Irish Amateurs now have WRC-15 60m allocation

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society have just announced that Irish radio amateurs can use the WRC-15 band of 5.3515 MHz to 5.3665 MHz with immediate effect. No application is necessary and the power limit is 15 watts. This is very good news for anyone with an interest in the 60 metre band.

The following was announced by Séan, EI7CD…

ComReg has just today published an amended version of the Amateur Station Guidelines in Document ComReg 09/45R2. The main revision is that the WRC-15 band of 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz has been released with immediate effect on a secondary basis. No application or fee is necessary for this segment. The power is 15 watts PEP (12dBW) measured at the output of the transmitter or amplifier. All modes including digimodes may be used. The WRC-15 decision was for 15 watts EIRP and this will be taken up with ComReg. The Society recommends that USB be used for voice as has been the convention on this band and as used by the primary user and that the provisional IARU band plan be used:

5351.5 – 5354.0 kHz CW, Narrow band Modes
5354.0 – 5366.0 kHz All modes USB for voice
5366.0 – 5366.5 kHz weak signal narrow band modes.

This allocation does not affect the availability of the existing channels centred on 5280, 5300, 5332, 5348, 5400 and 5405 kHz. Special authorisation is still required for these channels at an annual licence fee of €30. Lets hope for some more activity on 5 MHz to help our case for an increased allocation.

Seán EI7CD IRTS/ ComReg Liaison

Up to now, Irish amateurs had to apply to use the spot frequencies of 5.280 MHz; 5.300 MHz; 5.332 MHz; 5.348MHz; 5.400 MHz and 5.405 MHz

The relevant document can be downloaded from the Comreg website HERE

 

UK 5MHz Frequencies

Operation in the UK largely follows the conventions shown here. Exceptions are common as permissions in other countries vary, so QSOs on some frequencies may be found using any mode. Take care not to transmit outside the UK segments even if amateur signals can be heard as they may be coming from other countries with different allocations.

At WRC-15 in November 2015, the amateur service achieved a new 15kHz secondary allocation between 5351.5 – 5366.5kHz. This is not yet in effect and UK stations must adhere to the frequencies set out in the licence schedule, as shown below.

Lower limit kHz	Upper limit kHz	Guidelines on current usage
5258.5	5264.0	CW activity, 5262kHz QRP
5276.0	5284.0	USB 5278.5kHz international use. EMCOMM CoA
5288.5	5292.0	Beacons 5290kHz. WSPR
5298.0	5307.0	All modes. USB 5298.5kHz, 5301kHz, 5304kHz
5313.0	5323.0	All modes. AM 5317kHz. USB 5320kHz
5333.0	5338.0	USB 5335kHz
5354.0	5358.0	USB 5354kHz
5362.0	5374.5	USB 5363kHz, 5371.5kHz international use. Data modes
5378.0	5382.0	USB 5379kHz
5395.0	5401.5	USB 5395kHz, 5398.5kHz
5403.5	5406.5	USB 5403.5kHz international use

Please ensure out-of-band operation does not occur. Selecting a USB frequency shown here will ensure compliance and is largely compatible with allocations in other countries also. See notes 2. & 4. below.

Notes on the frequency table:

1. Upper sideband is recommended for SSB operation at 5MHz to preserve compatibility with other services. USB frequencies noted here are the suppressed carrier frequency.

2. Many countries have access to 5MHz and common international frequencies are indicated in the table. A good rule of thumb is to either use common frequencies such as 5278.5kHz, 5371.5kHz, 5398.5kHz, and 5403.5KHz, or keep them clear for others to use. Try to avoid frequencies which may cause interference to spot allocations outside the UK. For example, use 5335kHz and 5354kHz so as not to interfere with 5330.5kHz and 5357kHz, which are common to many countries but cannot be used in the UK. Some countries have already introduced the 5351.5 – 5366.5kHz band, but the current UK allocation only covers parts of this band. If in doubt, use one of the frequencies shown in the table above.

3. A band plan for the new 5351.5 – 5366.5 WRC-15 band was agreed at the IARU Region 1 Interim Meeting in April 2016. It will be incorporated into the UK band plan once the full segment becomes available to UK amateurs; at the moment, the USB frequencies 5354kHz and 5363kHz shown in the table above are within the SSB / all modes segment of the WRC-15 band. The proposed weak signal segment for very narrow band modes from 5366.0 – 5366.5kHz also falls within the UK 5MHz frequency schedule. The segments in red below cannot be used in the UK.

 

UK