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The 2200 meter or 136 kHz band is the lowest frequency band in which amateur radio operators are allowed to transmit. It was formally allocated to amateurs at the 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07). The band is available on a secondary basis in all ITU regions with the limitation that amateur stations have maximum radiated power of 1 Watt effective isotropic radiated power. The 2200 meter band is in the low frequency (LF) region, just below the 153 279 kHz longwave broadcasting band.
History The International Telecommunication Union's 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva agreed a secondary allocation of 135.7-137.8 kHz to the Amateur Service on Friday 9th November 2007. Prior to the ITU formal allocation some countries did have access or predecessors. For example in the UK, operation on the even lower frequency of 73 kHz had been allowed from 1996 until 2003. A small number of countries also have limited license-exempt use (LowFER) International frequency allocation A number of European countries have already allocated the zone 135.7-137.8 kHz to amateur radio use based on CEPT/ERC Recommendation 62-01 E ("Use of the band 135.7-137.8 kHz by the Amateur Service", Mainz 1997). The allocation is on a secondary basis with a maximum e.r.p. power of 1 W. Otherwise the band 130-148.5 is allocated on a primary base to the Maritime Mobile Service and the Fixed Service. The main users are naval one-way transmissions and radiolocation systems. Technical issues Such low frequency transmissions require specialized, usually custom made, equipment. In countries where it is allowed, maximum radiated power is usually limited to 1 watt (0 dBW), but even this can be extremely difficult to achieve from practical equipment and antennas. Reception also poses problems due to considerable natural and man-made noise and interference (QRN and QRM). Many users and experimenters have settled on extremely slow, computer-generated and displayed morse code as the most common transmission mode. This mode is known as QRSS, where the doubling of the S emphasises the extreme slowness. The international Q code QRS already stood for "Please send more slowly", or "slow morse" in radio jargon. Band plan The 2005 IARU Region 1 Conference defined the band as follows http://www.rsgb-spectrumforum.org.uk/Papers/HF/Davos%20C4%20Papers/DV05_C4_13v2%20Bandplan%20WG%20Bandplans.pdf: - 135.7 - 136.0 kHz
- Station Tests and transatlantic reception window
- 136.0 - 137.4 kHz
- Telegraphy
- 137.4 - 137.6 kHz
- Non-Telegraphy digital modes
- 137.6 - 137.8 kHz
- Very slow telegraphy centred on 137.7 kHz
United States There is no 136 kHz amateur allocation in the United States. In 1998, the Federal Communications Commission rejected an ARRL petition for LF allocations at 135.7 - 137.8 kHz and 160 190 kHz. In 2002, indications from the FCC had been that 136 kHz privileges would be authorized soon. On May 14, 2003, however, the FCC declined to grant these privileges citing concerns over potential interference with power line communications used by electrical utilities to control the power grid. The FCC added that amateurs wishing to experiment with 136 kHz communications may apply for a Part 5 Experimental License [1] or operate under Part 15 regulations for this part of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the case of Part 15, the field strength measured 300 meters from the antenna may not exceed 2400 microvolts per meter divided by the frequency in kilohertz, or approximately 17 microvolts per meter. Countries in which operation is permitted Countries with a known band allocation - ITU region 3
- Australia: The ACMA included the allocation of 135.7 to 137.8 kHz as a secondary service to Advanced License amateurs in the Australia RF Spectrum Plan which came into force on 1 January 2009.[5]
- New Zealand: Amateurs are allowed to operate anywhere between 130 kHz and 190 kHz with a radiated power not exceeding 5 watts e.i.r.p.[6]
Countries with past or current experimental operation References See also de:2,2-Kilometer-Band fr:Bande des 2 kilom tres pl:Pasmo 136 kHz
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