2200-meter band
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.
Contents
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 1<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
- ITU region 2
- United States: American amateurs received privileges in March 2017.[11]
- Canada: Canadian amateurs received privileges on the band in December 2009.[12][13]
- French Overseas Departments and Territories in Region 2 (135.7–137.8 kHz)[8]<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
- 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
- United States: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permits licensed amateurs to apply for special Part 5 experimental licenses in the band.
See also
- Amateur radio
- Amateur radio bands
- Low frequency
- LowFER
- List of amateur radio organizations
- List of amateur radio operating modes
References
- ↑ Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking FCC-15-50A1 (2015-04-27) Federal Communications Comission
- ↑ FCC 47 CFR Part 5 Rules: Experimental Radio Service (other than broadcast)
- ↑ FCC ET Docket 12-338
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Government Gazette, issue B'2845/23 October 2012
- ↑ page 23
- ↑ https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2017/db0329/FCC-17-33A1.pdf]
- ↑ http://members.shaw.ca/ve7sl/136.html 136 kHz Report, retrieved 2011 August 13
- ↑ http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf09688.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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International amateur radio frequency allocations | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Range | Band | ITU Region 1 | ITU Region 2 | ITU Region 3 |
LF | 2200 m | 135.7 kHz – 137.8 kHz | ||
MF | 600 m | 472 kHz – 479 kHz | ||
160 m | 1.810 MHz – 1.850 MHz | 1.800 MHz – 2.000 MHz | ||
HF | 80 / 75 m | 3.500 MHz – 3.800 MHz | 3.500 MHz – 4.000 MHz | 3.500 MHz – 3.900 MHz |
60 m | 5.3515 MHz – 5.3665 MHz | |||
40 m | 7.000 MHz – 7.200 MHz | 7.000 MHz – 7.300 MHz | 7.000 MHz – 7.200 MHz | |
30 m2 | 10.100 MHz – 10.150 MHz | |||
20 m | 14.000 MHz – 14.350 MHz | |||
17 m2 | 18.068 MHz – 18.168 MHz | |||
15 m | 21.000 MHz – 21.450 MHz | |||
12 m2 | 24.890 MHz – 24.990 MHz | |||
10 m | 28.000 MHz – 29.700 MHz | |||
VHF | 6 m | 50.000 MHz – 52.000 MHz1 | 50.000 MHz – 54.000 MHz | |
4 m1 | 70.000 MHz – 70.500 MHz | N/A | ||
2 m | 144.000 MHz – 146.000 MHz | 144.000 MHz – 148.000 MHz | ||
1.25 m | N/A | 220.000 MHz – 225.000 MHz | N/A | |
UHF | 70 cm | 430.000 MHz – 440.000 MHz | 430.000 – 440.000 MHz (420.000 – 450.000 MHz)3 |
|
33 cm | N/A | 902.000 MHz – 928.000 MHz | N/A | |
23 cm | 1.240 GHz – 1.300 GHz | |||
13 cm | 2.300 GHz – 2.450 GHz | |||
SHF | 9 cm | 3.400 GHz – 3.475 GHz3 | 3.300 GHz – 3.500 GHz | |
5 cm | 5.650 GHz – 5.850 GHz | 5.650 GHz – 5.925 GHz | 5.650 GHz – 5.850 GHz | |
3 cm | 10.000 GHz – 10.500 GHz | |||
1.2 cm | 24.000 GHz – 24.250 GHz | |||
EHF | 6 mm | 47.000 GHz – 47.200 GHz | ||
4 mm3 | 75.500 GHz1 – 81.500 GHz | 76.000 GHz – 81.500 GHz | ||
2.5 mm | 122.250 GHz – 123.000 GHz | |||
2 mm | 134.000 GHz – 141.000 GHz | |||
1 mm | 241.000 GHz – 250.000 GHz | |||
THF | Sub-mm | Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region. | ||
1 This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but individual administrations may make allocations under Article 4.4 of the ITU Radio Regulations. See the appropriate Wiki page for further information. |
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See also: Radio spectrum · Electromagnetic spectrum |