Croatia (9A) becomes the latest country to grant access to the new 40 MHz band
We now have welcome news that Croatia has joined the small number of countries that has allowed operation on the new 40 MHz (8-metre) amateur band.

Dragan, 9A6W reports that the national telecom authorities in Croatia have given him a one-year experimental licence to operate from 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz in a slice of spectrum referred to as the Industrial, Scientific & Medical (ISM) band.

Croatia is now the fifth country in which it is possible to operate legally on 40 MHz. Ireland, Slovenia & South Africa already have allocations on the band while Lithuania is willing to allocate spot frequencies for experimental purposes.

It is hoped that other Croatian stations will follow Dragan's example and apply for permission to operate on this new amateur band.

More info... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/12/new- ... z-dec.html

South African 40 MHz beacon heard in Greece
John Desmond EI7GL reports the South African amateur radio beacon ZS6WAB on 40.675 MHz has been received in Greece

Like some other countries 40 MHz is an amateur radio band in South Africa.

"In a report by email, Leonidas SV2DCD informs me that he first heard the beacon on the 19th of April 2021 at 14:00 UTC and it peaked around 15:40 UTC. Leonidas was using an 8-element Yagi for 50 MHz to listen to the beacon on 8m [40 MHz]."

Read the report and see the video on John's blog at
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/04/sout ... 40675.html

New 40 MHz propagation beacon now operational from the West of Ireland
A new 8-metre propagation beacon with the callsign EI1CAH is now operational from the west of Ireland and it transmits on a frequency of 40.016 MHz. The new beacon will transmit in both CW and PI4 modes with a output power of 25-watts into a horizontal dipole.

This new 40 MHz beacon is designed to explore the possibility of VHF paths across the Atlantic as it is situated roughly halfway between the 10m and 6m bands. It is hoped that the beacon will prove to be a very useful propagation indicator for any serious 50 MHz stations in North America looking for any impending openings to Europe.

It is expected that the beacon has the potential be heard in North America, the Caribbean and South America during the Sporadic-E season going from May to July every year and also around the time of the peak of the upcoming sunspot cycle when the MUF goes well above 30 MHz.

For more information on the new beacon, go to
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/05/new- ... -west.html

New US experimental station WL2XUP now operational on the 40 MHz band
In June of 2021, the FCC in the USA issued the experimental call sign WL2XUP to conduct tests on the 40 MHz band. The owner of the call, Lin Holcomb (NI4Y) reports that the station is now on air.

The license allows for operation between 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz with a maximum output of 400-watts ERP. The license was issued on the 17th of June 2021 and it lasts until the 1st of July 2023.

As of mid July 2021, WL2XUP is intermittently transmitting WSPR on 40.662 MHz (1500Hz). For FT8 skeds and tests, an ERP of 100-watts can be used.

More info... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/07/new- ... p-now.html

40 MHz experimental station now active in USA
ARRL reports Experimental Station WL2XUP is transmitting WSPR on 40.662 MHz in the 8-meter band

The ARRL say WL2XUP is an FCC Part 5 Experimental station operated by Lin Holcomb, NI4Y, in Georgia. It’s licensed to operate with up to 400 W effective radiated power (ERP) between 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz.

A 2019 Petition for Rulemaking (RM-11843) asked the FCC to create a new 8-meter amateur radio allocation on a secondary basis. The Petition suggests the new band could be centered on an industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) segment somewhere between 40.51 and 40.70 MHz. The spectrum between 40 and 41 MHz is currently allocated to the federal government and, as such, within the purview of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

ARRL member Michelle Bradley, KU3N, of Maryland, filed the petition on behalf of REC Networks, which she founded and described in the Petition as “a leading advocate for a citizen’s access to spectrum,” including amateur radio spectrum.

40 MHz Petition for Rulemaking RM-11843
https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/1052600909 ... %20PRM.pdf

Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/8-meter-experi ... rom-the-us

Clansman 351 does 30-79.99 Mhz, still plenty knocking about

Denmark's 40 MHz beacon is back on the air
At the end of August 2021, the OZ7IGY 8m beacon on 40.071 MHz was turned off because of a faulty trimmer in the power amplifier stage

At the end of October 2021, after replacing the faulty part it was turned back on.

OZ7IGY Beacons
http://www.oz7igy.dk/

Read the full report by EI7GL
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/11/dani ... ck-on.html

Some UK radio amateurs now licensed for 40 MHz
John EI7GL reports Ofcom is now issuing some UK radio amateurs with temporary Innovation and Research licences to transmit in the 40 MHz band

On his blog John writes:

Roger, G3XBM in the east of England can operate from the 2nd of April for 1-year with 5-watts. Roger writes... "After a very long wait OFCOM has approved my 8m TX permit that runs from April 2nd for a year.

