Hi Karl
You are entitled to your views, and I have no intention of “flaming” you for them, but there is a wider issue than just a “cultural thing” to consider.
It may be a “cultural thing” for VK’s to use 28.490 MHZ as a “calling frequency” (CF) but it is not a culture that will be respected by the majority of 10m operators, especially the stations outside VK. I was horrified to hear an American being told to “QSY off the CF” when he has every right (provided he was there first) to use it all day if he chooses. Word does get around and some stations may end up on a “no reply” blacklist. (Yes, it does happen).
10m is regarded as an “international band” and the conventions and “gentle-persons agreements” applying to international operations apply there. Some people may regard these as “old hat”, but they are what stops AR from degenerating into chaos and stopping all of us getting the best results and enjoyment out of our wonderful hobby. For example, there is nothing
illegal about me plonking a 100w SSB signal on 28.120MHZ, or holding a SSB QSO on 28.030 MHZ, but I would not do that. Why? Because by international convention, those frequencies are used for PSK and CW respectively, and I, as a member of the international ham community, have
an obligation to honor and respect those conventions. If there is a need for change then it can be done through the various international societies.
In other words, Australia, or individual operators therein,
cannot unilaterally declare a “CF” in any international band, or internationally-accepted segment of a band. 28.390 MHZ is ok because international SSB operations do not usually occur that far down on the band. The same goes for the FM CF on the high end. You may ask about the WICEN frequencies. It is generally accepted that each country needs an “emergency coordination frequency” (they are not CF) on each band and in some cases these frequencies are common across countries (although more needs to be done in that respect).
My major worry is the potential impact that the continuing use of .490 as a CF will have on “dxpeditions” that use 28.495 MHZ as a centre frequency (a long held convention) and often work “split down.” The reputation of VK AR would sink right down into the brown stuff and may never recover if a bunch of VK ops using an internationally-unrecognized CF interfere with the chance of others bagging a “rare one” that might only be activated every 30 years or so, and at a cost, in some cases, of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Dxpeditions can, and do, “black list” stations, and even all stations from particular countries for failing to adhere to recognized conventions, or to instructions about where and when to call.
As I have said previously, .390 is a very good idea to coordinate VK contacts, and I have no problem with the use of .490 being used as an informal CF when band conditions are down and international stations are rarely heard (I have even used it myself). Thankfully, that is no longer the case for this sun spot cycle and the use of .490 as a CF should cease.
Spread out, have fun – old Sol is starting to do its thing! 10m (the other “magic band”) will soon be full of signals. Even the “F calls” will be working the world on 10 watts and a vertical or dipole!
73
Wayne VK4WDM