40 Meter Band Expansion for UK Hams

[AA7BQ]

==>BRITISH AMATEURS GET ADDITIONAL 100 kHz ON 40 METERS OCTOBER 31

Starting at 0100 UTC October 31, the 40 meter band in the British Isles
will effectively double in size when radio amateurs there gain access to
7100 to 7200 kHz. Ofcom, the UK telecommunications regulatory authority,
announced the Notice of Variation October 26.

The change, in the works since last year, is a result of actions taken
during World Radiocommunication Conference 2003, where conferees agreed to
move broadcasters out of 7100 to 7200 kHz in Regions 1 and 3 to make room
for the Amateur Service. Coincidentally, the UK band expansion, which also
includes independently governed regions where Ofcom regulates
telecommunications, will occur just about halfway through the CQ World
Wide Contest (SSB) this weekend. Contesters take note!

The Ofcom NOV makes the segment available on a secondary basis, and
amateur stations in the UK and affected regions may not cause interference
to stations operating in other radio services inside or outside the UK.

The UK and Ofcom-administered regions join the Republic of Ireland--which
reportedly gained access October 20--as well as Croatia, Norway and San
Marino among Region 1 countries that have authorized access to the
additional spectrum on a secondary basis. The WRC-03 change does not
formally go into effect until 2009.-thanks to Lawrence Woolf, GJ3RAX; RSGB


Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.

[M0MJH]

The thing is; How much space will actually be available on the extension when it becomes legal to access? Whenever I have tuned through that part of the band I have always found a large number of broadcast stations on there with very little space left.

Oh well, looking forward to a little more space to 'stretch my legs' on 40m! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

73
Mark
2E1MJH

[G3TXK]

thanks for the info ref 40m
73 chris G3TXK http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[AC9TS]

By the time I get to sit down at night, the 40M Novice section is chock full of broadcast stations. This will be great for us that are evening operators trying to brush up on CW.

See ya at 7110 KHz!!

Tom - AC9TS

[G4FSU]

Well, after 24 hours of the new band: good during the day, terrible after dark!

I did hear a few W's last night during the CQWW in between the broadcasters - parts of the band are usable. I noticed that all the stations I could resolve were on frequencies ending with 3 or 8 which makes sense - BC carrier outside the passband, sideband inverted.

Super during the daylight with only a couple of broadcasters audible & very busy yesterday - it was hard to find a clear frequency. It will go a long way to relieving pressure in the 7040-7100 SSB section.

73 Ian G4FSU

[m0hem]

hello all
it only me this is like a second xmas present to the uk operators speak to you all soon
john
m0hem

[W9KK]

Welcome UK, to the US side of 40 M. Hope to talk to some of you soon. Mabe other countrys will do the same!

Cliff:blush:

[g0imb]

All I can say is I'm glad for some more space on 40m. I'm sad about Deutsche Welle broadcasting on 7150kHz. I'm sure DARC are doing something about this as they should vacate what is rightfully Amateur Radio spectrum. It's good early morning and day, but late afternoon and evening , the top 100khz becomes unuseable. This is just not on.

[G4FSU]

Remember it's not officially amateur radio spectrum in Region 1 until 2009. That was the WRC 2003 agreement. We're lucky in the UK we got access to early on a secondary basis, but it is still the broadcasters' spectrum - DW are perfectly entitled to be there for another 5 years. So, unfortunately, we'll be stuck with the noise & interference for a while yet, although there are plans for the European based broadcasters to move out of the 7100-7200 segment in a shorter time.

73 Ian G4FSU

[mm3fga]

Well i have been using the new 7.1-7.2Mhz frequencies for a few days now and all i can say is thanks to all parties involved in getting this new allocation early(before 2009)
I have found the best times so far for my loction to be between 8am and 3pm and have made many new friends in
this section,limited to 10W the quietness of this section is great for qrp. I am using a homebrew G5RV at only 8Ft from ground level with 1 leg folded back towards the center which i am coining the term G5RV /half folded dipole come Near Vertical Incidence Skywave antenna LOL,which beleive it or not works great on 40M.
Well anyway to get to the point i really wanted to make is that we should start a list of broadcast stations along with relivant email contact details of these stations and start emailing these stations and ask them if they could kindly move to different frequencies for there broadcasts

[N9CJT]

Quote[/b] (aa7bq @ Oct. 30 2004,11:16)]Starting at 0100 UTC October 31, the 40 meter band in the British Isles will effectively double in size when radio amateurs there gain access to 7100 to 7200 kHz.
What mode priveleges do UK hams receive in this new-to-them band segment? In other words, will US users of the Novice (7100-7150 KHz) band find SSB, FM, RTTY, etc. added to the current mix of QRP and slow-speed CW and AM broadcast signals currently occupying those frequencies?

[G4FSU]

Bandplans are voluntary in the UK. The Ofcom (our FCC) website says the following:

7.100-7.200 Secondary. Available on the basis of non-interference to other services (inside or outside the United Kingdom ), 400W (26dBW), Morse, Telephony, RTTY, Data, Facsimile, SSTV.

So, you could expect to find any or all of the above in the segment. In practice I suspect it will be only SSB with perhaps occasional CW.

73 Ian G4FSU

[kj3n]

I guess this means I'll just HAVE to upgrade now. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

And to think I was going to wait until 2009...... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KB5WX]

JJA ,

Go ahead and upgrade , you won't regret it at all .The priv's you'll gain are substantial . Besides , most of the good DX is down there on those Extra Class frequencies . Good luck in all you do .

[n4qa]

First, the Revolutionary War. Next, the Beatles. Now this.
Will it ever END?! :0)
Welcome aboard, mates.
72.
Bill, N4QA