now: https://

> www.arrl.org/60m-channel-allocation <https://www.arrl.org/60m-
> channel-allocation>

>
> That said, higher bands may work better for the Western US net,
> especially for those who are antenna compromised. What works
> best for everyone who's responded so far?
>
> -Mooneer K6AQ
>
>

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[Rick, W4XA]

Well, 

You're probably not "wrong" in your thinking,  but the "thinking" in general probably needs to be revisited since FreeDV isn't *just* a "voice" mode.  It can be a simultaneous DATA mode too and although the current data component is small compared to the voice component, it meets the ("2.80kHz or less") bandwidth  requirement for data in the actual "data" segments.  

And in deference to KD6O's request for possible band discussions about a "net" on the west coast, the suggestion of 60m ties it all together.

I would suggest against trying to use FreeDV on 60m only because of the power limitations. and I am still not convinced that it's even allowed even @9.15w ERP.

From 97.303:

In the 5330.5-5406.4 kHz band (60 m band), amateur stations may transmit only in the 5351.5-5366.5 kHz band and on the four center frequencies specified in the table below. For the discrete channels, control operators of stations transmitting phone, data, and RTTY emissions (emission designators 2K80J3E, 2K80J2D, and 60H0J2B, respectively) may set the carrier frequency 1.5 kHz below the center frequency as specified in the table below. For CW emissions (emission designator 150HA1A), the carrier frequency is set to the center frequency. For all 60 m spectrum, Amateur operators shall ensure that their emissions do not occupy more than 2.8 kHz.

Definitions are below: 

https://fccid.io/Emissions-Designator/2K80J3E

https://fccid.io/Emissions-Designator/2K80J2D

https://fccid.io/Emissions-Designator/60H0J2B

It would still appear that 2K80J3E is still the only "voice" mode allowed anywhere on 60m.  Now if by some definition, we can say that FreeDV is STILL 2K80J3E, then it's "allowed" everywhere 2K80J3E (ssb analog voice) is allowed (and further restricted to USB--mode)  at 100w ERP on the "fixed channels" 

Now, 

Again having said all that, I still think either 40m or 75 would be preferable  on the west coast depending on time of day.....

Late afternoon 1500-1700 PST/PDT -----40m

Early evening1700-1900 PST/PDT-----75m

Ensure operation is well into the General Class segment of  either band be sure that we don't "step" on any net's toes!

73/Rick

W4XA

[Mike Stansberry]

I am interested in a West Coast net even though I'm rather in the middle between East and West.

40M?

73, Mike, K0TER

[Mooneer Salem]

Rick: I'd say to split the 60m legality discussion into a separate thread.

Re: net--I'd lean towards 40 meters myself (but I'm also antenna compromised and can't operate on any lower bands at home). For those who've already commented, is there any interest in being Net Control?

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Art Botterell]

Mooneer,

My station is a popgun in the suburbs, so I’m thinking there must be stronger candidates… but I’ll offer my services if it helps us get started.  40 meters sounds like the consensus choice.

Art KD6O

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[Mike Stansberry]

I can act as a secondary NCS as is done on the current net.  I might

be able to hear stations you can't and relay them.  Of course that's if we

can hear each other, Art.

73, Mike, K0TER, in Colorado

[Art Botterell]

Maybe we should start with just a sked to see what we’re dealing with.  Mike, what’s the frequency for the national net?  Any thoughts on where we should land, and preferences as to when?

73,

Art KD6O

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[Mike Stansberry]

Monday evening at or after 0130Z or Wednesday evening at 0100Z and before 0130Z might be best for me.  I have to work around nets and TCC schedules. 

The current 40 m frequency of 7182 kHz would probably work. 

73, Mike K0TER 

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[Dieter Pelz (Faustdownunder)]

I work VK-US on an almost daily basis in FreeDV mode using the 20m long-path in the morning and a bit later also 12m short-path. I get Mel K0PFX, John WF1C and others quite regularly with good SNR values. 
I am using a 3-element Yagi (Ultrabeam 6-20).
In the local evening hours at around 7pm, the 17m long-path to Europe is often excellent. I regularly work France, UK, Germany with high SNR values. Daytime 12m & 10m contacts to Japan as well. 

