Australian hams get new LF band

Holders of the top grade Advanced Licence in Australia can now apply for access to the new low frequency amateur band of 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) had included the allocation on a secondary basis to the Amateur Service in the Australia Radio Frequency Spectrum Plan that came into force on 1 January 2009.

The ACMA has told the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) this month that due to a heavy workload it is unable amend the Amateur Licence Condition Determination (Regulations) that would automatically add the LF band to the Advanced Licence.

However the ACMA will vary the licences of individual radio amateurs for a fee of $41 to make an LF band endorsement giving them access to 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.

The permitted maximum radiated power is one watt effective isotropic radiated power and VK radio amateurs are not to cause harmful interference to radio navigation service stations that continue to operate in a number of countries.

The WIA has drawn up a draft band plan which is to be circulated for comment soon.

The wait for the LF band has been more than 20 years and follows pioneering work done by a few radio amateurs in Australia under special Scientific Licences.

The World Radio communications Conference in 2007 decided that there be a world-wide secondary allocation but left it to individual radio administrations around the world to decide on its introduction.