2200-meter band

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The 2200 meter or 136 kHz band is the lowest frequency band in which amateur radio operators are allowed to transmit. It was formally allocated to amateurs at the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). The band is available on a secondary basis in all ITU regions with the limitation that amateur stations have maximum radiated power of 1 Watt effective isotropic radiated power.

The 2200 meter band is in the low frequency (LF) region, just below the 153–279 kHz longwave broadcasting band.

History

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The International Telecommunication Union's 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva agreed a secondary allocation of 135.7–137.8 kHz to the Amateur Service on Friday, 9 November 2007. Prior to the ITU formal allocation some countries did have access or predecessors. For example in the UK, operation on the even lower frequency of 73 kHz had been allowed from 1996 until 2003. A small number of countries also have limited license-exempt use (LowFER).

History of the band in the United States

On 27 April 2015 the Federal Communications Commission announced a preliminary decision to permit amateur operation on a secondary basis from 135.7–137.8 kHz, at a maximum output of 1 Watt EIRP.[1]

In 1998, the FCC rejected an ARRL petition for LF allocations at 135.7–137.8 kHz and 160–190 kHz. In 2002, indications from the FCC had been that 136 kHz privileges would be authorized soon. On 14 May 2003, however, the FCC declined to grant these privileges citing concerns over potential interference with power line communications (PLC) systems operating unlicensed under Part 15 which are used by electrical utilities to send control through the power grid. But the FCC added that amateurs wishing to experiment with 136 kHz communications may apply for a Part 5 Experimental License [2] or operate under Part 15 regulations for this part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the case of Part 15, the field strength measured 300 meters from the antenna may not exceed 2,400 microVolts per meter divided by the frequency in kilohertz, or approximately 17 μV/m[citation needed].

On 19 November 2012, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [3] demonstrating intent to authorize the amateur service as a secondary user of the LF band between 135.7 and 137.8 kHz with a maximum EIRP of 1 Watt. The notice sought to reexamine the 2003 rejection citing the international allocation of the band in all ITU regions by WRC-07 and the lack of use by the primary allocation holders. The notice sought further comment and empirical evidence regarding interference to PLC systems based on data collected by experimental licenses granted in the United States and by other stations around the world.

The FCC allocated 135.7-137.8 kHz to amateur radio with a maximum EIRP of 1 watt on March 29, 2017.[4]

International frequency allocation

A number of European countries have already allocated the zone 135.7–137.8 kHz to amateur radio use based on CEPT/ERC Recommendation 62-01 E ("Use of the band 135.7-137.8 kHz by the Amateur Service", Mainz 1997). The allocation is on a secondary basis with a maximum ERP power of 1 W. Otherwise the band 130–148.5 is allocated on a primary base to the Maritime Mobile Service and the Fixed Service. The main users are naval one-way transmissions and radiolocation systems.

Technical issues

Such low frequency transmissions require specialized equipment – usually custom made. In countries where it is allowed, maximum radiated power is usually limited to 1 Watt (0 dBW or 30 dBm), but even this can be extremely difficult to achieve from practical equipment and antennas. Reception also poses problems due to considerable natural and man-made noise and interference (QRN and QRM).

Many users and experimenters have settled on extremely slow, computer-generated and displayed Morse code as the most common transmission mode. This mode is known as QRSS, where the doubling of the ‘S’ emphasises the extreme slowness. (The international Q code QRS means “Please send more slowly”, or “slow Morse” in radio jargon.)

Band plan

The 2005 IARU Region 1 Conference defined the band as follows:[5]

135.7–136.0 kHz
Station Tests and transatlantic reception window
136.0–137.4 kHz
Telegraphy
137.4–137.6 kHz
Non-Telegraphy digital modes
137.6–137.8 kHz
Very slow telegraphy centred on 137.7 kHz

Countries in which operation is permitted

Countries with a known band allocation

  • ITU region 3
    • Australia: The ACMA included the allocation of 135.7 to 137.8 kHz as a secondary service to Advanced License amateurs in the Australia RF Spectrum Plan which came into force on 1 January 2009.[14]
    • Japan: Japanese Amateurs can use 135.7 - 137.8 kHz with 1W EIRP as of 30 March 2009[15][16]
    • New Zealand: Amateurs are allowed to operate anywhere between 130 kHz and 190 kHz with a radiated power not exceeding 5 watts EIRP[17]
    • Philippines: Amateurs are allowed to operate between 135.7 kHz and 137.8 kHz effective August 30, 2012[18]

Countries with past or current experimental operation

See also

References

  1. Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking FCC-15-50A1 (2015-04-27) Federal Communications Comission
  2. FCC 47 CFR Part 5 Rules: Experimental Radio Service (other than broadcast)
  3. FCC ET Docket 12-338
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  7. JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
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  9. Government Gazette, issue B'2845/23 October 2012
  10. page 23
  11. https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0329/FCC-17-33A1.pdf]
  12. http://members.shaw.ca/ve7sl/136.html 136 kHz Report, retrieved 2011 August 13
  13. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf09688.html
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