It permits me to use 40-42MHz with digital modes (including CW) at 5W ERP max. I expect to erect a wire dipole which is directed towards Europe.

I expect to be mostly on FT8 around 40.676MHz with precise frequency done in liaison with others. What I hope is all 8m FT8 stations can be monitored with one USB dial setting, but spaced out. 5W should certainly cover Europe with Es. I shall try some local CW crossband QSOs, but hope to be on FT8 24/7."

It is understood G0JJL, G0JHC and G7PUV either have or are applying for licences.

Read the full blog post at
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2022/03/seve ... btain.html

Getting a UK licence for the 40 MHz band
Several UK radio amateurs have now got their licences for operation in the 40-42 MHz band, the licence application form is available on the Ofcom website

It is called an Innovation and trial licence and UK amateurs have been applying to use 5 watts ERP for digital modes in 40-42 MHz.

The Ofcom Innovation and trial licensing page is at
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-li ... l-licences

The licence costs £50 and the application form OfW225 is available as a PDF at the bottom of the page.

See the EI7GL blog post at
https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2022/03/seve ... btain.html

Roger G3XBM is posting information about 40-42 MHz (8m) on his blog, see
https://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/




Several radio amateurs in the UK obtain special 40 MHz permits
Roger, G3XBM in the east of England can operate from the 2nd of April for 1-year with 5-watts. Roger writes... "After a very long wait OFCOM has approved my 8m TX permit that runs from April 2nd for a year.

It permits me to use 40-42MHz with digital modes (including CW) at 5W ERP max. I expect to erect a wire dipole which is directed towards Europe.

I expect to be mostly on FT8 around 40.676MHz with precise frequency done in liaison with others. What I hope is all 8m FT8 stations can be monitored with one USB dial setting, but spaced out. 5W should certainly cover Europe with Es. I shall try some local CW crossband QSOs, but hope to be on FT8 24/7."

***

John, G0JJL in the north-west of England can operate from the 1st of May 2022. John writes... "I am one of the UK Amateurs that have recently obtained a temporary 12 month licence to transmit on 40MHz.

These licences are not Amateur Radio special permits, they are Innovation and Research licences which have nothing to do with Amateur Radio at all. In fact, anyone in the UK can apply for this type of licence whether they are a licensed Amateur or not.

The UK regulator, Ofcom, do not issue callsigns with Innovation and Research licences, it is up to the licence holder if they wish to use one and the licence holder can use any callsign of their choice. Some UK Amateurs who obtain an Innovation and Research licence might decide to use their Amateur Radio callsigns on 40MHz and this is perfectly legal so far as Ofcom are concerned. However, using their Amateur Radio callsign on 40MHz does not mean their station is then an Amateur Radio station operating on 40MHz, it is not, it remains an Innovation and Research licence station only and this as been confirmed by Ofcom.

My Innovation and Research licence was granted to allow research of propagation in the 8m band and my licence permits use of 40.680MHz and 40.690MHz using narrow band digital modes and CW from 1st May 2022 from two locations. The callsign to be used is GR9A."

***

Neil, G0JHC in the north-west of England has also applied for a permit and will be using the callsign GR9B. Neil is located in the same area as G0JJL.

* * *

Paul, G7PUV in the south-east of England is currently applying for a permit. Others are likely to follow.

Analysis... This is indeed welcome news as it allows more signals on the band which is great for experimentation. There's only so many times you can report a beacon on 40 MHz.

At the end of April, the Sporadic-E season will have started and it should be quite easy for the UK stations to be heard in countries with permits like Slovenia (S5) and Croatia (9A) which are around the 1200km mark.

By late May and all of June, there should be plenty of short skip Sporadic-E with distances in the region of 500-1000kms possible.

There are plenty of opportunities for radio amateurs in the UK to participate in these experiments by listening for the permit holders and working them cross band from 40 MHz to either 28 MHz or 50 MHz.

40 MHz is an excellent band for meteor scatter tests. Tropo contacts up to 200kms may be possible and aircraft scatter propagation can also be explored.

Trans-Atlantic contacts to the permit holders in the USA should be possible in May and June by multi-hop Sporadic-E. There is also the possibility of very long paths to South Africa.
Maybe in time, radio amateurs in the UK will get an allocation at 40 MHz but for now, this is a 'foot in the door'. The results of these Innovation & Research permits can be used to show a real need for a formal amateur radio allocation for this band.

https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2022/03/seve ... btain.html?

