60m (5MHz) operation

Although many countries have allocated the full WRC band to amateurs, the UK has not. Instead, the UK has more allocations, some of which include parts of the WRC allocation. 

Personally, I would settle for the full WRC shared band and lower power with fewer other slots in the UK.

See https://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/hf/5mhz/

WRC 2023

The next WRC is later this year. One thing being discussed is a possible 50-54MHz amateur allocation in Region 1. At WRC 2023, France is expected to push for more aeronautical allocations around, or in, our 2m band.

See http://rsgb.org/main/files/2019/06/PTA19090R1-France_Proposal-on-non-safety-aeronautical-mobile-applications.pdf

Yet more on 60m band

The 60m WRC 15kHz allocation is being widely allocated now, with Finland (OH) joining the growing list. Sadly, the Finns are losing some other slots at 60m.

WRC-19 and amateur radio

The next World Radio Conference is next year (2019). At it, spectrum will be discussed. I have to admit that I have not been following preparations too closely, but I expect the amateur service will be way down the list of priorities. Much more important to the national administrations will be spectrum for satellite services and for 5G. Basically, if it generates money they will be interested. If not, it will play second fiddle.

For the amateur service what would I like to see?

• Extension of the 5MHz allocation made at WRC-15.
• A 4m band throughout region 1 (possibly elsewhere too).
• A 6m band everywhere 50-52MHz minimum (50-54MHz ideally).
• Clarification that spectrum below 8.3kHz can be used by anyone anywhere on a non-interference basis.
• Access to 40MHz and 60MHz for Es research. Even a very small allocation would be useful.

Now, probably most of these will not happen!

HF - the forgotten spectrum?

The USA proposals for WRC-19 and WRC-23 have been published. My reading is that many administrations are more interested in the GHz bands than HF.

Perhaps many administrations have given up on HF? Maybe there is too much noise on HF and there is little money to be made from HF. On GHz bands there are plenty of opportunities to sell spectrum.

Broadcasters are abandoning shortwave. This is good news (perhaps) for radio amateurs.

UK 60m band(s)

At present in the UK, we have a number of secondary bandlets at 60m, but not the WRC 15kHz wide allocation. Our primary user is the military who seem to be in no hurry to change things.

Purely personally, I'd like to see the WRC allocation available in the UK as I find multiple bandlets very confusing. I know we have more power and plenty of choice, but I am a QRPer and having a common allocation would be better in my personal view. I fully accept my views may not be widely accepted.

In the quiet years ahead the 60m band will become more and more important. I have said many times before, it would be good if CEPT countries allocated a wider 60m band. I think we are happy to be secondary users.

A full 4MHz at 6m in Region 1?

Southgate news reports that a full 4MHz wide amateur band in Region 1 may be on the agenda for the next WRC in 2019. If this happens it would be very useful, although this is 4 years away and may not even make the next agenda! A 4MHz wide band would harmonise the allocation across the world and possibly allow  satellites on this band. A 4MHz wide band would be wide enough for most modes and wider than any existing band below UHF.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/october/proposed_50_54_mhz_agenda_item_for_wrc_19.htm#.VjZIdStEd81 .

OFCOM and the 5MHz contiguous amateur allocation

I am very pleased to see that OFCOM (on behalf of the British government) has signed the common European position in support of a contiguous amateur (secondary) allocation at 5MHz at WRC15 starting next week. It is still far from a "done deal" with 150 countries represented there.

WRC-15 in Geneva

The important conference at which a contiguous 5MHz amateur band is being discussed opens next week in Geneva for 3 weeks. This item, for a new secondary amateur allocation, is an agenda item (1.4). Watch this space...

We will certainly need this band in the quiet years ahead.

5MHz band?

The next world radio conference (WRC-2015) is drawing close to opening. Worldwide, radio amateurs are hoping for a contiguous 5MHz allocation, rather than the channelised allocations common in many countries. A 60m band would be really useful as the sunspot numbers decline and the higher HF bands become far less useful for DX. Whether this contiguous allocation will happen remains to be seen. Most of the lobbying has been done, so I guess we now have to wait and hope.

472-479kHz secondary allocation

From the RSGB's website today comes the latest news from WRC-2012 about an amateur secondary allocation to replace 500kHz with something more permanent. It needs ratifying but it does now look very likely indeed to happen.

Agenda Item 1.23 – 500kHz
Progress through Committee 4 (COM4) was a little easier than expected and the frequency band 472-479kHz will be allocated to the amateur service, on a Secondary basis. This is subject to no further objections being received during the two final readings through the plenary meetings, of which the first ‘blue’ reading is expected to be during the plenary this coming Friday, late afternoon.