ARLA/CLUSTER: Plano de Banda para o segmento de 146 a 147 MHz no Reino Unido

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

146-147 MHz Usage and Band Planning FAQ

The new 146-147 MHz allocation is available to UK Full licence holders
from October 31, 2014. The RSGB have issued a FAQ document which
answers some of the common questions about the new allocation

They say in terms of enabling innovation and experimentation it might
have been preferable if Ofcom was prepared to grant 146 MHz NoVs to
holders of all classes of UK amateur licence. However, the Ofcom view
was that because Full licensees have demonstrated a greater
comprehension of the interference aspects, NoVs will only be available
for holders of full amateur licences.

It is expected the allocation will be used for wideband digital
transmissions. Bandwidth tailoring will be imperative to ensure no RF
extends into the weak signal satellite segment at 145.8-146.0 MHz (the
Lunar 4M JT65B beacon uses 145.980 MHz). Narrow band users in 147 MHz
must also be protected from any increase in the noise floor.

The FAQ says:

The 146-147 MHz band is ideal for testing new forms of medium
bandwidth data transmission that can surpass traditional methods such
as amateur AX25 packet data. Some higher speed data modes used by
amateurs on microwave frequencies produce a very wide transmitted
spectrum and are clearly not suitable for the 146-147 MHz band. Even
the 128kbps medium data rate D-Star ‘DD Mode’ used on the 1296 MHz
band fills up over 500 kHz of bandwidth at 60dB down on the peak
transmitted power. However we do expect that amateurs will be able to
develop solutions compatible with the spectral constraints of the
146-147 MHz band.

In the initial 146-147 MHz band plan there is a recommendation that
wider bandwidth data modes should be centred at 146.500 MHz to make
sure that all of the sidebands are contained within the 146-147 MHz
band. For initial experiments the recommendation is to use data rates
of no more than 350 kbps and measure the total bandwidth at the
transmitter output in order to ensure maximum protection of other
users at the 147 MHz band edges and amateur satellite users below 146
MHz. As amateur radio access to the 146-147 MHz band has been granted
on a non-interference basis, it is important that all amateurs adhere
to these guidelines in order to ensure that there is no interference
with users of adjacent bands. In the longer term it might be possible
with bandwidth tailoring and pre-distortion techniques to produce
cleaner transmitters to permit greater data rates with sharper
spectral slopes.

Apply now for your NoV at
http://rsgb.org/main/operating/licensing-novs-visitors/
online-nov-application/146mhz-147mhz-nov/

The application asks you for your Licence Number which appears on page
1 of your licence. If you don’t have it simply login to the Ofcom
licencing page and download a new licence PDF at
https://services.ofcom.org.uk/

FAQ PDF
http://rsgb.org/main/files/2014/03/146-147MHz_FAQ.pdf

RSGB 146 MHz
http://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/vhf-uhf/
vhf-spectrum-release/

New UK Amateur Radio 146 MHz allocation
http://amsat-uk.org/2014/10/13/
new-uk-amateur-radio-146-mhz-allocation/