The Quest for Sixty Metres

Bryan Rawlings VE3QNNational Capital ChapterQuarter Century Wireless Association18 November 2014

Why 60 Metres?

5 MHz is almost always “open”

Important for dependable public protection and disaster relief communication

Ideal for nearby and medium-range skip communication

Often a large difference between 80m and 40m propagation

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Public Protection and Disaster Relief

1978 CCIR Special Preparatory Meeting …

“ Based on the recommendation of the 1978 CCIR Special Preparatory Meeting, WARC-79 accepted the principle that, like other high-frequency radio services, the amateur service should have access to a family of frequency bands such that communications can be maintained as propagation conditions change. “

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Resolution 649 from WRC 12 …

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“ … that, in the current allocations to the amateur service in the HF bands, there is a significant jump, which causes many problems in terms of communication when the MUF falls below 7 MHz and the lowest usable frequency (LUF) is above 4 MHz, with the result that amateur stations would need to be able to access spectrum at around 5 MHz in order to fulfil their communication functions, particularly when they are engaged in providing emergency communications in response to disaster situations”

Excerpt ….

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… resolves to invite WRC-15 …

to consider, … the possibility of making an allocation of an appropriate amount of spectrum, not necessarily contiguous, to the amateur service on a secondary basis within the band 5 250-5 450 kHz and invites ITU-R…

1. to study spectrum requirements for a secondary allocation to the amateur service within the band 5 250-5 450 kHz;

2. to carry out sharing studies on the impact to other services currently allocated in the band referred to (above) and in the adjacent bands, and

3. to complete studies in time for WRC-15

Resolution 649 from WRC 12, cont’d …

Harmonic Relationships of AmateurHF Allocations …

Band Frequency

80 metres 3.5 MHz

40 metres 7.0 MHz 2.0

30 metres 10.1 MHz 1.4

20 metres 14.0 MHz 1.4

17 metres 18.1 MHz 1.3

15 metres 21.0 MHz 1.2

12 metres 24.9 MHz 1.2

10 metres 28.0 MHz 1.1

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But, don’t we already have 60 metres?

Yes, but all current 60-metre allocations are domestic

Enormous contrast to the scope of these allocations …

Somalia 5060 to 5450 kHz with 3 kW Norway: 5260 to 5410 kHz with 100 W U.S. and Canada 5 “spot” frequencies Greece one channel; one club station

No allocation in the International Table of Frequency allocations

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International Table of Allocations ….

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Seeking an International Allocation

Agenda Item 1.4 for the 2015 WRC …

“ … to consider possible new allocation to the amateur service on a secondary basis within the band 5 250-5 450 kHz in accordance with Resolution 649 (WRC‑12) “

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A United Nations agency Headquartered in Geneva The Radiocommunication Branch

(ITU-R) administers the International Frequency Allocations and the Radio Regulations.

All UN member states are members Canada represented through

Industry Canada Also organizations, e.g., IARU

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The International Telecommunications Union

The Continuous WRC cycle• Originally, every ten years

• But, now, every three or four years

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WRC 1993WRC 1997

WRC 2000

WRC 2003

WRC 2007

WRC 2012 WRC 2015

The 2012 WRC: 165 Member States were there12

… as was the International Amateur Radio Union

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The IARU participates in the preparatory meetings and Conferences at the ITU as do several hundred other organizations; however, they do not have a vote in the final deliberations.

Amateur radio at the ITU ? The Amateur Radio Service and the

Amateur Radio Satellite Service continue to be recognized in the International Radio Regulations and in the ITU’s deliberations.

Indeed, radio amateurs are highly respected both on national delegations and as delegates of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU)

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Preparing for WRC-15 …

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Amateur radio issues to be decided in WRC-15 – especially the 5 MHz secondary allocation - are being reviewed in Working Party 5A which meets twice a year at the ITU in Geneva. Between meetings the amateur issues are being prepared in Industry Canada. RAC participates in both.

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Three Years of Preparations ...

WP-5A Preparatory Meetings

WP-5B Preparatory Meetings

CPM Meetings

World Radiocommunication Conference

The International Telecommunications Union

http://www.itu.int

How does it all work?