73

Dieter VK3FFB

[Mooneer Salem]

For me, weekends will likely work better, but don't let that affect when the net ultimately ends up being :) I'd say the only date/time to absolutely avoid is Tuesday 9pm Eastern since that's when the Eastern US net is.

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Mike Stansberry]

I was only mentioning times I can meet Art for a test. 

Mike K0TER 

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[Art Botterell]

So am I missing something, or has the interest in a west coast net been surprisingly muted here on the actual west coast?  I’m seeing interest from the central US and from Australia, but not so much here.  That puzzles me, and makes me wonder if possibly we’re barking up an empty tree?  

Any lurkers out there?

73

Art KD6O

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[Bob Sanborn]

👍

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[Rick, W4XA]

Art, 

I am on 40m almost daily as is K7YRC (Bob) in Spokane, Wa.  Off and On in the afternoon.  We usually get on 7188 or 7195 depending on other stations using those frequencies. (BOb is in Easter WA and I'm in Western Wa) 

I've noticed that we both hear Northern Ca, NV , ID and Oregon 

We don't hear much in California South of about Sacramento.

We've also done DV in the evening (1700-1900L)  on 75m on or about 3850-3860 with good results but again haven't heard anyone in Ca south of about Sacramento etc.

The propagation is probably adequate to do this late afternoon early evening on 40 or 75.

73/Rick

W4XA 

[Art Botterell]

Rick /  All,

Bob mentioned that there’s a cluster of folks knocking around on 40 FreeDV up there in the northwest.  Picking a particular time that will satisfy everyone’s constraints seems like a hard problem.  Plus, of course, we get chased around the band by QRM and wanting not to step on anyone.  

I get the appeal of 40 meters,… the daytime propagation is nice, although it tends to go long in the evening.  That’s why my mind went to… no, never mind, I won’t go there again.

I notice that nobody has suggested the “standard” frequency of 7177… aside from it being a bit snug against the band edge, is there a reason for that, does anyone know?

And as for the seeming dearth of FreeDV ops in 6-land, I don’t have a theory about that, but I trust it will pass over time.  Seems like the challenge right now seems to be to give folks a place to focus their attention.

Maybe our colleagues in Oz have some insights… how do y’all approach it down there?

73,

Art KD6O

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[Mooneer Salem]

Hi Art,

7177 is actually not legal for General class licenses since the middle of the RADE signal would actually be at 7175.5 (and the edge of it under the 7175 band limit). We definitely don't want to get negative attention from the FCC, not to mention that a higher frequency allows for more participation.

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

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[Mooneer Salem]

Hi Rick,

FWIW, on the few times I was able to get on the East Coast net, I was able to hear N3FL pretty well (and to a lesser extent WA5QPZ) from here in San Diego. Kinda surprised you aren't hearing much further south when 40 meters goes long, but maybe there's something different about north-south propagation for some reason?

Thanks,

-Mooneer K6AQ

[Art Botterell]

Thanks, Mooneer.  So I wasn’t around for all the history… where did the common online listing of 7177 come from?

Art

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[Art Botterell]

OK, so… Tomorrow at 0130 Z, which is 1830 PDT, and whatever it is at your end… and 7182 or up for QRM?  

Works for me.  Maybe others will join.

73

Art KD6O

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[Brock Nanson]

Maybe I was lurking... 😎

I'm on the west coast and interested in participating in a net.  My suspicion is we'll have more luck on 40 in the early evening than any other band, but I suppose we could experiment.  Any band changes during the net could perhaps be posted in the Reporter for anyone unable to copy the actual discussion.

73, Brock VA7AV

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[Art Botterell]

OK… no joy with Mike this evening but I had a lovely chat with Bob K7YRC up in Washington on 7195… found him on the Reporter.  A fair amount of selective fade in the waterfall, but you wouldn’t know from the audio.

So the coast-wise path worked great, even if we didn’t have a line to Colorado.

And Mooneer, the new GUI worked perfectly… thanks for giving me the magic to get it running on the Mac.

73 all!

Art KD6O

On Mar 15, 2026, at 19:54, Mike Stansberry <k0ter...@gmail.com> wrote:

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