Low Frequency band for VK

Australia is set to join the 30-odd countries whose radio amateurs have been already given the new low frequency amateur band of 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.

It's been a wait of more than 20 years to officially get the band. A few VK radio amateurs, under special Scientific Licences, have been engaged in pioneering experimentation on low frequency spectrum since the mid-1980s.

The World Radiocommunication Conference in 2007 decided that there be a world-wide secondary allocation but left it to individual radio administrations around the world to decide on its introduction.

This achievement followed a lot of hard work by the International Amateur Radio Union.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released its draft Australia Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan that is to come into force on the 1st of January 2009.

It includes 135.7 to 137.8 kHz for the Amateur Service on a secondary basis that VK radio amateurs do not cause harmful interference to radionavigation service stations that continue to operate in a number of countries.

The permitted maximum radiated power is one watt effective isotropic radiated power. The New Year should see VK's top ham licence type, the Advanced Licence, gain this band as a new operating privilege.


Jim Linton VK3PC
Wireless Institute of Australia