8m ISM band

This was posted earlier by N2OTO in Florida. 

It shows the activity 40.66 - 40.70 MHz in the ISM band. I expect if we looked in Europe we would see much the same. 

Clearly the ISM band has other users! Those that permit operation 40.66 - 40.70 MHz have to accept this.

ISM bands

It surprises me that more use of some ISM bands is not utilised for beacons. In many countries around the world this is licence free with a very low ERP, yet we know worldwide coverage is possible. 

Some countries require the use of type approved equipment, although I am unsure if in some countries you can type approve by yourself that you comply.

It seems an easy route for many. Certainly a few have done this on the 13m and 8m ISM bands with great success. 

When my 8m TX permit expires next year, this is the route I propose to take here in the UK, where OFCOM has indicated its approval.

ISM experimentation?

It seems many radio amateurs are becoming "appliance" operators rather than experimenters as was the case many years ago. This is sad. 

Experimentation is still happening, although not so much with amateur radio. It would appear the spirit of early amateur radio is still there on the ISM bands.

Personally, I think amateur radio will die a slow death in the next 20 years merging with CB and true experimenters will increasingly not be from the radio amateur community.

8m ISM WSPR (Sunday)

Shortly, I shall be turning on my 10mW ERP  8m WSPR under ISM rules on 40.680MHz USB dial. 

This means my QRPP WSPR will be about 1450Hz higher. I am not really expecting any spots as I have yet to sort out my antenna. 

I shall ask locals to check I am getting out.

UPDATE 1436z:  No spots.

SPRAT article

It was very pleasing to see my short article about the use of the ISM bands for QRPP beaconing in the latest SPRAT. 

In the UK this means 10mW ERP on the HiFer and 8m ISM bands under IR2030 interface regulations.  No callsign is mandated and this is licence free. It is a good idea to use a callsign that WSPRnet can cope with if using WSPR. Likewise if using FT8, choose a callsign that PSKreporter can handle.

Certainly on the 8m ISM band 10mW ERP WSPR is enough to reach into much of Europe on Es. The same is probably true of the HiFer band too.

8m TX

At the moment my inclination is NOT to apply for a special permit to TX on 8m (costs £50 per year!) but to instead try 40.680MHz WSPR using ISM rules. 

In the UK, this means 10mW ERP and compliance with IR2030. Anyone, even an SWL, may do this without a licence. The callsign can be made up. I shall use one that WSPRnet can accept, so I can see where I am being spotted.

Having either worked or been spotted on 8m FT8 by most active stations, this will be a new challenge in the Es season. My antenna needs attention first. 

Judging by tests at similar ERP on 10m, much of Europe should be in range at times, assuming there are people monitoring!

It would be good if others tried this too.

HiFer 22m ISM band (Tuesday)

Once again, I am trying my luck with low milliwatts WSPR on 13.5539MHz in the HiFer band using ISM restrictions. For the last 2 days I have been spotted in Europe, but not in the USA. Always hopeful!! 

UPDATE 0944z:  Spots by OE9GHV/Q (871km).

UPDATE 1711z: 3 European spots again, but nothing from the USA.

22m (HiFer) ISM band (Sunday)

 Keeping to the ISM rules (very low milliwatts) I am on 13.5539MHz USB dial QRPP WSPR.  Any reports (local or DX) appreciated.

UPDATED 1200z: I am totally surprised!  3 EU stations have already spotted me! I was not expecting HiFer spots from Europe.

UPDATE 1225z: The chances of me spotting others is very low. The 17dB attenuator is in circuit on RX too, so if a station is running low mWs it would effectively be running 17dB less for me!

UPDATE 1629z: All my 22m spots (lots!) have been by 3 Europeans. My gear will remain on 22m (HiFer band) for several hours. It is not clear to me when my best time would be to be spotted in the USA. It seems my chances will diminish after dark?  I am no propagation expert.

UPDATE 1714z:  Looks like I have missed my chance of being spotted in the USA on the HiFer (22m) band today. I was quite hopeful as with the same small power I had been successful on 10m every time I tried recently. I guess local noise levels could be more of a problem as the frequency is reduced?  On very weak signals, I could just be buried under noise!

UPDATE 1757z: My last 22m spot was over an hour ago. No USA today then I think!

ISM band operation - licence exempt

A reminder that re-reading the OFCOM pages I am convinced that operation in the ISM bands without a licence is legal in the UK (and probably elsewhere) as long as the interface requirements are met.  This relates to power levels, and in some cases, duty cycles.

Not being a legal expert you have to read the rules in your administration.

