The Quest for Sixty Metres

1. The Quest for Sixty Metres Bryan Rawlings VE3QN National Capital Chapter Quarter Century Wireless Association 18 November 2014

2. 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

3. 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. “

4. Resolution 649 from WRC 12 … Excerpt …. “ … 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”

5. Resolution 649 from WRC 12, cont’d … • … 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… • to study spectrum requirements for a secondary allocation to the amateur service within the band 5 250-5 450 kHz; • 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 • to complete studies in time for WRC-15

6. Harmonic Relationships of AmateurHF Allocations … BandFrequency 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

7. 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

8. International Table of Allocations ….

9. 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) “

10. The International Telecommunications Union • 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

11. The Continuous WRC cycle • Originally, every ten years • But, now, every three or four years WRC 1993 WRC 1997 WRC 2000 WRC 2003 WRC 2007 WRC 2012 WRC 2015

12. The 2012 WRC: 165 Member States were there

13. … as was the International Amateur Radio Union 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.

14. 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)

15. Preparing for WRC-15 … 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.

16. Three Years of Preparations ... World Radiocommunication Conference WP-5A Preparatory Meetings CPM Meetings WP-5B Preparatory Meetings

17. The International Telecommunications Union http://www.itu.int

18. Rec How does it all work? Revisions to the Radio Regulations ITU Member States RA Final Acts CPMReport WRC CPM-2 WRCResolu- tion Director RRB RadiocommunicationBureau SC and Study Groups: SG-1: Spectrum managementSG-3: Radiowave propagationSG-4: Satellite servicesSG-5: Terrestrial servicesSG-6: Broadcasting serviceSG-7: Science services Next WRC Agenda RoP CPM-1 RRB: Radio Regulations Board SGs: Radiocommunication Study Groups SC: Special Committee (Regulat. & Procedural) RA: Radiocommunication Assembly WRC:World Radiocommunication Conference Adopted by ITUCouncil CPM: Conference Preparatory Meeting Rec: ITU-R Recommendation RoP: Rules of Procedure RR: Radio Regulations (treaty status)

19. 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

20. 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?

21. 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 … WRC-12 authorized nine frequency ranges in 4.5 to 45 MHz for Oceanographic Radar. One of these is in 5250 to 5275 kHz. Amateur Radio would rather not share spectrum with Oceanographic Radars

22. “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

23. A Hypothetical Interference Scenario … A Sharing Study for 60 Metres • 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

24. A Sixty-Metre Sharing Study …

25. Primary-User SNR at Makkovik from Pangnirtung … Green: SNR=> minimum criterion Red: SNR< minimum criterion

26. Amateur SNR at Makkovik from Moosonee … Green: SNR=> minimum criterion Red: SNR< minimum criterion

27. 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

28. Signal plus Interference Pangnirtung Moosonee Primary-link antenna at Makkovik

29. Amateur Signal Received on Primary User’s Antenna at Makkovik … “na” means Amateur not transmitting

30. Signal-to-Interference Ratio: Primary User at Makkovik * Primary User should use frequencies which are optimal for the conditions. These are highlighted in yellow.

31. Sharing ? • Usable time slots without interference 87 • Time slots impacted by interference 7 • Usable time slots including interference 80 Will this be acceptable ? • 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

32. 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.

33. 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

34. Some Who are not in favour … • The Russian Federation, • NATO, • The U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA), • etc,

35. 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”

36. RAC at Work at the ITU …

37. Canada at Work at the ITU …

38. CANADA: A Model of Co-Operation 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

39. The Road Ahead … • The 2nd Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM2) • 23 March to 2 April 2015 • A final WP-5A Preparatory Meeting • 6 to 16 July 2015 • World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 • 2 to 27 November 2015

40. Amateur Radio at the ITU …

41. 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.

42. Thank you !