29 Feb 2012

472-479kHz available Jan 1st 2013 in UK

G3XBM's 500kHz transverter. Ideal for 472-479kHz.
OFCOM are now going to renew NoVs for the 501-504kHz band for existing permit holders and this will be possible via an on-line webform on the RSGB website.
"Following the agreements concluded at World Radiocommunication Conference 2012, Ofcom has started discussions with the RSGB and others about the timescales for implementation of the new secondary allocation to the amateur service between 472 and 479 kHz which, it was agreed at the Conference, would be effective from 1 January 2013.
Ofcom has therefore determined that, to allow these discussions to be completed, the current NoVs to allow experimentation between 501 and 504 kHz should have their validity extended to 31 December 2012. This notice confirms this fact."
See http://www.rsgb.org/operating/novapp/500.php. So plenty of time to get an antenna up and a TX or transverter ready. You might like to start by looking at http://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/500k where I describe my 5W QRP transverter which will work on 472-479kHz. I've plans to make a Mk2 version of this during the summer with higher power and other improvements. It would be nice to make a PCB this time so that others could build it.

2 comments:

Steve Olney said...

G'day Roger,

I think the second link URL is just a repeat of the first. I would be interested in a PCB for the 472kHz - 479kHz unit.

73 Steve

Roger G3XBM said...

Thanks for spotting the link error Steve. I have now corrected it. I must learn how to do professional PCBs as usually my designs are made "dead bug" style.