We Might be Getting a New Ham Radio Band and You Can Help!!!

[@richardallison8745]

The high seas marine bands are empty due to ships on the high seas are using satellite phones and GPS. 4, 6, 8, 12 MHz are commercial maritime bands and almost all the marine coastal stations have went off the air because they cannot compete with satellite. I wish someone would look into these bands because they are hardly if ever used anymore except for a very few third world countries. I would be happy to use these frequencies on a secondary basis.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Interesting information, not something we have here in the UK, I'm almost sure it is part of the military allocation. Still, if the US gets an allocation, it strengthens the case for UK hams.

[@AceBlaggard]

Err, actually we do have here in the UK courtesy of an Ofcom I + T licence de G7PUV/G9PUV.

[@johnlynch7834]

Hello. Any new bands would be good. It would be nice if we had 4 meters in the US

[@4X4-RADIO]

@@johnlynch7834 There are 2 experimental stations... WE9XFT in Virginia, transmitting CW on 70.005 MHz. The beacon continues to be operated under the Experimental radio service callsign WG2XPN and is active as of March 2021.

[@4X4-RADIO]

@@AceBlaggard What are you using for 8M/40MHz.? Transverter or Modified Radio

[@AceBlaggard]

@@4X4-RADIO It's a widebanded Icom 706GMK2, with the Icom supplied power supply filter it's very clean on 40MHz.

[@rq6884]

Nice video. Other than providing signal reports and obtaining our own experimental licenses are there other ways we can support this effort? BTW is that your Chevy II?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm not sure if there is another way to support...I'll have to look into that. No, not my Chevy. I saw that on the side of the road in NH and had to get a picture.

[@rq6884]

@@SevenFortyOne Thanks for the reply! I'll be watching to see how the band experiment progresses. I was thinking that the Chevy II might have been an upcoming project!

[@David-mo2zq]

Sounds interesting for sure! If we get it, I hope it doesn't wind up sounding like 80 and 40 meter bands.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

I hope we get it sounds great thankyou for the information

[@ki4clz]

Nice

[@DominicMazoch]

All of 6m is open to Techs!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yup, it is!

[@dennyoconnor8680]

Active for 60 years now. 8 meters would be nice to have a band. If it is for digi modes I have zero interest. Have fun.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Probably cw will be allowed too

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

We need a new band the SPECTRUM is getting crowded 👍💯⚡⚛

[@ingussilins6330]

Need try made regenerative receiver for new band :D

[@drsysop]

We should get the 4 meter band like most of UK & EU has & ditch the 1.25 meter band as its not used much & also get DAB radio as its on same band.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Maybe....

[@jonwalk998]

I would love to see this happen. Last week with my icom 7300 and ft8 mode on 40.680 I copied wm2xam en74, EI4GNB, S57A JN65, and S50b JN65, I was hearing them on my 7 element six meter beam with signals from EU up to -1 db. This was on Nov 7 +++ 15 330 -8 0.1 1322 ~ CQ S50B JN65 °Slovenia 153330 -3 -0.1 1516 ~ CQ S57A JN65 153830 -20 0.1 1881 ~ WM2XAN EI4GNB -07 •Ireland Tnx de WZ8D EM89

[@SevenFortyOne]

Excellent reports!

[@bobsemple1526]

FCC? Government? OK- call me a skeptic, but I'd be afraid of some Quid Pro Quo scheme lol.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I can't rule that out but I really don't think that's what is happening here 😃

[@dougtaylor7724]

Will Eight meters only be open on contest weekends like ten?

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yeah, good point...I hope not

[@edwardlemley5222]

10m was open all day today. Nov 18. Been open for the past couple months, daily. Not sure why everyone is saying 10m is dead. It most definitely isn’t.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I think Doug is saying people tend not to use 10 even when it is open

[@MichelleBradley]

That would be up to the ARRL and the IARU to assure that contest rules are written to exclude this spectrum from contest operation.

[@AvocaSingleTrack]

I rather see more people continue to get on 6 meters as opposed to spreading out less people across more bands. Not enough people using 6m and 2m . I'd rather see things that promote people getting back on 6 and 2 .

[@SevenFortyOne]

Hmmm...good point.

[@johnf8877]

Pacific NW, 2M is jammed full….

[@ironmatic1]

I don't understand why you say 2 because 2m is historically the *most* used amateur band. ?

[@4X4-RADIO]

Experimentation, the Backbone of Amateur Radio...

[@KC9RXP]

Ide love to see more local 6m activity. It's supposed to be good for local coverage. Low band.

