ARLA/CLUSTER: Radioamadores do Canadá também já tem acesso à banda dos 600m (472 ~ 479 kHz)

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

New 472-479 khz 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  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.

Not a member of RAC? Please join to support amateur radio in Canada:
https://www.rac.ca/en/rac/membership/form/

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

Radio Amateurs of Canada website