First Transatlantic 472 kHz Band Contact

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A first transatlantic contact on 630 meters (472 kHz) has taken place between David Bowman G0MRF and Dave Riley AA1A
 
They used the JT9 digital mode to complete the more than 5,160 kilometre contact during the early hours of 23rd December 2017. 
 
On the UK end, G0MRF was running a modified Icom IC-7300 with a filtered preamp and a 60-W amplifier to a 250-foot wire configured as an inverted L. AA1A benefited from his near-Atlantic Coast location in Marshfield, Massachusetts, Bowman said.
 
ARRL Story - http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateurs-continue-to-plumb-the-spectral-depths
 
472 kHz Site - http://www.472khz.org/
 
G0MRF Projects Website - http://www.g0mrf.com/

 

German Class E 2.3 and 5 GHz Bands Access

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German Class E licence holders (CEPT Novice) are now permitted to use the 2320–2450 MHz and 5650–5850 MHz bands

DARC note the new allocations will enable Class E holders to participate in the high speed amateur radio multimedia network HAMNET. The power limit is 5 watts PEP the same as the existing Class E 10 GHz allocation. It appears the new allocations are effective immediately but limited until December 31, 2018.

The German regulator the Federal Network Agency BNetzA has also made changes to the regulations for the amateur radio 1.8 MHz and 50 MHz bands.

BNetzA Notifications - https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/FAQs/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Unternehmen_Institutionen/Frequenzen/SpezielleAnwendungen/Amateurfunk/AmtsblattVerf%C3%BCgungenMitteilungen.html

 

Croatia gets 60m, expands 160m Access

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Croatian radio amateurs now have access to a secondary 60-metre allocation of 5,351.5-5,366.5 kHz, as agreed to at World Radiocommunication Conference 2015, with a maximum 15 W EIRP. This updates the current practice of the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries (HAKOM) issuing 1-year licenses to operate on 60 metres.

Amateur/Ham Radio Operators in Croatia also now have access to more of the 160 metre band - 1,810-1,850 kHz with a maximum power of 1.5 kW PEP, and 1,850-2,000 kHz with a maximum power of 1 kW PEP.