Frequency alert!

[Dave Robelen]

Hi All,
The AMA frequency committe met at Toledo and spurred on by one member have decided to pursue moving the indoor and Park flyers to 27 mhz. Any who can please contact your AMA VP and share your feelings.
Regards, Dave

[Sr71fan]

Dave,

It'll be a cold day in He##, I hope. Who was this "one member"? My blood pressure just went up a notch or two!

You're joking, right? If not, Dr. Frank will hear from me, as well as some links in the chain above him.

Gary:mad:

[Sr71fan]

Dave,

I think there will be a problem enforcing this move.

Gary:mad: :mad:

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Gary,
The "individual" I mentioned is Bob Aberle. He is one of the frequency committee members. Bob has been actively campaigning for this move for over 6 months now, and this is the first time the whole committee has gone along.
Regards, Dave

[frankenfoamy]

Have there been any proven problems with parkflyers and clubsites?

[Dave Robelen]

When the AMA president asked this same question, he was told "none so far". The object of Bob's campaign seems to be one of concern over presumed future problems. There may also be someone pressuring Bob that I am not aware of.
Regards, Dave

[Sr71fan]

I have sent an e-mail stating my views on this matter to my AMA Distict VIII VP, Dr. Sandy Frank. I will make it available to anyone who is interested in seeing it, after he has had a chance to read it.

Gary L. Jones
AMA 210987
NIRAC C-26

[Dave Robelen]

Hello friends,
I just received a communication from the AMA president, Dave Brown. He emphatically stated that there would be no requirement to change frequencies. The proposal that is moving forward would "encourage" manufacturers to offer some new ARF products on new 27 mhz. channels. Stay tuned, I apologize if the mixed message got anyone alarmed.
Regards, Dave

[shaky mark]

I sent an email to my District VII VP, Bill Oberdieck, all his Associate VP's and Frequency Coordinator's opposing this change. All district VPs, .... names can be found in AMA's mag or at the AMA site:

http://modelaircraft.org
About AMA
Executive Council
Contact Officers

My understanding this change would cause us to buy or change our radios and force all rc boats, rc cars and all parkflyers and indoor flyers to share the the 27MHz band (Aircraft/Car/Boat) that has only 6 channels. I believe would this would really cause us eflyers problems!!!!!

From a conversation with my district VII VP,I believe this is aimed at fixing a problem in "some" densely populated areas that have sanctioned airfields within 2 to 3 miles of each other and some close public parks. I can't believe this would help more flyers than that it would hurt. The flyers it would help are obviously vocal about their concers. Us eflyers must be vocal also(email).

Dave, since you apparently have a good grasp of the situation should you open a thread at EZONE?

Get out the emails.

Mark

[shaky mark]

I guess my last reply can be disreguarded thankfully.

Mark

[shaky mark]

I received the following:

>--- Larry Brannan <lbrannan@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Mark - this answers your question...
>
> From AMA Frequency Committee:
>
> be advised.....
> >
> > we will
> >
> > "ENCOURAGE"
> > those who manufacture for Wall Mart and Toys R us
> >
> > to make and sell stuff on 27 and 49 ""yes...""
> >
> > but to OUTLAW all of us who use GWS stuff on 72 mc
> NO !!!!!
> >
> > this is at BEST an internet HOAX
> >
> > or just misinformed...
> >
> > anything legal for use now will stay so...
> >
> > we will seek FCC approval for NEW 27 mc channels
> for
> >
> > wall mart and toys r us stuff....
> >
> > but to obsolete the hundreds of thousands of GWS
> radios now in use
> will
> ""NOT"" happen...!!!!
> >
> > this is from the MOUTH of the chair of the ama
> freq. committee as of
> this
> date.. (April 20,2002)
> >
> > sandy frank
>
>

I don't believe it was a "internet HOAX" or true "just misinformed..". But the bottom line is that we are safe for now!!!

Mark

[Dave Robelen]

Amen, Mark,
The info I received was a far shot from an "internet hoax". My DVP responded with a message that there is a lot of negative discussion over the "frequency problem" and reccomended that more people write teir representative.
I would rather take the chance of "crying wolf" than sit qiuetly by while someone pulls a whizzer. There are a considerable number of fellows that are using the model fields with their big expensive "toys" that would prefer to see all of the "off field" equipment taken off of their frequencies.
Take care, Dave

[gjohnson]

Glad to see that this is probably not a possibility. Anyway, it would be impossible to enforce. There are too many kits and ARFs that don't come with radio equipment to be able to keep people from buying 72mhz equipment and putting it in them. It's a dillusion for big wigs at the AMA to think they can put the genie back in the bottle. This could probably only effect planes like the Firebird and others that come with everything. Some of these are on 27mhz already.

Gordon

[Blackhawk]

As I said earlier somewhere on this forum, the problem with AMA has always been their head is buried in the sand. I could give you lots of examples, but I won't bore you. This issue over park flyers and the explosion of small rc models at very inexpensive prices is just the latest. Where has the AMA leadership been for the last four years? Asleep at the switch; the lights were on but....; you get the message. How many kits have you seen with an AMA brochure in them? NADA!! That is what you get when you hire an Executive Director that isn't a modeler. I really think the offshore industry will steamrole them-not that they don't deserve it! Go ahead, ask me how I really feel?

Pat

[genebond]

I had heard about the FCC proposal to open up more 27mhz frequencies to r/c. It sounds like this is the main thrust of the pressure, from all the reponses so far. It would not surprise me to have had it the other way, as I have witnessed some of the 'club arrogance', but as said, enforcement would be impossible.

I'm kind of surprised the 'toy' manufacturers have not pressed this issue, theselves, yet. With the limited channels available now, it really limits thier capabilities.

[dow]

Just a thought....I wonder if it is possible to "code" a particular tx to a matching rx, kind of like PCM plus. If a rx could be made to respond to a particular matched tx then the big boys could have their saftey without squashing the rest of us. Besides, the AMA has far more control over what goes on at the sanctioned fields than they do in the ballparks. I would be curious to know what percentage of parkflyers are AMA members.

Dave W.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Dave,
If I were one of the "big boys" I would be lobbying mighty hard for more secure control over a large, heavy machine, Whether it is turbine powered or IC. The technology is available, it is more a matter of finance and pressure on the market place. For example, my cordless phone ( which is not top of the line) is able to "frequency hop" to maintain a clear connection. This may not be the solution for the expensive models, but I am certain that there is technology available.
I betcha that the large majority of "park flyers" are not AMA members at this point. I strongly suspect that is a part of the issue over trying to move them around by going to the manufacturers. The Executive council will be meeting fairly soon, and is looking for reccomendations from the frequency committee. This is a very good time to keep in touch with your representative and let your wishes be known. You can bet that the modelers with the heavy stuff have strong representation. There is essentially no one outside of industry looking out for the "off field" modelers.
Regards, Dave