The NCPA newsletter was initially called The Download, first published in the summer of 1989.
It was changed to The Downlink after the first issue.
The pdf files up through 1997 were scanned as images from paper copies.
The Download, Issue #1, Spring 1989 (2.2 MB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions:
Warring packet factions get together and agree on a digital band plan.
NARCC openly welcomes the NCPA as the region's packet coordinator.
Agreement with NARCC that 433.0-433.5 will be digital.
Some estimates are that packet usage increased 300 percent last year (1988)
Board minutes report NARCC passed two resolutions regarding the NCPA
1) recognizes NCPA as the sole packet coordinating body in No. CA.
2) work with the NCPA to develop a band plan for No. CA acceptable to both.
The Downlink, Issue #2, Spring 1990 (2.2 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Bylaws published
Board minutes mention efforts to get DXPSN rep on the board.
The Downlink, Issue #3, Summer 1990 (2.3 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Article by Larry WB9LOZ describes early BBS network 1985, agreement with NARCC on six frequencies in 1.25 M band becoming digital (around 1986-1987).
Articles on BBS and emergency BBS
The Downlink, Issue #4, Fall 1990 (2.4 MB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions NCPA was formed December 1987.
Articles on band planning, BBS coordination
The Downlink, Issue #5, Winter 1990 (2.5 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Board minutes mention:
Voted to become ARRL affiliate
K3MC reports NARCC changed their bylaws so only repeater owners have a vote.
Proposed meeting with NARCC to clarify our relationship.
Work on accommodating the loss of 220-222 MHz
The Downlink, Issue #6, Spring 1991 (2.4 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Articles on FCC getting after BBSs for passing traffic facilitating business activity, and amateurs must vacate 220-222 MHz.
Larry Kenney's WB9LOZ Introduction to Packet is now in print
The Downlink, Issue #7, Summer 1991 (2.4 MB pdf)
Items of note:
NCPA hosts 10th annual ARRL radio-computer networking conference.
Board minutes mention NCPA will send a letter to FCC and ARRL arguing only the originating
station should be responsible for message content, as with repeaters.
The Downlink, Issue #8, Fall 1991 (2.3 MB pdf)
Items of note:
NCPA address moves to Sunnyvale
Article: discussion with FCC regarding BBS relay of messages containing forbidden content.
The Downlink, Issue #9, Winter 1991 (1.8 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Article by Phil Karn KA9Q on FCC and packet (especially BBS) vs "common carrier"
Article by Bob Arasmith N0ARY on ATV vs packet interference testing
Board minutes mention NARCC now says they didn't approve 433.0-433.5 being packet, work is
underway to resolve the situation and reach an agreement between NARCC, NCPA, and ATV..
The Downlink, Issue #10, Spring 1992 (2.3 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Articles on ARRL digital committee, ARRL action on HF automatic digital, and commentary
Board minutes mention negotiations are continuing between NARCC and NCPA on 70 cm packet.
General minutes mention NARCC recently voted to coordinate auxiliary and packet in 431-432
MHz provided NCPA and NARCC work together on each assignment.
Bylaws change, from memberships expire on March 31, to memberships expire after one year.
The Downlink, Issue #11, Spring 1993 (2.5 MB pdf)
Items of note:
ARRL rule making proposal to FCC on HF packet
Two books to be printed: Introduction to Packet and TCP/IP Primer
Digital band plan notes that packet is being coordinated by NARCC in the 70 cm band, only 441.50 is allocated for any digital.
The Downlink, Issue #12, Summer 1993 (2.3 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Articles on higher speed packet and equipment
Proposed rule change to part 97 regarding message forwarding systems.
The Downlink, Issue #13, Summer 1994 (2.2 MB pdf)
Items of note:
FCC changes part 97 so sysops of forwarding stations aren't responsible for content of traffic automatically relayed through their systems.
