500 kHz still some way off

Over the past few months, National WIA News has reported moves by amateurs to secure an allocation in the vicinity of 500 kHz, the old maritime Morse Code distress channel.

Of course, 500 kHz was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, or GMDSS, in February 1999. Ships are no longer required to monitor or use 500 kHz for distress calls.

The ARRL, the RSGB and now the Irish amateur radio society have submitted proposals to their radio regulators for a small amateur radio allocation in the region of 500 kHz. The UK radio regulator has indicated that they are considering the issue.

However, many former Merchant Navy Radio Officers are strongly opposed to amateur radio operation on 500 kHz. Their view is that 500 kHz must be preserved as a museum or historic frequency. The UK and the German Radio Officer associations have published papers to this effect.

So, what is the regulatory situation regarding 500 kHz?

At the moment, the international radio regulations still designate the band 495-505 kHz exclusively for distress and safety use. This status can only be changed by a world radio conference.

Interestingly, there are still some coast radio stations monitoring 500 kHz.

In our region, Chinese and Indonesian stations maintain a distress and calling watch on 500.

So, in summary, there may be scope for a small experimental amateur radio allocation, either above or below 500 kHz, but this could be some time off yet.

Glenn Dunstan, VK4DU
National WIA.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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