UK radio hams start 146 MHz development

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Radio amateurs in the UK have already started testing equipment for use on the new 146 MHz allocation expected to be available from the end of October 2014

The RSGB VHF Manager has expressed the hope that the allocation will be used imaginatively for such things as Digital ATV, Digital Voice, Spread Spectrum and new innovative modes.

UK Radio Amateur Charles Brain @G4GUO is now developing Digital TV (DATV) for use on 146. 

New UK Amateur Radio 146 MHz Allocation - http://amsat-uk.org/2014/10/13/new-uk-amateur-radio-146-mhz-allocation/

146 MHz NoV's now available - UK Full licence holders can now apply for their NoV to use 146 MHz

You just need to fill in your details on the RSGB NoV page and you will be instantly emailed a link to the PDF of your NoV certificate. The NoV's currently being issued have an expiry date of October 31, 2015 - http://rsgb.org/main/operating/licensing-novs-visitors/online-nov-application/146mhz-147mhz-nov/

 

IARU R1 to discuss possible loss of 23 cm

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A paper to be discussed at the IARU Region 1 Conference in Varna-Albena, Bulgaria, 21-27 September 2014 highlights the threat to continued amateur radio usage of our 23 cm allocation which is now being used by the Galileo GPS system  

The amateur 23 cm allocation includes a key Amateur Satellite Service uplink band at 1260-1270 MHz.

Michael Kastelic OE1MCU, Chair of the IARU R1 VHF/UHF/Microwave Committee has written the paper VA14_C5_36 which says:

After the last reports and slides received by the author, it seems that radio amateurs will lose the 23 cm band in the near future. That is the reason for this late proposal.

We can be optimistic, but more than a small piece of spectrum for near band communication will not survive. Also the enthusiastic testing with ATV on 70 cm is not a replacement for 23 cm, because this will cause disturbance to our amateur satellites and all cars will stay locked if the ISM band is used.

Proposal

Radio amateurs need a new allocation (like 1300 -1310 MHz) for the agenda of the World Radio Conference 2018 (WRC2018) so that amateurs get back spectrum near the existing 23 cm band.

Further it is proposed to engage the EC after WRC-2015 to bring this theme to the agenda for WRC-2018 with high priority

Read the paper - http://tinyurl.com/IARU-VA14-C5-36

Potential Interference To Galileo From 23 cm Band Operations - http://www.southgatearc.org/articles/galileo.htm

IARU R1 VHF/UHF/Microwaves discussion forum - http://www.thersgb.org/forums/index.php?forums/vhfmicrowave/

UK radio ham copies Canadian 144 MHz signal

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RSGB VHF Manager John Regnault G4SWX in Suffolk, UK has received a signal from the Canadian station VC1T on 144 MHz 

Amateur Radio operators from Atlantic Canada were operating from Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, until 12 July 2014 in a bid to complete a 2 meter transatlantic contact and claim the Brendan trophy.

The "Brendan Quest" team were on the air as VC1T from grid GN37os on 144.155 MHz. The group activated on 4 July 2014, and a couple of days later, on 6 July 2014 at 1341 UTC, G4SWX was able to completely decode an FSK441 transmission from VC1T.

“They attempted to complete the QSO for 4 hours, but were not successful,” the team reported. “However, this reception should qualify for the Brendan Plate.” 

The team said a station in Ireland was able to copy parts of three transmissions. Because of the initial success, the group now will use FSK441 exclusively in its Brendan bid.

Full story - http://www.arrl.org/news/view/brendan-quest-team-s-2-meter-signal-copied-in-the-uk