France to get 7100-7200 40m frequencies

[k4kyv]

Il est surtout indiqué dans le tableau des bandes l'attribution de la portion 7100 à 7200 avec titre primaire au service Amateur...A partir du 29 Mars 2009.

7100-7200 primary amateur, effective 29 March 09

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Same for Ireland recently. Now is the time to start working some Euro AM on 40 meters.

[WB2YGF]

Très Bien

[pe1mph]

Il est surtout indiqué dans le tableau des bandes l'attribution de la portion 7100 à 7200 avec titre primaire au service Amateur...A partir du 29 Mars 2009.

7100-7200 primary amateur, effective 29 March 09

Correct!
By my receiver is lying a piece of paper.
I want to note on which freq. during the morning is clean/free.
Still between 7100 - 7200 many European broadcaststations on air!

So I shall listen mornings to find possible AM freq. to use in Europe!

Greetings,

Henk
PE1MPH
The Netherlands

[k4kyv]

Hopefully, most of the broadcasters will move by the 29th, but I suspect many will drag their feet.  I doubt that UN forces are going to send in troops or tanks to force a few broadcast stations to QSY.

The world financial crisis will be a convenient excuse for the broadcasters to stay put, pointing to the costs involved in finding new frequencies and re-adjusting equipment and antennas (kind of like the burden US AM'ers claim it would be to QSY from 3880-3885 to frequencies below 3750).

At least, in Europe, you will be allowed to operate on 7125-7200, so that two-way phone contacts with the US will be possible without having to waste spectrum space by operating split frequency. But don't be surprised if this still means finding holes in the broadcast QRM.

Maybe we'll be able to find some common frequencies that are relatively QRM-free on both sides of the pond for transatlantic AM.  40m is optimum for transatlantic propagation during the prime evening hours in the US, which coincides with pre-dawn and early morning operation in Europe.  This is especially true after about 0530 GMT when most US slopbucketeers are about to go to bed, while early risers in Europe are already up, for making a few QSO's before leaving for work or having a leisurely breakfast.

A great pity that the US phone band expansion didn't extend down to 7075.

But in any case, we will have no transatlantic AM QSO's on 40m unless someone transmits on AM there.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

At least, in Europe, you will be allowed to operate on 7125-7200, so that two-way phone contacts with the US will be possible without having to waste spectrum space by operating split frequency. But don't be surprised if this still means finding holes in the broadcast QRM.

Already possible. Contacted dozens of European stations over the weekend. There seemed to be quite a few holes in the BC noise. We can hope it will only get better.

[k4kyv]

Some countries, UK and Italy for sure, and I believe Spain, have had 7100-7200 privileges for about a year now.  I have heard them strap between SWBC stations during the wee hours, often calling CQDX with no N. American replies.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

After calling CQ over and over and getting no AM replies, I took at quick band scan between 7.125 and 7200 kHz. At 8 PM EDT (2400 Z) I got the following


Freq (kHz)     BC Station     Signal Strength

7125               Y              5/9+20
7130               Y             Very Weak
7135               N                 
7140               Y             Very Weak
7145               N
7150               N
7155               N
7160               N
7165               Y             Very Weak
7170               N
7175               N
7180               Y             Very Weak
7185               Y             Very Weak
7190               N
7195               Y             Very Weak
7200               Y              5/9+10


By very weak, I mean, I could only tell there was a carrier there with the BFO on. You could easily have an AM QSO on these frequencies.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

It'll be great to have more stations across the pond to work and hopefully some additional AM activity from that side of the globe as well.

Nice chart, Steve. That's basically what I've witnessed in that end of the band too, including the absence of any AM activity and oftentimes - SSB also. I'm guessing most 40m activity takes place online now.

[Sam KS2AM]

After calling CQ over and over and getting no AM replies, I took at quick band scan between 7.125 and 7200 kHz. At 8 PM EDT (2400 Z) I got the following


Freq (kHz)     BC Station     Signal Strength

7125               Y              5/9+20
7130               Y             Very Weak
7135               N                 
7140               Y             Very Weak
7145               N
7150               N
7155               N
7160               N
7165               Y             Very Weak
7170               N
7175               N
7180               Y             Very Weak
7185               Y             Very Weak
7190               N
7195               Y             Very Weak
7200               Y              5/9+10


By very weak, I mean, I could only tell there was a carrier there with the BFO on. You could easily have an AM QSO on these frequencies.

I just got back from vacationing across the pond and I can tell you that those stations are very strong in Europe and they are there a good part of the day.  I did make several contacts back to the US in that frequency range but it was all on sideband because there was usually so little room to operate without getting swamped by the BC stations.  I made most of my contacts between 7.050 and 7.100 (sideband).

Hopefully all or most of the BC stations will all disappear from 7100-7200 as scheduled.



Sam / KS2AM

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Sorry to hear that. Damn BC stations!

So I guess you were working some USA bootleggers below 7100. The CONUS USA fone allocation ends at 7125. 

