The 5 MHz Newsletter - No. 17, Summer/Autumn + Band Plan

“Hi all,

The latest edition of The 5 MHz Newsletter – No.17, Summer/Autumn 2016 – is now available for free PDF download from the RSGB 5 MHz page http://rsgb.org/main/operating/band-plans/hf/5mhz/

Wikipedia 60 Meter Band page ‘External Links’ section
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60-meter_band

60m Amateur Radio Bands
BAND LIMITS kHz	USB VFO DIAL LIMITS	LOCATIONS	OPERATING NOTE
5351.5 ~ 5366.5	5351.5 ~ 5363.5	Worldwide Band (after 1 January 2017)	Power limits: ITU Region 1 = 15 Watts EIRP ITU Region 3 = 15 Watts EIRP ITU Region 2 = To Be DeterminedMexico = 20 Watts EIRP. Central America, South America, Caribbean = 25 Watts EIRP. USA/Canada = Not Authorized Yet
5351.5 ~ 5366.5	5351.5 ~ 5363.5	Spain	Power Limit 15 Watts
5060.0 ~ 5450.0	5060.0 ~ 5446.5	Somalia
5250.0 ~ 5310.0	5250.0 ~ 5306.5	Bangladesh
5250.0 ~ 5450.0	5250.0 ~ 5446.5	Denmark, Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, Greenland, Samoa	An International 60m Amateur Radio Band with Secondary status has been proposed within this spectrum segment (after WRC15 in 2015).
5250.0 ~ 5400.0	5250.0 ~ 5396.5	Barbados
5260.0 ~ 5410.0	5260.0 ~ 5406.5	Norway, Iceland, Slovakia, Croatia
5275.0 ~ 5450.0	5275.0 ~ 5446.5	Andorra	3kHz bandwidth USB or CW. Secondary status. Temporary permission until WRC-15.
5350.0 ~ 5450.0	5350.0 ~ 5446.5	Hungary, Netherlands
5418.0 ~ 5430.0	5418.0 ~ 5427.0	Cuba	Cuba allows only communications between stations within its borders; no contact is allowed with other countries. SSB, CW, and PSK31 and PSK63. 50W.

This edition features 5 MHz news from Portugal, Finland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Belarus, Andorra and South Africa, Exercise ‘Blue Ham’ and Two Important Reminders for UK 5 MHz operators.

Cheers

Paul Gaskell, G4MWO
Editor, The 5 MHz Newsletter“

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 provisionally 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.

kHz	5351.5 5354.0	5354.0 5358.0	5358.0 5362.0	5362.0 5366.0	5366.0 5366.5
Modes	CW not UK	All modes	not UK	All modes	Weak Signal

4. Ensure that the transmitted spectrum lies completely within the allocated frequencies. The transmitted spectrum of an upper sideband signal extends from the suppressed carrier frequency, usually also the indicated or dial frequency, to 3kHz higher, so set the frequency at least 3kHz below the top of the band segment. As an example in the diagram below, the narrow segment of 5378 – 5382kHz is only wide enough for one SSB signal which should be no higher than 5379kHz for the signal to remain within the allocation:

Another example is the use of digital modes on 5357kHz. If the radio is set to 5357.0kHz, any transmission greater than 1000Hz (1kHz) on the waterfall will be above 5358.0kHz and therefore out of band. This will occur with JT65 and JT9 modes if the default frequency is left at 5357kHz, so be very aware of where the transmitted signal lies.

5. AM operation is permitted provided the maximum bandwidth does not exceed 6kHz. AM activity can often be found at 5317kHz.

6. Note that the segment from 5403.5 – 5406.5kHz is only 3kHz wide. For USB operation, the radio should be set to exactly 5403.5kHz as any other frequency would result in the transmitted spectrum being out-of-band. This is a popular frequency shared by many countries, so can often be very busy.

7. Beacons operate around 5290kHz. With the exception of WSPR from 5288.5 – 5289.0kHz, it would be helpful if operators do not transmit in this narrow segment.

8. Please do not transmit USB on 5330.5kHz, 5357kHz, or 5360kHz. These frequencies are commonly used in other countries but are outside the UK allocation. See also note 4. regarding JT65 and JT9 on 5357kHz and ensure the transmitted signals remain below 5358kHz.

9. As with the WARC bands at 10, 18, and 24MHz, there should be no contest activity on 5MHz.

Communications with Military Cadet Stations

Communication with UK military cadet stations is permitted. These stations will identify with callsigns of a different format to amateur calls and they use a concise operating procedure. They are unlikely to give operator names or locations but will often exchange information on equipment and aerials. Whilst military stations may be heard on any frequency around 5MHz, amateur stations must never attempt to contact military stations outside the frequency allocations above.

The 5MHz Newsletter

Paul G4MWO produces a regular newsletter on 5MHz activity and operation around the world, which also gives useful information about the current status of 5MHz. It can be downloaded or read as a pdf file in a new tab here.

RSGB 5MHz Experiment

Since gaining permission in 2002 to experiment on 5MHz, the Society has provided a basic propagation experiment in which UK amateurs could participate. This experiment is now concluded and we would like to thank everyone who participated. Activity on 5MHz over the last 10 years or more from the UK greatly helped the amateur service gain a 5MHz allocation at WRC-15.

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