04/23/2016
Romania has tentatively joined the list of countries making a band at 5 MHz
available to Amateur Radio. Romanian telecommunications regulator ANCOM[1] has
granted radio amateurs access to 5 MHz on a scheduled testing basis for
approximately 1 year. For the time being, the band is just 3 kHz wide - 5363.5
to 5366.5 kHz. Permissible modes are CW, PSK, RTTY, and WSJT, at a maximum EIRP
of 15 W. Access is granted only to Romanian hams who register for the testing
program. Initial testing in the sliver allocation will take place Thursdays at
around 1600 UTC. According to Romania's IARU member society Federatia Romana de
Radioamatorism (FRR[2]), the program is aimed as ascertaining whether
propagation offer the possibility of carrying out emergency communication in
the band.
Belgium recently made a 60 meter band available to radio amateurs. Belgian hams
may operate from 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz (15 kHz) with isotropic radiated power
(EIRP) maximum of 15 W on a secondary basis. All modes of transmission are
allowed.
Just days after delegates to World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC-15)
reached consensus on a new global 15 kHz-wide allocation at 5 MHz, the
Netherlands last December opened a 100 kHz band for Amateur Radio use. Hams
there may use 5350-5450 MHz at up to 100 W PEP. Spain now permits access to
5351.5-5366.5 kHz, at least until December 2016. The band replaces six channels
authorized previously.
WRC-15 laid the foundation for a global, secondary Amateur Radio allocation of
5351.5 kHz to 5366.5 kHz at up to 15 W effective isotropic radiated power in
the US (some Region 2 countries will be permitted up to 25 W EIRP). Article 4.4
of the ITU Radio Regulations[3] ?lets countries authorize frequency assignments
that are contrary to the international Table of Allocations, only on a
non-interference, non-protected basis.
The new worldwide band won't be available for use in the US until the FCC
institutes a rule making proceeding and establishes operating parameters for
the band. A set of five dedicated 5 MHz channels remain available to US radio
amateurs. Similar channelized regimes are in place in other countries.
Other Countries with 5 MHz Amateur Bands
Other countries have authorized operation on 5 MHz band segments, dating back
more than 10 years. Bangladesh allocated 5250-5310 kHz to the amateur service
on a secondary basis for propagation experiments in 2005.
Elsewhere, Barbados permits operation on 5250-5400 kHz, Bulgaria allows access
to 5250-5450 kHz, and Croatia in 2010 issued special 1 year licenses to operate
on 5260-5410 kHz. Cuba in 2014 okayed access to a 15 kHz 60 meter band for
domestic communication, 5418-5430 kHz.
In 2012, Denmark granted 5250-5450 kHz to Amateur Radio with up to 1 kW ERP
permitted. Greenland is reported to have access to 5250-5450 kHz, an upgrade
from an original set of seven channels. Grenada also permits 60 meter operation
on 5250-5450 kHz at up to 1 kW PEP, depending upon license class. Hungarian
national Amateur Radio society MRASZ has been issuing temporary permits for
operation at 5350-5450 kHz. Iceland in 2010 gave radio amateurs in 2010 access
to a 150 kHz band, 5260-5410 kHz band, replacing eight channels. Norway in 2009
approved 5260-5410 kHz for Amateur Radio use, replacing eight channels.
Contrary to some reports, radio amateurs in Luxembourg have no access to 60
meters at present.
Oman allows temporary permits to operate in the 5319-5349 kHz segment. In
Samoa, Atsuo Sakuma, 5W1SA, was granted special permission to operate 5250-5450
kHz. Slovakia granted radio amateurs temporary access to 5258.5-5410 kHz for
experimental purposes in 2011. Somalia permits operation at 5060-5450 kHz,
reportedly at up to 3 kW. Trinidad & Tobago allows 5250-5450 kHz at a maxim
power of 1.5 kW PEP.
All allocations are on a secondary, non-interference basis. Some DXpeditions
have experimented with 60 meter operation.
[1] http://www.ancom.org.ro/en
[2] http://www.hamradio.ro/
[3] http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-s/oth/02/02/S02020000244501PDFE.PDF
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