NoV's for Amateur Radio operation below 9 kHz

The UK regulator Ofcom has informed Roger G3XBM that they are willing to consider a Notice Of Variation (NOV) to an Amateur Radio licence to permit operation below 9 kHz.

Roger G3XBM writes:

Ofcom has informed me that, subject to acceptable outcomes of consultation with other sub-9kHz spectrum users such as the Met Office, they will consider issuing NoVs (similar to those issued for 501-504kHz) to existing UK radio amateurs to permit operation at frequencies below 9kHz. Any such operation would be on a non-interference basis.

Application forms should be submitted to Rod Wilkinson at OFCOM (with as much detail as possible) using the NoV form available at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/
amateur/applications/ofw306.pdf

There's been a lot of discussion about such operation on the RSGB's LF reflector in recent days. This includes some analysis of real DX working on such low frequencies using extremely slow data rates with antenna systems and powers practical for radio amateurs.

Ham DX up to around 10kms has been achieved by through-the-ground "earth mode" in the past, although near-field attenuation follows an inverse cubed law, so greater distances by earth-mode or induction are all but impossible. It is JUST possible that further may be possible using the minuscule amount of power radiated by the best optimised amateur stations running QRO.

Fascinating.

73s

Roger G3XBM

Roger's QRP Website
http://www.g3xbm.co.uk/

Roger G3XBM Blog
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/

G3XBM QRP projects on YouTube
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2010/
g3xbm_qrp_projects.htm