[Sam KS2AM]

Sorry to hear that. Damn BC stations!

So I guess you were working some USA bootleggers below 7100. The CONUS USA fone allocation ends at 7125. 

The contacts below 7100 were all legal.  On this trip: Europeans, Russians, Aruba, Australia, Antarctica (FT5YJ).

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Nice DX action! The propagation appears to be there. If we can find a clear spot, there is hope for intercontinental AM contacts.

[k4kyv]

Sorry to hear that. Damn BC stations!

So I guess you were working some USA bootleggers below 7100. The CONUS USA fone allocation ends at 7125. 

Well, Canadians can go all the way down to 7000 if they wish.  The phone band expansion should have at least given us down to 7075.  They got it right on 80m, but why not 40?

Damned subbands.

[pe1mph]

Nice DX action! The propagation appears to be there. If we can find a clear spot, there is hope for intercontinental AM contacts.

My list, I listen between 05.25 - 05.55 mornings Londen GMT time:
 
Freq (kHz)     BC Station     Signal Strength

7125               Y              S9 +20!!!, very strong
7130                           
7135               Y              S1, very weak           
7140               Y              S1, Very Weak S1
7145               
7150               Y              S9 +10, strong
7155               
7160               
7165               Y             S1, very weak
7170               Y             S9, strong
7175               Y             S2, weak, fair
7180               Y             S1, fair, many fading
7185             
7190               
7195               
7200               Y              S3, but some times off air?

Thats all.
I know some Russian stations are sometimes off air.....
And can be next day on air!

Good DX,

PE1MPH

[k4kyv]

My list, I listen between 05.25 - 05.55 mornings London GMT time:
 
Freq (kHz)     BC Station     Signal Strength

7130                           
7145               
7155               
7160               
7185             
7190               
7195               

Do you think any of the above frequencies would be free enough from sideband splatter from adjacent broadcasters to be usable for AM contact?  Usually, when I hear only one unoccupied 5 kHz channel between adjacent broadcasters on both sides, it is totally obliterated.

[flintstone mop]

Just out of curiousity, has anyone heard the beautiful music from 7125?? "Radio something or other"
Definitely need the big speaker hooked up for this one!!!!! The wavefrom is something to see on the 'Scope

fred

[pe1mph]

My list, I listen between 05.25 - 05.55 mornings London GMT time:
 
Freq (kHz)     BC Station     Signal Strength

7130                           
7145               
7155               
7160               
7185             
7190               
7195               

Do you think any of the above frequencies would be free enough from sideband splatter from adjacent broadcasters to be usable for AM contact?  Usually, when I hear only one unoccupied 5 kHz channel between adjacent broadcasters on both sides, it is totally obliterated.

Maybe 7160 and 7185-7195 I think.
But, Russian stations are comming & going.....
I mean not all freq. are at the same time free/clean!!!
The best way, to 'monitor' some time this (above) freq. to be sure....

Greetings,

Henk
PE1MPH
Dokkum
The Netherlands

[k4kyv]

7160 would be a good one if it would work; that is a longstanding US AM operating frequency.

I also hear a big blank spot in the region of 7185-95.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Don - K4KYV and I are on 7160 kHz right now. Have been there for about 15 minutes. Excellent conditions.

[k4kyv]

Band abruptly went long about 0030 GMT.  I could still hear the carrier and some modulation, but the signal was unreadable.  Dropped from full strap to barely perceptible in about 5 seconds, and signal strength never came back up.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

It went quick. Seemed to come back later as I was hearing midwest stations quite well.

[Vortex Joe - N3IBX]

I've tried calling CQ on 7190KC (AM, of course) but usually eun into a broadcaster either ight on or near that frequency. Perhaps after 3/29 we won't have this problem anyome in the 7100 to 7200KC segment.

It also seems that ssb DX is pretty hot around 7185-7200 in the early hours of the evening, and periods where no foreign broadcasters are heard. It would be great to establish some sort of AM "Garrison" on 7190KC!

Just my two cents worth..........

Joe Cro N3IBX

[pe1mph]

I've tried calling CQ on 7190KC (AM, of course) but usually eun into a broadcaster either ight on or near that frequency. Perhaps after 3/29 we won't have this problem anyome in the 7100 to 7200KC segment.

It also seems that ssb DX is pretty hot around 7185-7200 in the early hours of the evening, and periods where no foreign broadcasters are heard. It would be great to establish some sort of AM "Garrison" on 7190KC!

Just my two cents worth..........

Joe Cro N3IBX

Hello Joe!
Evenings after 22.00 GMT is only 7145 khz. free by me on 40 mtrs.
Mornings 7160, 7145 and 7180 to 7200 khz. free.

But next days I 'monitor' between 7125 - 7200 for possible AM qso freq.

Good DX,

PE1MPH
The Netherlands

[K3ZS]

I would start using 7190 day and night.   7290 is still going to get wiped out in the afternoon.