[@andycampbell8476]

Oh, cool! So often, I hear we’re in danger of losing spectrum, so it’s nice to hear we might gain a band.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I agree...it's nice to have something positive to talk about for a change

[@USAVET11B20]

Worried about losing spectrum? How often are you on the 220 band? How about 6 meters? If you're worried about losing spectrum you should probably get on those two bands. I too am concerned about losing spectrum, so I put a 220 repeater on the air in Phoenix, AZ in 2020, and I've long been on 6 meter FM, and 6 meter SSB when it is open. I'm doing my part.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

That will be nice👍💯

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Yeah all the contesters took over the bands and they think they have more authority over a regular ham and splatter like crazy🤨

[@nicklikesradio]

@@USAVET11B20 any info on homemade duplexer for 220? Would love to hear about your repeater.

[@rohnkd4hct260]

I have always loved six meters so, eight meters sounds great. And all Public Service wants higher bands, it’s wide open in many areas. I have been following this project for a while, I hope it happens.

[@gregsmith1116]

Thank you. Without your video, I would have no idea 8m was experimental and I am really going to try to decode some packets and report them as well!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Awesome! I hope you are able to decode some.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Iam licenced to use the 200 meter band totally worthless i signed up for it i was granted gave them my heading etc

[@dennisbrady298]

I would like 11 meters be expanded for CBers ( be nice I know I'll get blasted by ham operators )

[@SevenFortyOne]

No argument from me! I agree

[@K5YVY]

Interesting, and with being a like mixture of 10 & 6 meters I would definitely be interested. Thanks Rob👍

[@SevenFortyOne]

I guess we'll have to see what happens as time goes on...this would be a good band to mess around with

[@hamelmer4827]

They should open it up for hams! and the 4 meter band too. we are paying good money for our license now.

[@HamRadio2]

Thanks Rob, great information. I may go sign up myself to try and obtain privileges.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm hearing most applicants are being denied right now. Let me know if you end up getting approved

[@JReed305]

Well we all know what getting a new band means. We all get a pass from our XYL's to get a new rig. :) Keeping an eye on this would be cool.

[@jblo6822]

A new rig? Well, if you insist.

[@a2phil]

You don't know MY XYL!!! Of course all my equipment is"junk" to her...hardly ever TALK to anyone, 10 meters is dead unless there's a contest going on (and then, good luck getting a word in edgewise!)

[@rockydogsdad]

Doubt any manufacturers will make one. Maybe a kit? Or, how well can you homebrew?

[@jerrymoyer5756]

As near as I can tell it's a sweet spot for meteor scatter communications but not much else. In fact the FCC set aside a couple of frequencies in the mid-40 MHz band for commercial meteor scatter communications in Alaska only where the distances are too great for higher VHF frequencies and too short for reliable HF during the long days of summer that far north. Many years ago I maintained some paging transmitters at 43.22 MHz. The pagers had to have long wire antennas dangling from them while attached to your belt to work more than a couple of miles from the transmitters which were running 350 watts. Mobile use will require antennas that are much larger than for 2 meters to be effective and will be much more affected by the size and shape of the ground plane which is the car body. So far I'm just not very excited about it. I would rather see more extensive use of 10 and 6 meters. But if it's there, I will probably try it out. There are a number of Low-band commercial 2way FM radios available very cheap such as the low-band Motorola Maxtracs which would make experimenting on the band cheap and easy and my MARS modified hf radios will do SSB and AM on those frequencies.

[@jamesriley9800]

I like to see us get a little bit more on 60 meter band. 8 meters would be good

[@mikejohns3104]

Nice band for hilly terrain if we get it. California used frequencies close to this for that reason. When they "upgraded" to trunking on higher bands, they lost a lot of their communications capability.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Same here in Eastern CT. 42MHz was great for the rolling hills we have here. But the state went to a digital 800MHz system a few years ago and it seems to be working for them

[@philipdumond2044]

Thanks for your research and work putting this video together. I will check this band for sure.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Awesome!

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Thanks for the info! Eight meters would be a very interesting band. I hope we can get it added as a ham band.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Me too!

[@woodsjl]

Yes , I would enjoy 8 meters, give privileges to Tech Class !!