Articles on:
SSTV
History of packet on the west coast (part 1)
Bylaws
The Downlink, Issue #14, Fall 1994 (1.6 MB pdf)
Items of note:
(mailed out March 1995)
NCPA submits comment to FCC regarding 2.4 GHz band and "auctioning" of spectrum
Articles on
History of packet on the west coast (part 2)
Beginnings of APRS
Board minutes report we have a new sub-band 145.61-145.69 MHz
The Downlink, Issue #15, Winter 1995 (2.5 MB pdf)
Items of note:
NCXPN becomes PSNC (BBS sysops)
Articles on:
Problems and solutions for setting up a packet station
High-speed digital
Beginnings of NTS/packet (final part)
70 cm frequencies in use by packet is listed the band plan, (these would be the ones NARCC coordinated.)
The Downlink, Issue #16, Fall 1996 (1.3 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Article on FCC affirms 219-220 MHz available to amateurs secondary to AMTS coast stations.
Board minutes of Jan. 28, 1996 mention:
FCC wants to know who the frequency coordinators are in each region and to have a single point of contact. Start of NFCC. NARCC wants to be the sole coordinator in this region and have all others go through them. NCPA to send a letter to NARCC proposing an umbrella spectrum management organization.
One 70 cm channel allocated to packet. WA6HAM will write a Memorandum of Understanding with NARCC.
188 "Introduction to Packet" and 219 "TCP/IP Primer" books to be donated to clubs and
individuals.
Board minutes of May. 5, 1996 mention:
ARRL is trying to work out something regarding AMTS stations and 219-220 MHz.
Some packet is being coordinated by NARCC in the 70 cm band.
Board minutes of Aug. 11, 1996 mention:
For the most part NFCC appears to be only for repeater coordinators.
NARCC claims to have jurisdiction over the whole 70 cm band. NCPA may have to allocate a
block for packet without NARCC, it was suggested to start with the ARRL plan published in
QST Feb. 1996. Try again to negotiate with NARCC.
APRS wants 445.925. NCPA suggests they try it on an experimental basis for now.
NCPA to start having meetings on the internet (remailer).
WD6CMU reports NARCC president Don Smith is interested in publishing the digital band
plan in the NARCC newsletter.
The Downlink, Issue #17, Spring 1997 (2.6 MB pdf)
Items of note:
Board minutes mention 144.30-144.44 becoming digital.
The Downlink, Issue #18, Fall 1997 (1.0 MB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions:
Adopting 6 meter digital segment as specified in the ARRL band plan.
Start of joint Spectrum Management Committee with NARCC, smc@ncpa.ampr.org.
Board minutes, W9HGI reports AMSAT wants to keep MIR (ISS) on 145.80 and move APRS to 144.39.
The Downlink, Issue #19, Spring 1998 (239 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions: SMC has been moved to smc@narcc.org by Tim Sivils KE6FSE (NARCC)
Board minutes mention:
145.79 cleared to make room for MIR/ISS on 145.80
WB9LOZ reports the national move of APRS to 144.39 is complete
The Downlink, Issue #20, Fall 1998 (280 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Board minutes, Aug. 20 entry: NARCC has backed out of spectrum management committee and
started their own internal SMC. As justfication, NARCC "discovered" BBSs on some 70 cm channels (which NARCC had coordinated previously on a case-by-case basis) and this "proves" NCPA went around behind their back.
The Downlink, Issue #21, Summer 1999 (273 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions working on a 70 cm digital segment, SMC, etc.
NCPA comment to FCC on regarding Biennial review, 97.303(e)
Minutes:
discussion on 70 cm issues and band planning.
WA6ZTY reports an ATV station in San Rafael going 24/7 with weather images.
DXPSN moves from 222.14 for weak signal folks.
NCPA web page is now www.n0ary.org/ncpa
Band plan will list non-digital frequencies to be more informative
The Downlink, Issue #22, Fall 1999 (218 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions:
NCPA's DXPSN rep elected ARRL Pac. Div Director
SMC and meeting at Pacificon
packet segment in 70 cm, resurrected from agreement 10 years ago.
Articles from the ARRL Letter:
FCC relaxes rules for spread spectrum
FCC revises conducted emission limits
Minutes:
Bylaws changed to relax specifications as to when we may hold the general meeting.
