[600MRG] New 472-479khz spectrum allocation, for Amateur Radio in Canada

Wed May 7 06:30:04 CDT 2014

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/may/new_472_479khz_spectrum_allocation_for_amateur_radio_in_canada.htm#.U2oXqFcf6no

New 472-479khz spectrum allocation
for Amateur Radio in Canada

Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) is pleased to announce the official 
Canadian implementation of the 472-479 kHz band. "Agreed to in 2012 at 
the World Radio Conference (WRC), and now approved in Canada this is 
more good news for Canadian amateur radio", said RAC President Geoff 
Bawden, VE4BAW, enthusiastically.

The amateur service is now authorized to use the 472-479 kHz band with 
the release of the new Canadian Table of Frequency Allocations by 
Industry Canada. While approved at WRC 12 by the ITU, each country then 
must implement regulations for its amateurs before the band is 
available. Operations are subject to the international foot notes, which 
limit power to 5 watts EIRP except in certain areas within 800 km of 
certain other countries. Industry Canada release: 
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf01678.html

The RAC 0-30 MHz Band Planning Committee will be proposing a suitable 
band plan to enable best use of this new very narrow band. Comments and 
suggestions may be sent to the committee via rachq at rac.ca. Those looking 
to become active on this new band are encouraged to write of their 
experiences for TCA, given the challenges of antennas and equipment for 
this new band.

This addition to our allocations is especially appropriate given that 
Industry Canada, with Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN, acting as a representative 
for both RAC and IARU, lead the charge for this new band at WRC 12. Of 
course, WRC 12 was the end of a long process that started many years 
earlier and many others need to be recognized for their contributions: 
Industry Canada which brought together all of the industry players to 
form consensus, Ken Pulfer VE3PU (SK) who started it all off and 
provided help and insight throughout the multi-year process, Dave Conn 
VE3KL did the critical antenna analyses. Jim Dean VE3IQ oversaw getting 
licenses for 504 -- 509 kHz experiments to verify non-interference to 
power control systems. Also, Norm Rashleigh VE3LC who guided the 
favourable responses to the proposed amateur secondary allocation at 
472-479 kHz through IC's Request for Public Consultations on the WRC-12 
decisions. Many others also provided valuable support and work over a 
seven year process.

Canadian amateur operators have two new segments of spectrum thanks to 
the very hard work by RAC with our regulator. Five 60 meter band 
channels were made available by Industry Canada a few month ago.

RAC Communications, Ottawa ON.
raccomms at gmail.com
Tel: 1-877-273-8304

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http://www.arrl.org/news/canadian-radio-amateurs-gain-new-472-479-khz-band

Canadian Radio Amateurs Gain New 472-479 kHz Band

05/05/2014

As of May 1, radio amateurs in Canada have a new allocation at 472-479 
kHz. The 7 kilohertz sliver of spectrum is available to hams there on a 
secondary basis. Delegates attending the 2012 World Radiocommunication 
Conference (WRC-12) approved a secondary allocation between 472-479 kHz 
for the Amateur Radio Service, and telecommunications regulator Industry 
Canada subsequently proposed numerous revisions to its Table of 
Frequency Allocations, including the new 472-479 kHz band. Radio 
Amateurs of Canada (RAC) announced the "official implementation" of the 
band today.

"Canadian amateur operators have recently secured two new segments of 
spectrum, thanks to the very hard work of RAC volunteers," the 
announcement said. "The 60 meter band allocation was made official a few 
month ago as well."

MF and LF experimenter Joe Craig, VO1NA, "discovered" that the 
long-awaited new 630 meter band had become available when he checked the 
Table of Frequency Allocations last week. Craig said it didn't take long 
for him and his wife Michelle, VO1RL, "to get our feet wet" on the new 
allocation. She stayed at home, while Joe tossed some gear into the car 
and drove to a park for their first contact on the new band (at 473 kHz 
on CW).

Last fall Industry Canada issued an experimental radio license to 
Craig's club, the Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland (VO1MRC), endorsing 
experimental station VX9MRC to conduct transmissions on 472-479 kHz on 
December 14 and 15, to call attention to the potential new Amateur Radio 
band there and to the role ham radio plays in emergency communication.

The ARRL in 2012 petitioned the FCC to carve out the same band for US 
hams, but the Commission has not yet acted on the League's request. The 
ARRL-sponsored WD2XSH experimental operation in that region of the 
spectrum continues, with Fritz Raab, W1FR, as the coordinator. Other 
experimenters also operate there from time to time.

By international agreement, the maximum equivalent isotropically 
radiated power (EIRP) of amateur stations using 472-479 kHz may not 
exceed 5 W (or 1 W EIRP in some locations). In the US and in Canada, the 
472-479 kHz band is part of the larger 435-495 kHz segment allocated on 
a primary basis to the Maritime Mobile Service and on a secondary basis 
for government Aeronautical Radionavigation.

Craig believes the new band will appeal to a broader group of hams than 
do more-demanding LF allocations. He has predicted that transatlantic 
contacts, while challenging, "should be fairly common using conventional 
CW and digital modes." He said that although MF enthusiasts might have 
to build their own transmitters, most newer HF transceivers already can 
receive on 472-479 kHz.

A dozen or more countries already have approved Amateur Radio operation 
in the 630 meter band. They include Germany, Norway, the Philippines, 
Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Finland, Spain, and France.

Last November the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making and 
Order (ET Docket 12-338) proposing the creation of a new LF ham band at 
135.7 to 137.8 kHz. Canadian hams already have such an allocation.

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