[@davidbinkowski4825]

Since its between 6 & 10 meter, I assume it could be fully available to HAM Technician licensee's. Or at least a useful portion of it (at least as much or more than the slice they give us for 10 meter), and that's a good thing. It would give Tech's a little more real estate near the HF zone, though technically 8-meter is still in the low end of VHF, it should benefit from some of the characteristics of HF, similar to 6 meter (the magic band). I have yet to work on HF but after a chat on my local repeater with some older HAMs this afternoon I am pretty excited to get to work on some HF (limited to my Tech privelages of course), even before I get my General license. I was going to wait, but if I can pick up an FT-891 on sale after Thanksgiving, I may just get to work sooner than later on HF bands. And I can always just listen to the other bands as well (20 & 40 for instance) as anyone can. Now I just need to get something up in the air that can talk 10-meter. I'm not so much worried about 6 meter. It is a little too "magic" for me and from what I have read it sounds too unpredictable. So between 10m and POTA (after I get my General license), I think 10, 20, and 40 will most likely be my fun-zones.

[@SevenFortyOne]

6 meters is a great local rag chew band when it's not open. I use it all the time. Good luck getting your general!

[@indridcold8433]

If you have a transceiver, 10 meters, 11 meter CB, and 6 meters are available for you to try out right now. I do not know much about the radio privileges afforded to your class of license. I am assuming they are restricted. But all nations that allow use of amateur bands allow 10 meters, 11 meter CB, and 6 meters. I, myself, have been listening to everything from 100Khz to 75Mhz, on all modes. 80 and 40 meter bands are quite colourful, especially 80 meters. They are likely the most, "colourful," bands out of any amateur civilian radio service. Beware of what you may hear and how you may be treated. It makes 1980s CB radio sound absolutely tame. But, I am sure you can transmit on the three bands I mentioned if your amateur radio license is only the entry level license. For 11 meter CB, most nations do not even require a license. I have heard tremendous distances on just the humble 11 meter CB. Transmit on 10 meters! I will be listening.

[@mikefinn2101]

After years of losing frequencies it would be nice to have a new band. 40Mhz would be a great FT-8 band and nice for a new band for dxing and mobiles more range

[@warplanner8852]

What frequencies have we lost?

[@richardallison8745]

I'm trying to figure out that standard operating beacons for 8 meters should be in cw mode as are other beacons operate. FT transmissions are supposedly used for unreliable contacts. It seems like a standard A1A identifier at either 5 watts would give a better indication of how propagation works on 8 meters. Digital signals are not a good indication on how it works unless the band will be exclusive for FT transmissions. A simple unmodulated cw carrier gives you the call and an analog signal that could be compared to any other mode. I would like to see 8 meters come into the Amateur Service but I would be more excited in expansion of the 60 meter band and or the 30 meter band.

[@WA1LBK]

As a long - time avid 6 meter operator, I would CERTAINLY consider getting on 8 meters if we are granted transmit priveledges! 🙂- I'll be sure to check out your links as to what's involved in getting an experimental license! 73, Tom WA1LBK

[@SevenFortyOne]

I used to use 6m a lot too. There is a nightly rag-chew group on 50.165 here in eastern CT that meets at about 6:45pm or so. I just have been too tied up with work to join in. I also love working 6 meter opening when they happen.

[@indridcold8433]

I hear an operator calling out about once a week on 50.125Mhz USB, usually on Monday and before 11:00. I have never heard him after 12:00. I have never heard him get a response. He will call and listen for about 30 minutes on and off. There is also an FM repeater on 52.1Mhz FM. There, I hear conversations about two times a month. I have never heard the legendary long distance contacts that 6 meters is supposed to provide its users. I consider it a large band. But, it has almost no use. It is like an enormous desert. I think the world wide web has damaged the interest in radio propagation. Without a license or expensive equipment, one can now communicate around the planet. To use the radio spectrum, one needs a license, a significant investment in equipment, knowledge (something people refuse to obtain now), effort (something people refuse to make today) and the right conditions. I am extremely interested in radio propagation and communication without a network. That is why I am such an avid listener.

[@msf60khz]

During the 1950s, in the UK we had TV Channel 1 on 41.25 sound and 45 MHz vision. USA did not use Channel 1 so we never had USA interference but we did get interference from European mainland due to tropo. There was also occasional very strong Es interference from a NATO ionospheric scatter station in Iceland. During flat conditions we could see traces of TV signals in Band I from about 150 miles. Before WW2 the TV signals from London on Channel 1 were occasionally received in the USA and in South Africa during HF openings. Remember that the noise level is higher than on 50 MHz, but the ignition interference we used to suffer should not be so bad. I also remember that Sputnik 1 transmitted on 40.005 MHz and the UK TV receivers could hear it.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Interesting! I didn't know Sputnik used that frequency

[@msf60khz]

@@SevenFortyOne Sputnik 1 used both 20.005 and 40.005 MHz.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@SevenFortyOne It's mentioned on the Wikipedia page you have in your video! 🙂

[@aga5897]

Meh, if that freq is destined for more FT8, let some other group use it for meaningful conversations. ea7knw

[@kd2mgm494]

I would play around on 8 meters sure but only if one of my current radios could be used. I dont know if it would even be possible but how cool would it be if it was just a simple firmware update for the 7300.