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CPM: Conference Preparatory MeetingRec: ITU-R RecommendationRoP: Rules of ProcedureRR: Radio Regulations (treaty status)

WRC

SC and Study Groups:SG-1: Spectrum managementSG-3: Radiowave propagationSG-4: Satellite servicesSG-5: Terrestrial servicesSG-6: Broadcasting serviceSG-7: Science services

CPM-2

RRB: Radio Regulations BoardSGs: Radiocommunication Study GroupsSC: Special Committee (Regulat. & Procedural)RA: Radiocommunication Assembly WRC:World Radiocommunication Conference

RoP

RadiocommunicationBureau

RadiocommunicationBureau

Director RRB

FinalActs

Revisions to the Radio Regulations

Next WRC

Agenda

WRCResolu-tion

CPM-1

RA

Adopted by ITUCouncil

ITU Member States

CPMReport

Rec

Preparing an Agenda Item for a WRC …

Typical Supporting Documentation …

A “Conference Preparatory Document” for the guidance of the delegates to the Conference

A document detailing the characteristics of the signals the new user expects to transmit

A “sharing” or “compatibility” analysis showing the likely impact of the secondary user on the primary users

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A Primer on Agenda Item 1.4 …

“somewhere in 5250 to 5450 kHz”

What about Oceanographic Radars in 5250 to 5275 kHz?

What about adjacent aeronautical mobile at 5450 to 5480 kHz ?

How much spectrum – if any – can we realistically expect?

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WRC-12 authorized nine frequency ranges in 4.5 to 45 MHz for Oceanographic Radar. One of these is in 5250 to 5275 kHz.

Oceanographic radars for measuring ocean currents use small, (2 to 10 m) vertical antennas to transmit and receive low-power HF radar signals.

HF Oceanographic Radar …

Amateur Radio would rather not share spectrum with Oceanographic Radars

“Methods” for Agenda Item 1.4 …

“Methods” are the alternatives proposed to delegates who vote on WRC Agenda Items

Currently, AI 1.4 proposes …• “one or more segments of spectrum – not

necessarily contiguous – in 5275 to 5250 kHz”• Four variations on this theme and one “No Change”

method

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A Hypothetical Interference Scenario …

Primary user link from Pangnirtung NU to Makkovik NL (1546 km) using log periodic antennas and 5 kW

Amateur link from Moosonee ON to Makkovik NL (1436 km) using ½ wave dipoles and 100 watts

Assumed frequency: 5300 kHz

Assumed Smoothed Sunspot Number: 10

Results are mean values at 50% probability

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A Sharing Study for 60 Metres

A Sixty-Metre Sharing Study …

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Primary-User SNR at Makkovik from Pangnirtung …

Green: SNR=> minimum criterionRed: SNR< minimum criterion

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Amateur SNR at Makkovik from Moosonee …

Green: SNR=> minimum criterionRed: SNR< minimum criterion

Interference ?

Assume amateur operating on same frequency as primary user

Not supposed to happen !

Assume amateur only transmits when the path is usable

meets or exceeds his SNR threshold

Interference is as received on primary user’s antenna

in this case on a side lobe

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Signal plus Interference28

Pangnirtung

Moosonee

Primary-link antenna at Makkovik

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Amateur Signal Received on Primary User’s Antenna at Makkovik …

“na” means Amateur not transmitting

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Signal-to-Interference Ratio: Primary User at Makkovik

* Primary User should use frequencies which are optimal for the conditions. These are highlighted in yellow.

Sharing ?Usable time slots without interference 87

Time slots impacted by interference 7

Usable time slots including interference 80

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Amateur should not be on an occupied frequency

Both the primary-user SNR and the amateur SNR are 50% probable

Therefore, the interference should be 25% probable

Will this be acceptable ?

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Hold Your Breath !

While Radio Amateurs have enjoyed considerable support in their quest for a sixty-metre allocation, there is considerable opposition and a positive outcome at the 2015 WRC is by no means certain.

Support for AI 1.4 …

Several Administrations – including Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and others - have expressed their support for AI 1.4

The members of CITEL, the telecom committee of the Organization of American States, have adopted a common “Inter-American Position” favourable to AI 1.4

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Some Who are not in favour …

The Russian Federation,

NATO,

The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA),

etc,

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In Our Favour …

There are many radio amateurs in the ITU National Delegations and they understand and are sympathetic to our needs

Radio Amateurs are well respected in the ITU for both their technical and diplomatic abilities

We have done our homework in preparation for the WRC

Consistently, we “punch above our weight”

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RAC at Work at the ITU …

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Canada at Work at the ITU …

CANADA: A Model of Co-Operation

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There are few, if any, better examples of co-operation between an ITU Member Administration and its Amateur Radio community than that between Industry Canada and Canadian radio amateurs.

QST Magazine May 2012

The Road Ahead …

The 2nd Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM2)23 March to 2 April 2015

A final WP-5A Preparatory Meeting6 to 16 July 2015

World Radiocommunication Conference 20152 to 27 November 2015

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Amateur Radio at the ITU …

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In Conclusion …

RAC’s participation in overseeing the interests of Canadian radio amateurs with Industry Canada and the ITU is made possible by the contributions to the Defense of Amateur Radio Fund.

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Thank you !