Tag Archives: Galileo

Mar 19 2023

Austria restricts 23cm band operation

Galileo LogoAustria has become the latest country to impose restrictions on Amateur Radio operation in the 23 cm band (1240-1300 MHz) to protect to protect ground-based receivers for the Galileo RNSS satellite constellation.

Austria’s national amateur radio society ÖVSV say:

Changes to the legal conditions in the AFU area from 03/13/2023:

Annex 2 of the Amateur Radio Ordinance is omitted and is now regulated in the Frequency Use Ordinance Annex 4.

This results in some changes in the frequency ranges and powers.

For the KW bands 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m, 1KW (High-Power) can now be approved for Class 1 FA after 1 year of trouble-free operation.

  • Thus, the power limitation of 7100-7200 kHz (previously only 200W) in the 40m band is eliminated and AFU has primary status.
  • 30m band still only max. 200W if power level B or C approved (no change)
  • 160m band from 1810-1850 kHz now max. 200W if power level B or C approved and AFU has primary status.
  • 160m band from 1850-2000 kHz only max. 100W (now instead of 1950 kHz up to 2000 kHz)

2023-03-13 Austrian Regulations

  • The 6m band has been extended from 52-54MHz. (Limited until 31.12.2030, for research WRAN)
    • from 50-52 MHz now max. 200W if power level B or C approved and AFU has primary status.
    • from 52-54MHz only max. 100W
  • On the 70cm band now also allowed as already on 2m high-power (up to 1KW), if power level B or C approved (but only EME and MS with Yagis from at least 15dBd gain)
  • The 23cm band was kept, but the performance was severely limited
    • only 10W allowed (previously max. 200W were allowed)
    • Repeaters with more than 16kHz bandwidth must cease operation by December 31, 2024.
  • On all higher FM bands (except 10 GHz, since only 40dbW EIRB) now also max. 200W (previously only 100W) allowed.
  • on 24GHz AFU has only secondary status

Please note the new conditions.

Kurt OE1KBC

Amateur Frequencies: https://ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2023_II_61/Anlagen_0004_CAC10589_910D_4FFE_9A8D_3839DC110654.pdfsig

ÖVSV post: https://www-oevsv-at.translate.goog/oevsv/aktuelles/Neue-Frequenznutzungs-Verordnung-in-Kraft/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=nui

Sep 11 2022

23cm Band and RNSS Coexistence September Update

RNSS Satellites Oribiting EarthAs the WRC-23 approaches so the studies regarding AI9.1b (23cm and RNSS) are working towards conclusions. However the IARU is not content that all the operational aspects of the amateur service usage of the 1240-1300 MHz band are being properly considered to develop an acceptable compromise for all concerned parties.

Having been deeply involved in the regulatory work described below it is the opinion of the IARU that for many national authorities the 23cm band WRC23 agenda item 9.1b topic has a very low priority. Many are taking a “generic” stance stating their support for studies without considering the detail of the work or how it is moving forward. Therefore the IARU requests that Member Societies urgently put this issue on the agenda with their national authorities to discuss the views laid out below.

The IARU view is that the potential for widespread or persistent interference to the radio-navigation satellite service (RNSS) from amateur service transmitters is over-stated. However, recognising the regulatory situation, the IARU and the amateur community are ready to accommodate any technical or operational measures deemed necessary on the amateur services so long as they are proportionate, reasonable and evidence based.

The IARU believes that a careful compromise needs to be found in the outcome of the work and the execution of WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b, that properly takes account of the low likelihood of interference events occurring whilst allowing both the amateur services and the RNSS to develop in the band.

The IARU stresses the opportunity that the higher frequency amateur service bands enable for technical skills development for researching and experiencing radio propagation effects. The 1240 – 1300 MHz band is important for the amateur radio service, being the lowest allocation for radio amateurs on which typical microwave propagation can be experienced. Access to these frequencies is facilitated by commercially available equipment and provides a ‘bridge’ building motivation to become involved in more specialized higher frequency microwave and millimeter wave operations providing the self-training which is at the heart of amateur radio.

Read the paper IARU Perspective on the AI9.1b Progress — September 2022
https://www.iaru.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Sept22-23cm-RNSS-Update-.pdf

Source IARU 23cm Band and RNSS Coexistence
https://www.iaru.org/spectrum/iaru-and-itu/wrc-23/agenda-item-9-1-topic-b/23cm-band-and-rnss-coexistence/

Jun 29 2022

IARU-R1 Spectrum Regulation and Liaison Committee Slides

IARU-R1 Spectrum Regulation and Liaison Committee Report - initial slideThe Chair of the IARU Region 1 Spectrum Regulation and Liaison Committee, Barry Lewis G4SJH, took part in a joint session with the IARU-R1 Political Relations Committee (PRC) during the member society International Meeting convened during the HamRadio2022 Friedrichshafen event.

The session highlighted the connections the SRLC maintains with Region 1 regulatory bodies and the work carried out since early 2021. This included engagement in the WRC23 preparatory activities in a number of regional bodies and the detailed study work both with ITU‑R and CEPT. The hot topics affecting amateur spectrum bands were summarised with particular attention being paid to the 23cm band topic on the agenda of WRC23.

