New Amateur Radio bands in Europe

Polish radio hams have access to two new amateur radio bands

As the National Table of Frequency Allocations has been amended, there are two new bands available to the Polish radio amateurs: the 472-479 kHz band (up to 1W e.i.r.p.), and the 122.250-123.000 GHz band - both allocated to the Amateur Service on a secondary basis.

According to the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 27th December 2013 (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland of 3rd February 2014, item 161), the relevant amendments will enter into force on 18th February 2014.

New amateur radio bands have been allowed in Bulgaria.

In the future LZ hams will be able to use bands 472-479 kHz, 5250-5450 kHz, 70.0-70.5 MHz and in addition 1.8 MHz band has been extended up to 2 MHz.

All those bands have to be used on secondary basis.

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

Canada fully authorises 5 MHz Channels

On Wednesday 22nd January 2014, the Canadian regulator, Industry Canada (IC) released a decision to allow amateur radio operators to use the 5332 kHz, 5348 kHz, 5358.5 kHz, 5373 kHz and 5405 kHz frequencies on a no-interference, no-protection basis, 2.8 kHz bandwidth, same modes as U.S., 100W PEP maximum power.

These are the same channels, modes and criteria as those available to US operators on 5 MHz and are as the result of an official IC consultation held earlier in Summer 2012

Prior to this, Canadian amateurs have had access to these frequencies since 2012, provided they applied to IC for a special interim 5 MHz/60m developmental licence, utilising a VX9 series callsign.

The Industry Canada 5 MHz Decision document - http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10623.html

0-30 MHz Band Planning Committee announcement

Al Penney, VO1NO has agreed to chair Radio Amateurs of Canada's 0-30 MHz Band Planning Committee.

The previous chair, Jim Fisher, VE1JF has retired but will continue to serve the BPC for a time as Past Chair and has pledged his active support to a successful transition.

Jim had joined the BPC when it was the HF Band Planning Committee and became chair upon the retirement of Bob Nash, VE3KZ. Jim saw the committee through very active intra-Canada band planning and intense negotiations with Region 2 on revisions to 40M and general updates, and its expansion to 0-30 MHz, as well as the development of RAC’s current proposals for 60 M privileges. Other continuing committee members include Scott Wood VE1QD, Mel Martin VE2DC, Don Moman VE6YJ, and Frank Vanderzande VE7AV.

Al was first licensed in 1977. He has been active on all bands from 160M to microwave, and enjoys DX'peditions for IOTA and VHF/UHF contests. He is a past president of the VE2CMR Club, Halifax Amateur Radio Club, Pikes Peak Radio Amateur Association in Colorado Springs, and the West Carleton Amateur Radio Club in Ottawa. He is currently President of the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club in Nova Scotia, having recently moved to the area after retiring from the Royal Canadian Navy following a 35 year career. Now that he has more free time, he intends to be much more active on the air again!