the 600 meter band

IARU Spectrum Requirement

The amateur service requires a worldwide, secondary allocation in the vicinity of 500 kHz.

Considerations

The frequency 500 kHz has been allocated to the maritime mobile service for distress and safety since the beginning of ITU spectrum allocations. Technological advances such as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) have rendered the 500 kHz channel obsolete. Thus it is timely to consider an allocation to the amateur service. This part of the spectrum is interesting to radio amateurs because of its unique propagation properties, which include both ground wave and sky wave modes. Its properties are sufficiently different from those of LF and the 160-meter band.

The band of interest is 495-505 kHz and/or adjacent spectrum in the bands 415-495 kHz and 505-525 kHz.

Status of 500 kHz allocations in Region 1

Belgium: On 15 January 2008 UBA received notice from BIPT that the segment 501-504 kHz is allocated on a secundary base, CW only (all speeds, so including QRSS). Power limitation is 5 Watt ERP.

Croatia: Croatia issues experimental licences for VFO based operations in the band 493-510 kHz in A1A mode (June 2010) The license is for one year.

Czech Republic: A special licence for an amateur beacon with callsign OK0EMW is issued. Frequency 505.06 kHz, power 1 W ERP.

Denmark: OZ8NJ received an experimental permit for 501-504 kHz and 20 W ERP.

Germany: Six experimental beacon stations are active on 505.1 kHz with a power of 9 W ERP. In a formal sense these beacons are experimental stations and not amateur stations.

Iceland: On February 19, 2010 The Post and Telecom Administration in Iceland granted a temporary experimental access to the 600 meter band in Iceland. The permit is valid until December 31, 2010. Frequency span: 493-510 kHz. Access is granted on secondary basis. CW only. Power limit is 100 W. Licensees need to apply to the PTA for a special license. The experimental license is open to both “N” and “G” license classes.

Ireland: In June of 2009 the IRTS was granted a Test Licence under which the Society could grant permission to operate on 501 to 504 kHz to a limited
number of applicants on the basis of expressions of interest from those concerned which were approved by the Regulator, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Eight amateur stations were granted permission under this arrangement. The licence expired in early June 2010.
A further Test Licence is expected to be be forthcoming. (July 2010)

Netherlands: Full licence amateurs can opt for an experimental permit to conduct experiments in the band 501-504 kHz with a maximum power of 5 W EIRP and a maximum bandwitdth of 100 Hz. The experiments will start on 1 January 2010 and will continue for one year maximum.

Norway: 493-510 kHz is allocated to the amateur service on a secondary basis with an output of 100 Watts.

Sweden: Two stations, SM6BHZ and SM6BGP, have a special permit to transmit in the band 501 - 507 kHz on a secondary basis. Maximum power is 20 W ERP. In a formal sense these transmitters are experimental stations and not amateur stations. These two stations have a license to the end of 2011.

United Kingdom (incl. Gibraltar): From 1 March 2009 the United Kingdom allows amateur activity in the range 501-504 kHz with a maximum power of +10 dBW. A Notice of Variation is required.

Status of 500 kHz allocations outside Region 1

Canada: In november 2008 Industry Canada has accepted an RAC proposal whereby selected Canadian radio amateurs would be permitted to operate in the vicinity of 500 kHz. As of October 2009 licences in the Developmental Service have been issued in the range 504-509 kHz.

• VE1ZZ has been assigned VX9PSO on 504.6 kHz
• VO1NA has been assigned VX9MRC on 507.77 kHz

New Zealand: From 1 March, NZ Amateurs will have access to some of the spectrum that was previously used for Morse code communications with ships. The new band, 505 to 515 kHz has been granted on a temporary basis pending an international allocation to radio amateurs and includes some restrictions:

• These frequencies are, or may be, allocated for use by other services. Amateur operators must accept interference from, and must not cause interference to, such other services.
• Radiated power must not exceed 25 watts e.i.r.p.
• The bandwidth of emissions must not exceed 200 Hz

http://www.nzart.org.nz/policies/2010-access-to-600m.html

USA: A two-year authorization for approximately 20 stations permits experimentation and research between 505 and 510 kHz using narrowband modes at power levels of up to 20 W ERP. Another authorization for five stations permits experimentation and research between 505 and 515 kHz at power levels of up to 200 W ERP