ARLA/CLUSTER: Mais estações ativas na banda dos 6m na Austrália

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Freeing up of 6 metres in VK

Advanced Licence holders in Australia have begun using the 6 metre
band spectrum, previously subject to official restrictions to avoid
potential interference to analogue television.

In writing to the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA), the
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has confirmed
that the last Channel 0 transmission closed on 27 November.

The ACMA has advised that amateur operations will no longer need to be
curtailed in order to avoid interference to Channel 0 stations.

The WIA takes this to mean that the restrictions on the lower 2MHz of
the band no longer apply in VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK4.

Australia's TV band was increased to accommodate Channel 0, first the
commercial stations, then the ethnic based Special Broadcasting
Service, and until recently translators.

The Broadcasting Service has 45-52 MHz on a Primary basis for analogue
TV in Australia, which is no longer the case and only digital TV has
been available since 10 December.

An easing of those restrictions in call areas that did not have local
analogue stations, resulted long ago from the hard work of the WIA.

While Advance licence holders are given back their full use of the
lower 2MHz of the band, Standard licensees that began in October 2005,
remain restricted to 52-54 MHz.

The WIA since 2010 has asked that the entire 6 metre band be returned
to its former status of Primary to the Amateur Service, in line with
international practice, and that Standard Licensees be given the lower
end too.

However the ACMA is yet to accede to the WIA requests - those changes
are expected when the Australian Radio Frequency Plan 2014 is
released.

A number of Australians are trawling the lower end of the so called
'magic band' looking to score a new country when propagation allows.



Jim Linton VK3PC