Segment of 2m to be used for Olympics

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Ofcom has announced that a small block of the amateur radio 144 MHz band is to be used for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

The RSGB announced, “Following negotiations to minimise the impact on amateurs, Ofcom has now announced that it will temporarily authorise a small block of 12.5kHz channels, ranging from 144.0125MHz to 144.1375MHz, for the period 27 July to 28 August 2012 only.”

“The frequencies to be used specifically exclude 144.0500MHz (CW Calling) and 144.1000MHz (Perseids Meteor Scatter CW Calling). “

Ofcom are aware of the various amateur contests scheduled for 4 and 7 August and will work with Game users to keep operations to a minimum on these dates.

Usage of this spectrum by Games users will be in the vicinity of London Olympic venues and will be limited to handheld equipment operating on a maximum of 5W output. Ofcom emphasises that use of Primary Amateur spectrum is only for the specified time period and does not constitute a change of usage.

RSGB Announcement - http://www.rsgb.org/news/articlelinks.php?id=0369

RSGB 2012 Olympic Pages -  http://www.rsgb.org/olympics/​

German radio hams gain access to 472-479 kHz

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Radio amateurs in Germany are now allowed to operate in the new 472-479 kHz band.

The German administration (BNetzA) announced in the official gazette No. 11/2012 that from June 13 German radio amateurs with a licence class A may use the band 472-479 kHz (in anticipation of the normally needed changes in the National Frequency Allocation Table).

Power limit is 1 watt e.r.p , max. bandwidth 800 Hz.

DARC News in Google English - http://tinyurl.com/GermanyDARC

IARU Region 1 - http://www.iaru-r1.org/

ARRL Board of Directors approves 9 cm band plan

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The ARRL Board of Directors has unanimously voted to approve the 9 cm band plan, as presented by the ARRL UHF/Microwave Band Plan Committee.

Earlier this year, the committee asked radio amateurs for comments on a proposed 9 cm band plan, explaining that the purpose of these band plans is to share information about how the amateur bands are being used and to suggest compatible frequency ranges for various types of application. The committee also recognized that local conditions or needs may necessitate deviations from a band plan, and that regional frequency coordinating bodies may recommend alternatives for use in their respective regions.

The new 9 cm band plan includes the following notations:

  • This band plan includes all other emission modes authorized in the
  • 9 cm amateur band whose necessary bandwidth does not exceed the suggested bandwidths listed.
  • Weak Signal Terrestrial legacy users are encouraged to move to 3400.3-3401.0 MHz, as time and resources permit.
  • Broadband segments may be used for any combination of high-speed data (e.g. 802.11 protocols), Amateur Television and other high-bandwidth activities. Division into channels and/or separation of uses within these segments may be done regionally, based on need and usage.
  • >Per ITU RR 5.149 from WRC-07, these band segments are also used for Radio Astronomy. Amateur use of these frequencies should be first coordinated with the National Science Foundation.​