Medium-Wave Experimenters to Transmit Field Day Greetings

Posted date: June 19, 2015in: NewsNo Comments

Field Day Greetings

Once again this year a group of medium-wave experimental licensees will transmit greetings on 630 meters over the ARRL Field Day weekend, June 27-28. While the 472 to 479 kHz band is not yet available for Amateur Radio use, John Langridge, KB5NJD, said he’d like to continue promoting awareness of the proposed ham band. In April, the FCC proposed a new 630 meter Amateur Service MW allocation at 472 to 479 kHz, and it allocated a new LF band, 135.7 to 137.8 kHz — both on a secondary basis. Langridge this year is hoping that some LF experimenters also will take part in the exercise. No Amateur Radio operation will be permitted in either band until the FCC establishes specific operating rules.

ARRL 600 Meter Experimental Group ( WD2XSH) Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR, said the FCC’s April Report and Order, Order, and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is a step in the right direction, and he hopes it will eventually lead to a new 630 meter amateur band in the US. “However, it’s a huge document, so we expect it to take a while for any of the proposed changes to be implemented,” he told ARRL. “With that in mind, we plan to renew the WD2XSH license and continue operations much as we have been until such time as the 630 meter band becomes a reality.”