[IRCA] : [mwc] Preliminary analysis of 600m amateur traffic

[Nick Hall-Patch <nhp@xxxxxxxx>]

forwarded from Alan Gale,  via Medium Wave Circle list:




>Here is some further news about this band, taken from the latest
>ARRL Letter List bulletin:
>
>
>==>ARRL 500 kHz EXPERIMENT IN ORGANIZATIONAL PHASE
>
>The project manager for the ARRL 500-kHz experiment, Fritz Raab, W1FR, says
>The 500 KC Experimental Group for Amateur Radio is still in the
>organizational stages but has already recorded its first two-way contact.
>The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology on September 13 granted Part
>5 experimental license WD2XSH to the ARRL on behalf of a group of radio
>amateurs interested in investigating the LF spectrum. The two-year
>authorization permits experimentation and research between 505 and 510 kHz
>(600 meters) using narrowband modes at power levels of up to 20 W effective
>radiated power (ERP).
>
>"It will probably be a free for all through October as guys get their
>stations on the air," Raab told ARRL Headquarters. "The Midwest stations
>will be limited to 505 to 508 kHz for the time being, and the rest can use
>505 to 510 kHz." He said a couple of the WD2XSH participants got on the air
>the day after the license was issued, and several others activated the first
>week, generating a number of reception reports.
>
>"Many are for distances of about 300 miles, of course, but some are much
>longer," Raab told ARRL Headquarters. He reports that W0RPK in Iowa copied
>the WD2XSH/20 station in Oregon early on September 26 - a distance of 1500
>miles.
>
>The first QSO took place September 21 between the stations in Tennessee and
>North Carolina - a distance of some 300 miles.
>
>Raab eventually would like to see at least a secondary 600-meter Amateur
>Radio allocation from 495 to 510 kHz. He envisions eventual use of the
>spectrum to provide Amateur Radio emergency communication via groundwave.
>
>Announcement of the license grant earlier this month brought a few requests
>from radio amateurs interested in joining the experimental group. Raab says
>there are no plans to expand the group's membership, however. He does invite
>reception reports of transmissions made by group members
><http://w5jgv.com/500kcreportform.htm>.
>
>For the time being, the WD2XSH group is only using CW. The ARRL Part 5
>application had requested permission to use both CW and PSK31, but the
>license grant omitted the latter mode. Raab says he's working to secure
>permission to add PSK31 to the grant.
>
>During October, the 21-station experimental group will develop a band plan
>that assigns frequencies for QRSS -- very slow speed CW -- as well as for CW
>beacons and for two-way communication, Raab said. WD2XSH participant Conrad
>Murray, WS4S (WD2XSH/11) reports he's transmitting a QRSS beacon on an
>irregular basis on 505.505 kHz from his Tennessee QTH.
>
>News of the WD2XSH license grant opened another line of communication for
>Raab. "The announcement brought me a bunch of e-mails, and contact with
>someone I knew from college and hadn't seen since the 1970s," he said.
>
>More information is on the 500 kc Experimental Group for Amateur Radio Web
>site <http://www.500kc.com/>.
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>To unsubscribe, e-mail: mwc-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx
>For additional commands, e-mail: mwc-help@xxxxxxxxxxx

****************************************************************************
Nick Hall-Patch
Victoria, B.C.
Canada

**************************************************************************** 

_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://arizona.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/irca

Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers

For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org

To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx