80m ham radio band used for wideband video/data

Trials in the UK have used 3.613 MHz for 24 kHz bandwidth high-speed data and video transmissions

In recent years there has been increasing military interest in high-speed data on HF.

By using modern modulation techniques a SSB channel can support a raw data rate of 12800 bps and wider transmissions can support proportionally faster data rates. Trials have shown that color video at 15 frames per second can be streamed on HF in a bandwidth of just 18 kHz. That is the type of bandwidth that may be accommodated in the amateur radio 29 MHz band.

In the UK HF trials have taken place between Blandford and Portsmouth (Portsdown), and Arbroath and Portsmouth. They used frequencies, licensed by Ofcom, of 3.613, 6.390, 7.975 and 13.047 MHz with bandwidths up to 24 kHz and power up to 400 watts.

Information on the trials - http://www.hfindustry.com/meetings_presentations/presentation_materials/2012_sept_hfia/presentations/RC_WBHF_UK_Trial_2012.pdf

USA trials of video streaming over a 1320 km HF path - http://hfindustry.com/meetings_presentations/presentation_materials/2011_sept_hfia/presentations/3_Rockwell_WBHF_High_Order_QAM_OTA_Results.pdf

Military Aerospace reports that short wave radio (HF) is being considered as an alternative to Satellite communications (SATCOM) - http://www.militaryaerospace.com/blogs/aerospace-defense-blog/2013/07/are-costs-and-vulnerabilities-making-military-leaders-nervous-about-satellite-communications.html

California Radio Hams claim 77 GHz world record

Mountain-topping radio amateurs in California are claiming a new world distance record on the 77 to 81 GHz band.

The claimed record was set 13 June 2013 between Robert Johnson, KF6KVG, on a peak just east of San Jose and Goran Popovic, AD6IW, in Kings Canyon National Park to the east-southeast.

“We achieved a distance of 252.49 km from Mt Hamilton (CM97di) to Kings Canyon National Park (DM06ms),” Goran, AD6IW, announced on the 50 MHz & Up Group reflector. “We made two-way contact on FM and SSB with strong signals at both ends.”

KF6KVG used a 1-foot dish, and AD6IW a 2-foot dish. Both employed dielectric resonator oscillator-locked frequency control for extreme stability. The current E band record is 228 km, set in Germany between Philipp Prinz, DL2AM, and Alexander Wetzel, DL2GWZ.

According to ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, this amateur band was first allocated internationally in 1979 as 75.5-81 GHz, with 75.5-76 GHz primary and the remainder secondary.

When allocations below 76 GHz were realigned at WRC 2000, 75.5-76 GHz was deleted, 81-81.5 GHz was added as secondary, and the primary allocation was shifted to 77.5-78 GHz although only 77-81 GHz is available currently to amateurs in the US.

Sumner says the band 77.5-78 GHz is under consideration at WRC 2015 for an allocation for automotive short-range radar, leaving the fate of the amateur primary allocation uncertain.

Band allocation at 5 MHz for Samoa

Following discussions, Atsuo Sakuma, 5W1SA, has become the first resident operator on the island to be issued with a special 5 MHz permission by the Samoan telecoms regulator, OOTR (Office Of The Regulator), enabling him to operate over the frequency band 5250 -5450 kHz.

Although 60m permissions have been available to visitors since 2011, these had generally been the 5 US channels. The permanent amateur population in Samoa has been low in numbers and currently Atsuo is the only resident licensed operator, although he has lived on the island for 15 years, being licensed since 1998.

Around the time of the visit of the German 5W0M team in April 2013, Atsuo entered into discussions with the regulator, which has now eventually resulted in a band rather than purely a channelized allocation. He is permitted 100W, with no other restrictions and hopes that the power level may be increased in due course, provided that no interference problems are encountered.

Atsuo regrets that unfortunately the nature of his work makes him unable to arrange skeds. He is equipped for most modes, although he does not do a great deal of voice operation, preferring CW and from time-to-time has noise problems. However, he often manages to put out a CQ between 0800 and 1000z.

Atsuo says he is of course pleased to make contacts, but requests that callers observe the DX Code of Conduct and do not tune up on or very near to his frequency.