A World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) agenda item proposing to study a range of frequencies, including potentially reassigning 144 – 146 MHz as a primary Aeronautical Mobile Service allocation, drew little opposition at a meeting of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) Project Team A. The team is responsible for some aspects of CEPT WRC positions, and the meeting was held June 17 – 21 in Prague, Czech Republic. Introduced by France, the proposal targeting 144 – 146 MHz would be part of a broader consideration of spectrum allocated to the Aeronautical Mobile Service. Another issue addressed during the meeting concerned the sharing of the Amateur Radio 1240 – 1300 MHz band with Europe’s Galileo GPS system.
“We hear only one admin[istration] (Germany) opposed the 144 MHz proposal — no one else,” the UK Microwave Group tweeted following the meeting. Otherwise, it has been carried forward to the higher-level CEPT Conference Preparatory Group (CPG) meeting in August.
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), which was represented at the Prague meeting, expressed “grave concern” to any proposal that would include 144 – 146 MHz in the proposed Aeronautical Mobile Services agenda item. That comprises the entire available 2-meter band in ITU Region 1. IARU has pledged to make every effort to fully protect Amateur Radio interests and seek the support of regulators for their view.
IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, said prior to the meeting that the IARU would “energetically” promote its opposition in Regional Telecommunications Organizations (RTOs) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) “to obtain assurances that the spectrum will remain a primary allocation for the amateur services.”
The 144 – 146 MHz band is allocated globally to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services on a primary basis, and is the only globally harmonized Amateur Radio VHF band. A widely used segment of the Amateur Radio spectrum, 2 meters supports a broad base of terrestrial users, repeater systems, and satellite stations, including the International Space Station.
According to the meeting minutes, the proposal provides no justification for targeting 144 – 146 MHz, and the IARU believes that sharing with airborne systems likely would be difficult and lead to constraints on the development of the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services there. IARU suggested that alternative proposals might be developed that could provide further spectrum for the aeronautical applications without impacting this Amateur Service spectrum.
IARU is expected to brief member-societies, requesting that they discuss the French proposal with their governments in advance of the August CEPT-CPG meeting. France could seek to introduce the same proposal to study 144 – 146 MHz for aeronautical use into other RTOs.
Meanwhile, further discussion on the 23-centimeter band study proposal is anticipated prior to the Conference Preparatory Group meeting in August. The proposal was raised in the wake of reports of interference to the Galileo navigation system, but IARU has said it’s aware of only “a handful of cases” of reported interference to the Galileo E6 signal on 1278.750 MHz. Work on this issue will continue in other specialized CEPT forums in the interim.
Source:ARRL
Digital Modes
The Ultimate Portable Ham Radio Computer
Hello Operators. In this episode of the OH8STN ham radio, we are discussing replacing the raspberry pi field computer build, with the Microsoft Surfac... Read more
Get Started with FT8 – An Introduction for Beginners
FT8 is a mode in the WSJT-X software developed by Dr Joe Taylor K1JT. In this video I show how to get started and make contacts with FT8, introduction... Read more
VHF
Icom IC-T10 Rugged Dual Band HT @ HamVention
Icom IC-T10 Rugged Dual Band HT This New VHF/UHF HT from Icom features a Very Rugged Design, 1500 mW of loud, clear speaker audio, 2400 mAH battery, I... Read more
Icom VE-SP1 LTE/PoC Radio Desktop Conference Microphone
A short video about the Icom VE-SP1 desktop conference speaker microphone which enables a simultaneous voice conference in multiple locations by combi... Read more
Review
Elecraft K4 Updates from Hamvention 2022
Elecraft K4 Today I get to talk to Eric from Elecraft at the Dayton Hamvention 2022 about the latest updates on the Elecraft K4 HF Radio RADCOM K4 REV... Read more
Ham Radio Operator Needs This Book! The Encyclopedia Of Ham Radio
This Hamradioguide has ALL KINDS of great information within!! For new ham radio operators, you can learn a lot from this. For the seasoned ham, there... Read more
News
iPortable Rack Systems | Ham Radio Rack Mounts
Take your Ham Radio Portable with iPortable. A look at these really cool rack mount units for HF/VHF/UHF Ham Radio. Portable Pro2 Equipment Rack Syste... Read more
The history of communicating with submarines underwater
“Nestled deep in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Northwest Wisconsin is the small town of Clam Lake. Clam Lake is best known for the... Read more
Equipment
Lido Radio Mounts
Lido mounts are a great way to mount your radio in your mobile. Read more
Barrett 4075 High Power HF Transmitter
The Barrett 4075 high power HF Transmitter is a compact rack mounted communications solution developed for base station applications in large HF netwo... Read more
Software
ICOM IC705 firmware 1.27 has just been released
Download Type Firmware Model name IC-705 Version Version 1.27 Update 2022/05/20 Major changes Changes from Version 1.26Improved to enable forcing an A... Read more
ARRL International Digital Contest Log 1.0 is Now Available! [ N3FJP LOG]
“Hi All, Just a quick note to let you know that…ARRL International Digital Contest Log 1.0 is Now Available!We just completed a brand new... Read more
Propagation
A Machine-Gun Flare Player Delivers a 1,2 Punch at Earth
“We have two back-to-back solar storms on their way to Earth! The second one will catch up and slam into the first before they reach Earth, whic... Read more
The K7RA Solar Update
Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Solar activity was weaker over the February 24 – March 2 reporting week, with the average daily sunspot number weake... Read more