8-meter band

The 8-meter band (40 MHz) is the lowest portion of the very high frequency (VHF) radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. The term refers to the average signal wavelength of 8 meters.

The 8-meter band shares many characteristics with the neighboring 6-meter band. However, as it is somewhat lower in frequency it does display the better propagation mechanisms via the F2 ionospheric layer normally seen at high frequency (HF) which occasionally appear in 6 meters. However, Sporadic E propagation, whereby radio signals bounce off ionized clouds in the lower E region of the ionosphere, is common on the band in summer.

History

The 8-meter band was made available 1925-1928 to amateur experimenters in the UK[1]and Free Irish State,[2] also a much wider 8-10 meter band has been allocated to Australia [3]and Germany.[4] 1927 a series of tests with two portable stations, was carried out during July - September, under the auspices of the Q.R.P. Transmitters Society, operated by 6TA, Mr. G. D. Abbott and 6LL, Mr. J. W. Mathews.[5][6]

After World War II, for several years (1955-1959), the 8-meter band (38 to 40 MHz) was allocated for ex-USSR amateurs.1957 - by using a special license Michał Kasia SP5AM conducted experiments in the 38-40 MHz band. Contacts with radio amateurs from far Siberia broke a new distance record on this band.[7]

For the International Geophysical Year on October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched the first earth's artificial satellite Sputnik 1 and set up to broadcast a beep on 20 and 40 MHz frequencies, its signal was received by scientists and ham radio operators worldwide. A special permission of 38-40 MHz was issued to Club station SP5PRG in Poland.[8] Yellowknife beacon at 38.07 MHz.[9]

In 1988 Department of Communications of Australia granted VK6RO an experimental license for one year to transmit on 2 spot frequencies of 35.81 MHz and 41.75 MHz to carry out propagation test on paths with a view to ascertain the MUF between 30 and 50 Mhz.[10] In March 1993 The European Radiocommunications Office (now ECC) of the CEPT launched Phase II of a Detailed Spectrum Investigation (DSI) covering the frequency range 29.7–960 MHz. The results were presented in March 1995. Regarding the Amateur Radio Service the DSI Management Team recommended (among other things) that frequencies in the vicinity of 40.68 MHz be considered for amateur propagation beacons. A secondary allocation to the amateur service is also appropriate.[11]

At the same time NTIA publishes U.S. National Spectrum Requirements: Projections and Trends. Future spectrum requirements for the amateur and the amateur-satellite services were contained in responses to the Notice provided by ARRL and AMSAT including narrow spectrum allocations (e.g.. five, 50 KHz slots) in the range of 30 and 50 MHz. As noted, the request for additional narrow spectrum allocations for propagation experimentation needs to be studied for technical compatibility.[12]

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in Region-1 is currently encouraging member societies to try to obtain propagation beacon permissions at 40 MHz and 60 MHz. However any action on a CEPT or ITU allocation is considered premature and explicitly ruled out at this stage.

Allocations
  • June 1998: Slovenia (S5) allocates 40 kHz of spectrum to beacons from 40.66–40.7 MHz.
  • February 2005: South Africa (ZS) allocates 10 kHz of spectrum from 40.675 MHz and 40.685 MHz.[13][14]
  • July 2013: Slovenia (S5) allocates 40.66–40.7 MHz to the amateur service.[15]
  • April 2018: Ireland (EI) allocated much of the low VHF spectrum to Irish radio amateurs including 40 MHz.

Beacons
  • 27.07.2007 OZ7IGY Denmark beacon JO55wm at 40.071 MHz, 35W, PI4 mode.
  • 13.08.2007 GB3RAL UK beacon IO91IN at 40.050 MHz.[16]Inactive from 2017.
  • April 2020 ZS6WAB S. Africa beacon KG46rc at 40.675 MHz, 30W, CW mode, 5 el. Yagi on EU.
  • Planned 2020 EI1KNH Ireland beacon IO63ve at 40.013 MHz 35 W, CW/PI4 mode, vertical dipole.