RSGB statement concerning 40MHz in the UK
There have been recently a number of reports of individual holders of UK Amateur licenses gaining Innovation and Trial licences from Ofcom to conduct experimental transmissions on 40MHz (8m)

Ofcom has made it very clear for several years that there was no likelihood of UK radio amateurs gaining any access to 40MHz which included NoV (Notice of Variation) to a UK amateur licence or an amateur SRP (Special Research Permit). The RSGB has consulted Ofcom as to the exact status of these Innovation and Trial licences. Ofcom’s reply was as follows:

“We have been approached by a couple of individuals wanting to conduct experiments in the band. Like all other research and innovation requests Ofcom receives we have put these through our Innovation and Trial licensing regime. If the coordination checks are passed, they are being issued with an Innovation and Trial licence. These are issued for up to 12 months on a non-interference, no protection and non-operational basis. These are not Amateur Radio Special Research Permits and licensees do not fall under the Amateur Radio licence terms and conditions. Therefore, applicants are not required to have passed an amateur exam or hold a callsign. Although we are allowing this experimentation, we would like to make it clear that we have no proposals to allow wider amateur radio access to the 40 MHz band.

Clause 9(6) of the UK amateur terms states “The Licensee may receive Messages from an overseas amateur or from an Amateur duly authorised by Ofcom on a frequency band not specified in Schedule 1 but the Licensee may only transmit on a band specified in Schedule 1 which is authorised under Clause 9(2).”

Users of 40 MHz under an Innovation and Trial (I&T) licence are not authorised under the Amateur Radio licensing regime and there is no requirement to have passed an amateur radio exam to obtain such a licence. Clause 9(6) of the Amateur licence is designed to cover additional frequencies, such as 70 MHz and 146 MHz, which are not contained in Schedule 1 of the Amateur Radio licence but Ofcom has authorised via a Notice of Variation (NoV). We would like to make clear that we have not duly authorised any amateur to use a frequency band not specified in Schedule 1 through this process. Reception of transmissions authorised under an I&T Licence should therefore be treated the same as those authorised under other licences that Ofcom issues such as business radio or maritime.

We would also like to make clear that I&T licences do not permit operational or commercial use. These licences are designed to support individuals and companies in carrying out research, development, testing and demonstrations of equipment. Therefore, the use of the 40 MHz band under this licence should be for these purposes only. The licences are granted on the basis that the user will be carrying out such research and not operating on the band in a similar way to the frequencies listed in Schedule 1 of the licence.”

Ofcom’s view is very clear. Any operation on 40MHz in the UK is not Amateur radio and therefore cross-band contacts to such stations by UK radio Amateurs operating on the bands licenced for amateur radio are not permitted.

40 MHz - Belgium regulator considering new band
Belgium's UBA says the communications regulator BIPT is investigating the possibility of an amateur radio band at 40 MHz

A translation of the UBA post reads:

Several radio amateurs report that transmission are observed at 40.680 MHz from Belgian stations using FT8.

BIPT states that broadcasts on 40 MHz are currently not permitted in Belgium. For the avoidance of doubt, the license exemptions granted in this frequency range for small models and non-specific short-range equipment should not be misused for amateur radio transmissions.

BIPT is currently investigating the possibility of releasing a small frequency segment for radio amateurs around 40 MHz.

Unauthorized activities of radio amateurs at 40 MHz are likely to adversely affect this research.

Source UBA https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Belgium

First 40 MHz SSB contact between UK and South Africa
Paul G7PUV has tweeted a video of his 40 MHz SSB contact with Willem ZS6WAB in Polokwane, South Africa

On Saturday, September 17, 2022, Paul tweeted this about his Trans Equatorial Propagation contact:

In contact with Willem ZS6WAB earlier this afternoon via TEP on 40MHz and the first ZS-G contact using SSB. #8M #hamradio

Attached was a video of the contact that you can watch at
https://twitter.com/AceBlaggard/status/ ... 9846164482

Paul is one of a number of UK radio amateurs who have applied to Ofcom for a licence to use the 40 MHz band.

In South Africa the 40 MHz (8m) band is included as standard amateur radio licence. Radio amateurs have a Primary allocation of 40.675 -40.685 MHz and can run up to 400 watts output.

The Ofcom Innovation and trial licensing page is at
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-li ... l-licences

8m (40 MHz) email list on Groups IO
https://groups.io/g/8m/topics