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WIA applies for Medium Frequency band allocation
The Wireless Institute of Australia has applied to the ACMA for experimental
access to a small band of frequencies near 500 kHz.
Amateur radio operators in the United States, Sweden and Germany have
recently been granted experimental access to frequencies just above 500
kHz
.
Applications for access to this band have also been lodged by the NZART
and the RSGB.
The WIA conducted a poll last year of Australian radio amateurs to ascertain
if there was an interest in a similar allocation in Australia.
WIA Director, Glenn Dunstan VK4DU said "We
received numerous enthusiastic responses".
The WIA submission requests a temporary/experimental MF amateur allocation
be made for the frequency range 505-515 kHz.
"This proposed allocation places us above the guard band around the
distress and safety channel at 500 kHz, and lines up with the current
amateur MF allocations in Europe and the US", Glenn said.
The WIA recognises that the former marine distress and calling frequency
of 500 kHz remains so designated in the International Radio Regulations
(guard band 495-505 kHz), and that this status will not be changed until
WRC-11 at the earliest.
"The WIA requested a temporary amateur allocation, rather than an
experimental (non-amateur) licence, as it is our view that this represents
the most suitable access mechanism", Glenn said.
"Many administrations forbid communications between amateur and non-amateur
stations, and an Australian non-amateur experimental licence would thus
preclude many weak signal propagation opportunities with overseas stations".
The limited spectrum available precludes the use of wide band telephony
type modes. The WIA submission proposes a maximum necessary bandwidth
of 200 Hz, to limit operation to CW and slow speed robust data modes,
such as PSK31. This is the practice adopted in the current experimental
MF amateur band in Europe and the US.
Australia's WIA also proposed that because of the technical challenges
involved, the MF band be only made available to Advanced class amateur
stations.
It is also proposed that normal amateur output power limits be used.
Glenn Dunstan, VK4DU
Source: Wireless
Institute of Australia
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