There was an announcement on the RSGB and OFCOM sites advising some UK full licence holders that 70.5 to 71.5MHz is being made available for one year by special permission for further digital experiments, a bit like 146-147MHz here in the UK.
Sorry, but has OFCOM gone stark raving mad???
I can see no good justification for this 1MHz of spectrum. 2m was already under-used and the 146-147MHz allocation is probably being used by a tiny handful of people from time to time only. DATV tests could quite as easily happen at 70cms.
I can think of far better parts of the spectrum OFCOM could have allocated e.g 100kHz around 40MHz (for Es propagation experiments), 73kHz, below 8.3kHz and a contiguous 5MHz allocation. Oh no, these require a brain to be engaged by OFCOM people.
Maybe this is an April fool's wind-up, although I suspect it is true.
Surely if OFCOM wants to further real experimentation in radio science there are better ways of going about it? Yet again, I am totally unimpressed. Between OFCOM and the RSGB, I think this is, yet again, a stupid stupid decision. So we now have 2MHz of extra spectrum for 12 months that a very few might use. Big deal. OFCOM, engage brains, think radio science. If you want to help grow future engineers that we so badly need, these allocations will not help at all. Think again!
See http://www.rsgb.org/ .
See http://www.70mhz.org/ .
2 Apr 2015
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8 comments:
You tell them Roger, we want more AM bandwidth, sock it to um..
73 Steve
Roger,
You don't half post some odd views sometimes and I don't agree with you at all.
This is to stimulate extra activity for those that want to experiment not the other way around.
72
Dom
M1KTA
I do not want new AM bands, but I am interested in the future of our hobby. I think the allocation of this (second) 1MHz additional band will do very little to help radio science or the future of our hobby. OFCOM would do better allocating (on a shared, non interference basis if needs be) other parts of the spectrum. They are too ready to hide behind "this is the law" or " the military control this part of the spectrum".
Hi Roger,
I suspect that one of the main reasons that 146-147MHz and 70.5-71.5MHz have been made available (on a temporary basis) is that they are currently clear frequencies, having been vacated by the Home Office emergency services when they started using Tetra.
Both of these chunks of spectrum used to be populated by hill top transmitters so the frequencies are already subject to international frequency clearance.
It's much easier to re-allocate these on a temporary basis until a new use can be found for them than it is to open up a new allocation. Especially on frequencies that need a great deal of international co-ordination such as 40MHz
I too would like an allocation at somewhere around 40MHz and 60MHz (and have written to the RSGB asking for them to consider this) but I think we have to be realistic in our expectations.
In the meantime I'm perfectly happy to have a couple of MHz of new spectrum available, especially if it will generate some interest in mew digital modes such as narrow band digital TV.
If you want to experiment on 40MHz (or any other frequencies you care to suggest)why not apply for a £50.00 Test and Development licence ?
http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/spectrum/non-operational-tech-licence/ofw357nonopguide.pdf
I know someone who did this and he included a whole host of spot frequencies (including some in amateur bands) in his application which, much to his surprise, was granted.
You just need a few folks willing to spend £50 to create a new band (or bands):-)
Regards,
Martin - G8JNJ
For those with interests in E's and 40MHz, don't forget that RSGB did facilitate the multi-band beacon at GB3RAL which transmits on 40.05 MHz (as well as 50.05, 60.05 and 70.05)
I well understand that these new temporary allocations may be useful to a small handful of people. I also accept that these are "no brainers" as far as OFCOM is concerned in the short-term. What I am saying is OFCOM needs teeth and should seriously consider the future of radio-science as a whole. Allocations (even small and shared on a strictly non-interference basis) elsewhere in the spectrum could have really helped advance radio-science and self training. Another waste as far as I see it apart from the dedicated few users of DATV and similar. OFCOM - please think and act for the future!
If you notice they are giving us more noisey parts of the Spectrum, and taking the higher stuff off us that they find useful to sell off and make loads of revenue!
They could of given us a slot at 220MHz when band III came clear of 405 line transmissions. But they sold it on to useless DAB that no one is really interested in apart from the establishment that would like you to think it was better than their FM broadcasts?
73 Steve
Hi Roger,
I'm not sure what you mean WRT OFCOM needs teeth ?
In my experience any applications for science related activity are handled pretty well by OFCOM.
Don't forget that Amateur radio is only a very small part of OFCOM's overall remit, and in the current financial climate of government budget restrictions etc. I personally find it amazing that they are as helpful as they are.
I suspect that amateur radio takes up a disproportionate amount of OFCOM resource for the amount they gain from it. If you want to lobby on a par with commercial users then how would you feel about a more realistic licences fee say £100-£200+ per annum based on the amount of spectrum available to us ?
I think we get a pretty good deal on the whole, and a few more MHz for experimentation by a few interested in a particular mode, a bit like WSPR or QRSS :-) is a good thing.
Lets face it nothing has been traded for the new allocations, it's not that an allocation at 40MHz or 60MHz has been lost as a result of this decision.
Try looking at it from another perspective. How would you feel if for example a few DATVers started complaining because a new allocation had been granted at 40MHz and they had no use for it ?
Just because it doesn't appeal to you personally, don't deny it's use to others who may benefit from it.
Aren't digital modes voice and video modes at the forefront of experimentation ? Aren't these exactly the type of technologies which may appeal to the iPad generation ?
Just be two'pennth :-)
Regards,
Martin - G8JNJ
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