70 cm digital segment was agreed to by NCPA and NARCC.
WH6IO reports the United Kingdom is moving from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz spacing as of 2000 in
the 2 M band.
The Downlink, Issue #23, Spring 2000 (189 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Board minutes mention:
70 cm band planning
NARCC's president John Ronan K3ZJJ, wasn't aware of the SMC effort with the NCPA
discussion about ATV operation in 70 cm in violation of part97
NCPA mailing address is PO BOX K, still in Sunnyvale
President's message mentions NARCC has a new president Bob Lanning W6OPO
Article on FCC license restructuring, only three classes of license, one code speed
The Downlink, Issue #24, Summer 2000 (228 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions finally having progress with NARCC because of Dave Shaw WB6WTM (NARCC's VP)
Article on high-speed packet equipment
The Downlink, Issue #25, Fall 2000 (238 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentioned overall band plan is done through 70 cm.
board minutes mentions:
Oct. 29: www.d-d-s.nl/23linken.htm sells 1.2 GHz radios that can do 200 kbaud.
Nov 1: CENCA has disbanded.
The Downlink, Issue #26, Winter 2001 (1.4 MB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message and minutes mentions still some rough spots to work out on the general band plan.
Minutes: discussion on SSTV both at 70 cm and HF and ATV at 70 cm.
Articles on:
OFDM possible solution to multi-path for high-seed digital.
ARRL asks FCC to relax rules on amateur use of 219-220 MHz.
The Downlink, Issue #27, Sprint 2001 (231 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Article: ARRL still working on better access to 219-220 MHz
The Downlink, Issue #28, Summer 2001 (235 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions meeting with NARCC, still working out kinks on 70 cm band plan, 10 M 1.25 M agreed upon.
The Downlink, Issue #29, Fall 2001 (234 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions:
NCPA remailer has a new address ncpa@ncpa.hamdigi.net
Work is nearly done on general band plan.
Article: FCC says band plans do matter.
Minutes mentions:
ATV boadcasting in San Rafael is at it again.
discussion about ATV repeaters operating against 97.205 in 70 cm
The Downlink, Issue #30, Winter 2002 (233 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions:
General band plan 10 m through 70 cm ratified by NARCC and NCPA.
possibly change NCPA to committee format
Articles:
FCC retains amateur access to 219-220 MHz, but with conditions
FCC proposes two new amateur bands 5 MHz and 136 kHz
Minutes mention a new 900 MHz allocation for digital signalling
The Downlink, Issue #31, Spring 2002 (221 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Article on FCC proposal of 5 MHz and 136 kHz amateur bands
The Downlink, Issue #32, Summer 2002 (223 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Article on TCP/IP on FlexNet
The Downlink, Issue #33, Fall 2002 (193 kB pdf)
Items of note:
President's message mentions possible NCPA changes
Current bylaws
Minutes
KE6I reports the ATV station KF6NWL is still broadcasting commercial weather on 433.25 in Marin County (maybe the same station reported before)
Discussion of possible bylaw changes
The Downlink, Issue #34, Winter 2003 (219 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Proposed bylaw changes
Article on high-speed networks 802.11b "Hinternet"
The Downlink, Issue #35, Spring 2003 (187 kB pdf)
Items of note:
Articles on:
ARRL documents digital modes on its web site
Network layers explained
Intro to high-speed packet
The Downlink, Issue #36, Summber 2003 (239 kB pdf)
Items of note:
New bylaws to be voted upon at upcoming annual meeting
Articles on:
Using part 15 wireless ethernet on amateur radio
Legal Q&A regarding Ethernet over amateur radio
The Downlink, Issue #37, Fall 2003 (212 kB pdf)
Items of note:
New bylaws, NCPA is a committee now.
Article on 802.11b frequency mapping
Minutes:
Discussion of 802.11b on amateur 13 cm band
Dues lowered to $5 from $10.
No more Downlink newsletters, there may be one more issue.