[@ik1lbl]

b4 to get new band i hope we lose the FT8 mode first hi hi hi

[@SevenFortyOne]

Ft8 isn't that bad is it?

[@ik1lbl]

@@SevenFortyOne many use FT8 whit amplifiers and large antennas etc etc.. so they abuse of it, if you have all this facilities, please join the bands on CW or Phone... just please !!!!

[@daleallen7634]

I'd be interested in 8m, if it's NOT going to be just another data only band.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Depends how much spectrum we get, if we get any here...

[@fotografm]

I had no idea about this until I watched your video. Will go and take a look on 40.680 !

[@ernietech-101]

Good timing too, with the improving conditions

[@lomgshorts3]

I am interested in 8M. Any frequency addition to our allocations is very welcome. I use 6M on a regular basis, and would be curious about what propagation conditions exist on 8M as compared to Six or 10 Meters. The U.K. has privelages on 4M that I would like to explore, too. The more frequency spectrum we have, the more use our service has. The "Ham Radio" is often called a Hobby - thus ignoring the utility and public service we provide and I would like to see that changed. The MARS Program gave us a chance to work with the military, and that was a great experience because I was completely involved for over 23 years (Navy MARS until the Navy abandoned us on 9/15/15). But, any increase in our frequencies allocated would be very welcome. 73 de W4FJF.

[@lustrup]

I 've heard here in Norway several FT8 stations on 40.680MHz from all around the world..Hope we get thew band...73's LA3EQ

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Would voice be allowed. I have heard that 4 meter is popular in the UK and Europe. 8 meters could be a good DX band. I might like to see the CB band be moved to a UHF spot to return 11 Meters to DX and ham use. 8 meters is a good start

[@williamfulgham2010]

Thanks Rob for the update. I just hope Pirates don't find out and start jamming hams if we get it. K5EYS

[@TalmidAndy]

It would be far more sensible to give access to bands that other countries actually use. For example how about the 4 meter band, 70 megahertz, which is used in many other countries rather than just five. With just five other countries currently allocating the 8 m band picking the eight meter band would not be a wise choice but unfortunately just 10 years ago the FCC denied efforts to pick up the four meter band.

[@joebidet2050]

Little activity on any band But How about additional 50 or 100 khz on 30 m !

[@SevenFortyOne]

That would be nice too...but I'll take what I can get

[@jneale5204]

As I see this as good news but I would love to see more people use 2 meters. I am a general class but I still love 2 meters

[@SevenFortyOne]

I agree - I'm an extra but still use 2m repeaters to talk with my local buddies. But I'm all for more spectrum to use too...

[@zyewdall]

Where I am, 2m is just about the only thing most people use. We got a lot of new hams after the floods in 2013 in Colorado, and most of them only got their technician license, and only use 2m stuff. We built our own 2m repeater for the area too. 70cm isn't as popular as it doesn't propagate through the canyons as well. But I'm into trying out all kinds of different stuff myself, now that I have my Extra (had Advanced for a long time, finally finished).

[@jamescrofutt8767]

The band will show little difference in performance then what you see on 10 and 6 meters, I agree with the other post more ops back on 6 meter and 2-meter weak signal, they are worldwide allocations and established, the higher frequencies on weak signal activity have diminished greatly and manufactures have stopped making mono band radios for those frequencies some time ago not counting FM. It would take many more countries to come on board before it would be feasible to invest in this, I am all for new bands but not sure about a band so close in performance to further dilute 10 or 6 meters, I have no issue with the allocation as a whole and for experimentation but the number of hams who would really use it and invest in the band I think is questionable. 73 J

[@ryantoomey611]

It would be cool if we could use the 4-meter band they have in Europe.

[@535Medic]

All that old vhf low band equipment that won't go up into 50mhz may have some use after all.

[@Martinpacker]

I have heard activity on 8 mtrs here in the UK during the Es season in the summer. WSPR and PI4 modes were used. It is by special permit only at present.

[@mostlypostie1]

This would be a really interesting band in the summertime. Let's hope it happens!

