Has anyone else noticed the expert advice we get on here from those that
have never been seen or heard on LF/MF or any other band for that matter!!!
When it comes to experiments and research, some are forgetting that the 500
khz band has been well used and researched over the past 100 years.
I cannot believe that OFCOM are waiting for some novice radio amateur that
cannot send CW and uses a machine to send out beacons is really going to
make some unique contribution.
The limitations of the very low power permitted are already know and if
anything is obstructive to real research and development.
The 600m band characteristics at one end of BC MF spectrum is almost
identical to160m at the other end and when this band had a limit of 10w dc
input for years it was virtually impossibe to achieve any outstanding long
haul contacts. There was the odd exception when large antennas were
available to the few and propagation was just right.
If OFCOM are seriously depending on radio amateurs to explore 600 metres
then they ought to select some professionally qualified operators from
within the radio amateur fraternity and :-

1. Increase the permitted power to 200 watts for those suitably qualified.
2. Allow 10 watts to all others
3. Introduce a band plan to separate high/low power and a slot for beacons.

The above suggestions are not really new it happens at present with the
various grades of license and their power and band allocations. It just
needs to be implimented and modified for 600 metres to make this band more
meaningful.

73 G3KEV