I am pretty sure this means 8m WSPR at 10mW ERP without a licence is legal in the UK for anyone. In Australia 5mW has covered 5000km on 8m WSPR, so all of Europe would be in range especially in the Es season. The callsign can be made up, but best to use one that WSPRnet can use. In the past I used 8M3ISM. You could choose 8M3 plus your initials for example.

Using WSPRnet you can see who is spotting you.  This is NOT amateur radio.

See you in the spring?

LoRa

LoRa modules are available from Amazon and I expect quite a few other sources. To my knowledge, two people locally have experimented with 868 MHz LoRa modules. I am not sure if this was for commercial reasons or just for fun. 

As far as I know, anyone  may use the licence free ISM bands (certainly in the UK) as long as the interface conditions are met. This often means low power and the acceptance of interference. At 868 MHz there are some odd duty cycle limits I think.

If you do not have an amateur radio licence, this may be a route to experiment.

10mW ERP on 8m WSPR without a licence?

Today alone, I have had several reports on 10m WSPR that suggest 10mW ERP at ranges around 3000km would be copied.  

I am convinced following emails from OFCOM that, as long as ISM rules are carefully followed, a licence is NOT needed to run a beacon in the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band in the UK. This could well be true in other countries too. In the UK this means 10mW ERP.   It is my firm belief that such beacons, would be received at great range. It is a great pity more people are not trying this.

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service. It is ISM.

Es - promising?

A quick look at https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ suggests that European Es could be promising later. My current plan is 8m QRP FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR TX, with 8m WSPR later. Things will be turned on later this morning.

If 8m is disappointing and few stations are active this Es season, I shall probably QSY to 10m FT8 next week. If the Es looks really good, I shall go on 8m again and on 4m FT8.

My 8m "experiment" was to find out how effective a very simple QRP station could be. For this lots of monitors are needed. Sadly, I think there are fewer people on than in the last Es season, at least so far. I was hoping 8m would be busy with WSPR and FT8 beacons from stations without a licence operating under ISM rules.

UPDATE 1446z:  Good Es today in central Europe!

8m access without a licence

Following correspondence with OFCOM here in the UK, it is my view that anyone at all may use the 8m ISM band 40.66 - 40.70 MHz for beacons without a licence as long as they comply with the technical requirements and IR2030. In the UK this means 10mW ERP . 

At times this will cross Europe on WSPR, possibly even on FT8. In your own country, rules may be different. If you are unhappy, seek your own legal advice as I am not a legal expert. In the UK callsigns and locators are not required by law in the ISM bands, but I advice using a callsign and QTH locator that can be reported on WSPRnet.

What this could mean is many more stations beaconing on 8m.

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service. 

As I see it, it is a legal way to do experiments and research on 8m.

8m WSPR for all?

Certainly here in the UK and probably many (or all?) countries people seem to have licence free access to the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band as long as any national conditions are met. In the UK this means 10mW ERP maximum and full compliance with IR2030. Interference must be accepted and not caused. We know from Australia that 5mW 8m WSPR has been received at 5000km, so much of Europe could be spanned on 8m WSPR by anyone. 

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service!

This probably means any ISM band may be used licence free as long as national law is followed, although I have not asked OFCOM specifically about other ISM bands.   Remember OFCOM only covers the UK. You have to either be sure of the legality in your country or seek legal advice if you are unsure.

8m beaconing without a licence?

 Some months ago, I had an email from OFCOM. The contents are shown here. It convinced me (although I am no legal expert) that beaconing in the 8m ISM band is perfectly legal without a licence as long as certain conditions are met. In the UK, this means 10mW ERP. Half this power at 8m has already spanned 5000km from Australia to the Cook Is on WSPR. With summer Es I am certain that such WSPR beacons in the UK would be copied in Europe. Microwatt 10m WSPR beacons have been copied in Europe from the UK.

This is what OFCOM said in an email:

"The use of licence-exempt apparatus is authorised under exemption regulations, with set emission powers and other criteria.  This is in order for it to be available to all users with minimal risk of disruption or interference.

 

The limits, including maximum power levels and whether airborne use is permitted, are set out in the UK Interface requirement IR2030.  If apparatus being used for testing meets the relevant technical criteria and complies with IR 2030, then a licence will not be necessary.   Please note that some frequency bands which may be licence-exempt in other countries, such as the USA, may not be so in the UK and only the frequency bands listed are eligible for the exemption of qualifying apparatus.

 

In some circumstances we may be able to authorise the test or development of non-compliant radio apparatus under an Innovation and Trial (I&T) licence.  However, this generally will be under conditions that are sufficiently remote, shielded or otherwise unlikely to affect other users.  I&T is not intended for the operational use of radio apparatus, such as for the monitoring / control / telemetry of other apparatus, where a licensed or exempt authorisation is already generally available.  Even if it were the radio apparatus itself that is under test or development (in excess of normally permitted limits) we should emphasise that, as describhe OFCOMed above, it will not be possible to grant an operational permission for its future deployment and use."

My interpretation is 10mW ERP is legal for beacons in the 8m UK ISM band without a licence as long as these conditions are met. This is not the Amateur Radio Service.  

Probably we are OK to experiment in other ISM bands as long as the OFCOM criteria are met. I did not ask this.

This loophole may be available at different power levels in other countries. If so, many more people could legally get on 8m in future.

The important bit is:

 "If apparatus being used for testing meets the relevant technical criteria and complies with IR 2030, then a licence will not be necessary."

8m - is 10mW ERP legal for beacons without a licence in the ISM band?

Recently, I was asked this question. If it is, many more UK stations could get on 8m. It is my firm view that 10mW ERP is enough to get into southern Europe from the UK in good Es conditions by WSPR. It might even be possible rarely with FT8. Local tests have proved to me that well over 17km is possible locally, even without 8m antennas at the RX end.

Now, I am no legal expert, so you will have to seek your own legal advice. In different countries, different regulations will apply, so it is your duty to ensure legal operation.

My interpretation is WSPR beacons without a licence are legal in the UK in the ISM bands as long as the technical requirements and IR 2030 are met. This means 10mW ERP.  Interference must not be given and must be accepted.

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service, but is arguably very much amateur radio!

This is what OFCOM said when I asked:

"The use of licence-exempt apparatus is authorised under exemption regulations, with set emission powers and other criteria.  This is in order for it to be available to all users with minimal risk of disruption or interference.

 

The limits, including maximum power levels and whether airborne use is permitted, are set out in the UK Interface requirement IR2030.  If apparatus being used for testing meets the relevant technical criteria and complies with IR 2030, then a licence will not be necessary.   Please note that some frequency bands which may be licence-exempt in other countries, such as the USA, may not be so in the UK and only the frequency bands listed are eligible for the exemption of qualifying apparatus.

 

In some circumstances we may be able to authorise the test or development of non-compliant radio apparatus under an Innovation and Trial (I&T) licence.  However, this generally will be under conditions that are sufficiently remote, shielded or otherwise unlikely to affect other users.  I&T is not intended for the operational use of radio apparatus, such as for the monitoring / control / telemetry of other apparatus, where a licensed or exempt authorisation is already generally available.  Even if it were the radio apparatus itself that is under test or development (in excess of normally permitted limits) we should emphasise that, as described above, it will not be possible to grant an operational permission for its future deployment and use."

Continuing 8m ISM tests (Monday)

This morning I am continuing my 10mW ERP 8m WSPR tests simulating ISM rules. 

UPDATE 2050z:  G4WSZ (11km) has spotted my 8m WSPR 10mW ERP 88 times. I am disappointed that nobody else either managed to copy or did not try. I shall leave the 10mW ERP beacon on (0900-2300z) until Wednesday bedtime.

Someone else to do 8m ISM tests locally

Another local ham is to do tests on the 8m ISM bands. 

Once the weather gets better, he is doing some 10mW ERP tests (using his signal generator) to me across the fens. Hopefully I can receive him.  He usually very strong on 2m FM with 25W. I think he erecting an 8m dipole for these tests. Antenna work needs better weather!

8m ISM research

 OFCOM has still to come back to me about legal operation in the 8m ISM band and self certification if there is no intention to market a product and the intention is simply research. I expect their lawyers need to be consulted first!! 

UPDATE 1616z:  Bingo!!! A definitive statement from OFCOM if you comply with IR2030 you do not need to apply for a licence in the ISM bands. These are OFCOM's exact words

"If it is radio equipment intended for telecommunications research purposes it may be possible to obtain an innovation and trials licence from Ofcom.

You can find more details on this here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/non-operational-licences  

 

If it conforms to the usage conditions laid down in IR 2030 you don’t need to apply for a licence. Regarding conformity of the equipment to other requirements, e.g. required for the marketing of products, or any potential liability to comply with those requirements, e.g. whether it is deemed as placed on the market / put into service, etc, isn’t something Ofcom can advise on.

 

Guidance on this aspect is published by the UK Government here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-market-conformity-assessment-bodies or you should seek your own independent advice."

ISM rules?

Although I am pretty sure that in the UK people can use the ISM bands for research without a licence, as long as they personally ensure conformity to any technical requirements and IR2030, I have asked OFCOM to confirm this. I am awaiting a response.  My thoughts are it is easier for OFCOM just to confirm this than ask, "is this legal?".

At 8m this means a beacon can not be more than 10mW ERP. We already know this can cover a local area well on WSPR and could probably be copied in Europe by Es.

What happens in your country is not known.