Activity
  • 1927-07-17: Hertfordshire G6TA/p - G6LL/p CW 8 km. (in August mobile operation-16 km) [17]
  • 1958-12-04: F2 SP5PRG Warsaw - RA0LAM Vladivostok Phone 7,518 km[18]
  • 1959-01-25: F2 RB5KOL Zaparozhye - RA0DZL Matvejevka Phone 6,760 km[19]
  • 2015-08-16: Tropo ZS6BTE - ZS6WAB FSK441 283.7 km
  • 2015-09-06: Meteor Scatter ZS2ACP - ZS6WAB FSK44l 1,176.3 km[20]

References
  1. New Short Wave Oscillator p. 361. Wireless World, March 10th, 1926
  2. IARU NEWS p. 52. QST, September, 1926
  3. Callsign History
  4. German Amateur Transmitters p. 262. Wireless World, August 25th, 1926
  5. Tests on 8 metres p. 79. Wireless World, July 20, 1927
  6. Transmitting on 8 meters p. 142. Wireless World, August 3, 1927
  7. Na pasmah p. 26 Radioamator Nr 6 1957
  8. Prikony v EU na VKV v roce 1960
  9. Worldwide 50 Mc. DX Prospects p. 69 QST, August, 1957
  10. The 50 MHz band p. 71 Practical Wireless Nr 11 1988
  11. Results of DSI Phase II, 1995 p.114
  12. US National Spectrum Requirements: Projections and Trends, 1995 p. 163-169
  13. SABRE
  14. Radio regulations
  15. Splošni akt 2013
  16. GB3RAL Multi-band Beacon
  17. Working on 8 Metres p. 138. Wireless World, February 8th, 1928
  18. Hronika, p. 31 Radio N r3, 1958
  19. 14 novyh rekordov! p. 16. Radio Nr 5, 1959
  20. SARL VHF / UHF / SHF / EHF Records
International amateur radio frequency allocations
Range Band ITU Region 1 ITU Region 2 ITU Region 3
LF 2200 m 135.7–137.8 kHz
MF 630 m 472–479 kHz
160 m 1.810–1.850 MHz 1.800–2.000 MHz
HF 80 / 75 m 3.500–3.800 MHz 3.500–4.000 MHz 3.500–3.900 MHz
60 m 5.3515–5.3665 MHz
40 m 7.000–7.200 MHz 7.000–7.300 MHz 7.000–7.200 MHz
30 m[w] 10.100–10.150 MHz
20 m 14.000–14.350 MHz
17 m[w] 18.068–18.168 MHz
15 m 21.000–21.450 MHz
12 m[w] 24.890–24.990 MHz
10 m 28.000–29.700 MHz
VHF 6 m 50.000–52.000 MHz
(50.000–54.000 MHz)[y]		 50.000–54.000 MHz
4 m[x] 70.000–70.500 MHz N/A
2 m 144.000–146.000 MHz 144.000–148.000 MHz
1.25 m N/A 220.000–225.000 MHz N/A
UHF 70 cm 430.000–440.000 MHz 430.000–440.000 MHz
(420.000–450.000 MHz)[y]
33 cm N/A 902.000–928.000 MHz N/A
23 cm 1.240–1.300 GHz
13 cm 2.300–2.450 GHz
SHF 9 cm 3.400–3.475 GHz[y] 3.300–3.500 GHz
5 cm 5.650–5.850 GHz 5.650–5.925 GHz 5.650–5.850 GHz
3 cm 10.000–10.500 GHz
1.2 cm 24.000–24.250 GHz
EHF 6 mm 47.000–47.200 GHz
4 mm[y] 75.500 GHz[x] – 81.500 GHz 76.000–81.500 GHz
2.5 mm 122.250–123.000 GHz
2 mm 134.000–141.000 GHz
1 mm 241.000–250.000 GHz
THF Sub-mm Some administrations have authorized spectrum for amateur use in this region;
others have declined to regulate frequencies above 300 GHz, leaving them available by default.

[w] HF allocation created at the 1979 World Administrative Radio Conference. These are commonly called the "WARC bands".
[x] This is not mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations, but individual administrations may make allocations under "Article 4.4". ITU Radio Regulations.. See the appropriate Wiki page for further information.
[y] This includes a currently active footnote allocation mentioned in the ITU's Table of Frequency Allocations. These allocations may only apply to a group of countries.

See also: Radio spectrum, Electromagnetic spectrum
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