LF: Fwd: Special Permits for Amateur Radio Operation below 9kHz?

[Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>]

People may be interested in the reply from Rod Wilkinson at OFCOM received today. I asked him what OFCOM's view would be.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rod Wilkinson <Rod.Wilkinson@ofcom.org.uk>
Date: 25 February 2010 15:20
Subject: RE: Special Permits for Amateur Radio Operation below 9kHz?
To: Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>

Hello Roger,

Well, quicker than I thought we’d be I have some info for you regarding the possibility of operating on 9kHz.

Apparently Ofcoms’ Spectrum Management Team were approached back in 2006 by Colin Thomas G3PSM in his role as RSGB Spectrum Director. We understood at that time there was some interest in 9kHz, especially from Andy Talbot, G4JNT. However nothing came of it on that occasion.

That has though allowed a head start this time and my colleagues in the Spectrum Team see no reason why Amateur operation/experimentation can not take place on 9kHz. They state that ITU Radio Regs indicate that there is no allocation for frequencies below 9 kHz. However in the UK, a licence would be required as there is no lower frequency limit for wireless telegraphy under the WT Act 2006. This would be in the form of a Notice of Variation for an existing licensee and will be awarded much on the same lines as for operating on 501-504kHz. Also any operation will be subject to a non interference basis to other active facilities and systems using that part of the spectrum. We will need to revisit the likes of the Met Office who were approached during the original enquires to confirm that they remain content with the agreed arrangements.  All this, will of course, need to be done prior to the NoV being granted.

So it does seem a possibility and if you and any others wish to proceed please complete an application from for a Special Research Permit available at:

www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/amateur/applications/ofw306.pdf

Please provide as much detail as possible and send it to me and I will liaise with appropriate colleagues.

I hope that helps.

Vy 73

Rod

Rod Wilkinson

OLC Senior Associate, Amateur Radio

020 7783 4488 (direct line)

Rod.wilkinson@ofcom.org.uk

 

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

020 7981 3000

www.ofcom.org.uk

 

Have you changed your address recently?

Update your details on the Ofcom Amateur and Ships Licensing Service

 

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/

 

 

 

 

 

From: Roger Lapthorn [mailto:rogerlapthorn@gmail.com]
Sent: 23 February 2010 10:33 AM
To: Rod Wilkinson
Subject: Re: Special Permits for Amateur Radio Operation below 9kHz?

 

Many thanks Rod.

I fully understand, and would expect, some delay in any response from OFCOM regarding operation below 9kHz.

73s
Roger G3XBM

On 23 February 2010 08:23, Rod Wilkinson <Rod.Wilkinson@ofcom.org.uk> wrote:

Hello Roger,

 

Many thanks for your very interesting mail.

 

To ensure that I obtain the correct answer regarding operating below 9kHz I will need to take advice from Ofcoms’ spectrum management team and possibly the lawyers too.

 

So please accept this as a holding reply and I will get back to you as soon as possible.  But be aware please that it may run into weeks rather than days.

 

Vy 73

 

Rod

PS  sincere congratulations on exceed the 1000km mark on 500kHz!

 

Rod Wilkinson

OLC Senior Associate, Amateur Radio

020 7783 4488 (direct line)

Rod.wilkinson@ofcom.org.uk

 

Ofcom

Riverside House

2a Southwark Bridge Road

London SE1 9HA

020 7981 3000

www.ofcom.org.uk

 

Have you changed your address recently?

Update your details on the Ofcom Amateur and Ships Licensing Service

 

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/

 

 

 

 

 

From: Roger Lapthorn [mailto:rogerlapthorn@gmail.com]
Sent: 22 February 2010 10:43 PM
To: Rod Wilkinson
Subject: Special Permits for Amateur Radio Operation below 9kHz?

 

Dear Rod,

On the RSGB's LF reflector, there has been some discussion in the last few days about experimentation at frequencies below 9kHz. Many years ago (around 1970) I held a couple of Test and Development licences (G9BGU and G9BIB) for such experiments and I wrote up the results in Radio Communications magazine in 1975. It's a fascinating part of the spectrum to explore.

In some countries the approval authorities have simply said that below 9kHz is not allocated by the ITU and therefore they have no issues with amateurs operating experimentally in this part of the spectrum. As far as I am aware, the only use for frequencies below 9kHz is for sferic monitoring, VLF emissions research (whistler reception, etc), slow data rate signalling to submerged submarines (although I believe this has now been replaced by other methods) and some slow data rate FSK modulation of the mains power grid system. I cannot imagine amateur operation being a credible interference threat to any of these.

At such frequencies, any "antenna" erected by a radio amateur would, in a traditional sense, would be incredibly inefficient and far field radiation immeasurably low. Therefore communication would, for all intents and purposes, only be possible by conduction currents through earth or sea (so called "earth mode") or induction and not by radiation in a true radio sense. Attenuation rates are therefore much higher and potential range very limited. I think some in the amateur radio community are interested in experimenting with very weak signal modes to "push the envelope" on range at these basement frequencies. There is no doubt that modes like QRSS30, QRSS60 or WSPR would allow greater ranges to be spanned than traditional modulation modes like normal speed CW, albeit not that far even so (kilometres at best rather than hundreds of kilometres).

So, I wonder what OFCOM's view would be. Would a permit be needed at all? If yes, would OFCOM issue Special Research Permits (NoVs) on a case-by-case basis as at 500kHz? 

Kind regards

Roger Lapthorn  G3XBM  (500kHz NoV holder)

--
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/
http://www.g3xbm.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM
G3XBM    GQRP 1678      ISWL G11088

******************************************************************************************************************
For more information visit www.ofcom.org.uk

This email (and any attachments) is confidential and intended for the use of the addressee only.

If you have received this email in error please notify the originator of the message and delete it from your system.

This email has been scanned for viruses. However, you open any attachments at your own risk.

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and do not represent the views or opinions of Ofcom unless expressly stated otherwise.
******************************************************************************************************************

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________

--

http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/
http://www.g3xbm.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM
G3XBM    GQRP 1678      ISWL G11088

******************************************************************************************************************
For more information visit www.ofcom.org.uk

This email (and any attachments) is confidential and intended for the use of the addressee only.

If you have received this email in error please notify the originator of the message and delete it from your system.

This email has been scanned for viruses. However, you open any attachments at your own risk.

Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and do not represent the views or opinions of Ofcom unless expressly stated otherwise.
******************************************************************************************************************

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________

-- 

http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/
http://www.g3xbm.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/user/G3XBM
G3XBM    GQRP 1678      ISWL G11088