The SRLC slide set can be found at
https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SRLC-slides.pdf

Further detailed information on the 23cm band topic can be found at
https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/23cm-Band-and-RNSS-_June2022.pdf

Source IARU Region 1 https://iaru-r1.org/

Jun 23 2022

Amateur/RNSS Coexistence – 23cm Band

After review and approval by the IARU Region 1 Executive Committee and the IARU Administrative Council a presentation on preliminary Amateur / RNSS Coexistence in the 23cm band has been released.

See the presentation at
https://www.iaru.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/23cm-Band-and-RNSS-June2022.pdf

Source IARU
https://www.iaru.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/23cm-Band-and-RNSS-June2022.pdf

Jun 15 2022

1240-1300 MHz: ITU-R WP5A Meeting Report

Galileo LogoIARU report on the recent meeting of ITU-R WP5A, the lead group responsible for developing the Conference Preparatory Meeting report about the WRC23 agenda item on the 23cm band.

The latest meeting of ITU-R WP5A concluded on June 2, 2022. The IARU was represented by Ole Garpstad (LA2RR – ITU Lead) and Barry Lewis (G4SJH – WRC23 AI9.1b Lead).

ITU-R WP5A is the study group at ITU which deals in part with topics related to the amateur and amateur satellite services. It is the lead group responsible for developing the Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM) report on agenda item 9.1(b).

This Agenda Item provides for a “Review of the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service allocations in the frequency band 1240‑1300 MHz to determine if additional measures are required to ensure protection of the radionavigation-satellite (space-to-Earth) service operating in the same band in accordance with Resolution 774 (WRC‑19);” The CPM Report will form the basis for consideration of this issue at WRC-23 next year.

At the conclusion of the recent WP5A meeting a draft recommendation was prepared which will provide guidelines to administrations to ensure the protection of the RNSS primary allocation from the secondary amateur and amateur satellite services.

The draft recommendation will be the most important element of the WP5A work going forward for the amateur and amateur satellite services in the 23cm band. The working document contains a number of proposals for severe limitations on amateur usage of the band including transmitter power constraints. Very low power levels are proposed for large portions of the band (100% in one case). Proposals also identify possible frequency band usage limitations for broadband applications (e.g. ATV), narrowband applications and amateur satellite services in 1260-1270 MHz.

A full report of the WP5A meeting can be found here.
https://www.iaru.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Report-from-WP5A_June-2022-FINAL.pdf

None of these proposals are adopted at this time and work will continue at the next meeting of WP5A to rationalise the variations proposed by national telecom-administrations.

The IARU will work to minimise the constraints on amateur radio activities and continue to seek amendments to the draft recommendations through the ITU process, but as a secondary user, radio amateurs should understand the need to protect the Radionavigation Satellite Service (RNSS) in many consumer and industry applications (like autonomous vehicles) that will lead to some restrictions on our use of the 23 cm band.

May 28 2022

23cm band and Sat-Nav Coexistence: ITU‑R WP4C Studies

Galileo LogoThe Chair of IARU Region 1 Spectrum Affairs, Barry Lewis G4SJH, reports on the work being done in defending the interests of the Amateur Services in the 1240-1300 MHz band.

On the IARU Region 1 site he writes:

During the period May 4-10, 2022, the IARU continued to engage in the preparatory work for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1b in ITU‑R Working Party 4C (WP4C).

Work continued to develop the coexistence studies between the amateur services in the 23cm band and the radio-navigation satellite services (RNSS) operating across the band. New studies were submitted by France, China and the Russian Federation.

The scale of the problem for the amateur services is becoming clear. For example, the studies predict that even a 10W 23cm band station could cause interference to RNSS receivers at up to 30km on the antenna main beam heading. Although the level of amateur activity and the density of users is quite low (compared to other more popular bands) the issue remains that from a regulatory perspective the amateur services are required to not cause harmful interference to RNSS services.

The figure shows a sample of one result from one study submitted into ITU‑R and further illustrates the scale of the problem. In this example a station using an 18dBi gain antenna is used for both narrow band and wideband (ATV) transmissions and a range of power levels. The protection criteria for the RNSS receivers differs for narrowband and wideband interfering signals. The figure shows the distances out from the amateur station where the RNSS protection criteria could be exceeded along the antenna main beam heading.

RNSS Protection Criteria

These results have been developed based the ITU‑R defined receiver protection level for the GALILEO RNSS. For the narrow band modes this is ‑134.5dBW and for the wideband modes is ‑140dBW/MHz. In addition, measurement campaigns have shown that an improvement in the compatibility potential can be seen if the amateur signals avoid the centre portion of the GALILEO receiver passband.

Of course the studies cannot take into account every possibility that might mitigate the problem (e.g clutter, terrain blocking etc.) but it is clear that the potential for interference is considerable.

The IARU is working hard to ensure that the amateur service can continue to develop in this band and allow all the amateur applications in use today to continue. However, given the heavy spectrum occupancy of the band by the various RNSS systems it is evident that proposals will come calling to restrict our ability to operate in certain parts of the band and at the power levels possible today. IARU is totally engaged in the discussion of these considerations and these will continue within ITU‑R (and other regional bodies).

The IARU summary report on the WP4C meeting can be found at
https://www.iaru.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/IARU-Report-from-WP4C_May-2022.docx

Link to the full draft study https://storage.iaru-r1.org/index.php/s/BtpxWjL7La7syr7

Source IARU Region 1 https://iaru-r1.org/