[@indridcold8433]

Greetings from 2024. Happy new year. Listen to 10 meters! It is very active! I monitor digital, AM, SSB, FM, and CW. Also, listen to 26.965Mhz to 27.405Mhz CB radio and 27.60125 Mhz to 27.99125 Mhz FM. You will not believe how busy it has been and how propagation has really changed with the new solar cycle's arrival. It is not even at its apex. 6 meters is still extremely dead. It would seem that 8 meters would be dead, as well. Though my radio transmit abilities are limited, I do have a transceiver that does function from 40Mhz to 49.995Mhz AM and FM. It was part of a Forestry office. I bought it for $1 at an auction.

[@CARL557511]

Just learned this from your video, sounds like fun!!

[@activelow9297]

Would rather have access to the 4m band they have in Europe.

[@tpcdude]

What kind of antenna did you use? Do you know what kind of power level and antenna the transmitting stations use?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm actually using my fan hf fan dipole for receiving. There may be info in the links about transmit power of the experimental stations

[@BVN-TEXAS]

There is a ton of low band VHF commercial gear that will cover this right out of the box for cheap on eBay.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Very True!

[@MichelleBradley]

Depending on how much spectrum we can get would depend on whether wideband FM low band commercial gear should be allowed. The KU3N petition set a band plan that only looks at 40.51~40.70 MHz and there were some reasons why only that slice of spectrum was chosen. Of course, this does not mean we are tied to that. If the FCC and NTIA can work out something where we can get spectrum above 40.7, we could see some simplex FM. But the priority is first for weak signal and digital modes and if there is any surplus spectrum, we could see 20 kHz FM on 40.7~41.0 would be consistent with the IARU Region 1 bandplan.

[@Sky_Pony_1_mic_sierra]

10 and 12 meters are dead, on days when 11 meter DX is wide open. I don't see a benefit to flooding eBay with cheap low band radios, which is all that this would do.

[@SevenFortyOne]

This isn't going to be as widely used as say 2 meters but I still think it would be cool to be able to use it if we wanted to.

[@multilecful]

Jeez we were all on to get 5mhz in ZL, we live in hope. We might be able to use those TV antennas we took down when we went digital

[@PhantomWoIf]

will propagation between europe and ZL be better on 60m ?

[@the1spyderryder]

Yes i would like to be involved on 8 meters. I from time to time do 6 meters as well

[@xfire905]

I'd have to mod my IC7100 to get there, and then it would all be up to my antenna tuner, which might tune it or might not. But probably not. I could certainly listen with the tuner bypassed, though.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm not sure modding a regular ham rig for X-mit would work properly without retuning filters and such. But you are right - you could listen without any issues.

[@Pootycat8359]

Thus far, all this has been regarding digital modes. What about AM/FM/SSB/CW ? A 6m transverter would be a cinch to modify, just a little tweaking of the L-C circuits & a crystal.

[@SevenFortyOne]

It depends on how much spectrum we get

[@PhantomWoIf]

how's propagation in 8m ? is there intercontinental QSO possible on 8m ? i thought 8m propagation will be like a mix of the propagation of 6m & 10m, as in middle of both bands, but the propagation of 6m is much different than on 10m. so i wonder how 8m propagation will be, i'm very curious to hear some dx signals on 8m. Will there be any beacons in 8m ? i want to monitor the 8m beacons for dx propagation. by th way, i think they should increase the width of the ham bands in europe. 80m ends for european hams at 3800KHz, in the evening it gets overcrowded in 80m. if they would increase the border of the 80m ham band up to 4000KHz in europe, that would do great.

[@SevenFortyOne]

This is what is being studied right now. We'll have to keep an eye on the results to see what the propagation will be like

[@62egoodwin]

First time watching you video and I want to start by saying good job and I enjoyed your video. I also wanted to add I see the picture in the background of the Nova and I too have a 62' . I'll be watching more. KJ7UTW. 73'S

[@SevenFortyOne]

Glad you liked this! The nova isn't mine, I saw it on the side of the road in NH and decided it needed to be photographed. Unfortunately, I think it might be too far gone to save.

[@MarkyShaw]

Good to hear from you, Rob! Thanks for sharing! Always love an opportunity to play with a new band! This is exciting. Happy Thanksgiving to you guys.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Happy Thanksgiving Marky!

[@indridcold8433]

I wish it would happen. But, with the very near neighbouring band of 6 meters, the powers that be will just say that amateur operators can just use 6 meters instead. I am referencing Canadian band usage. Your region may vary. I scan from 25Mhz to 75Mhz and hear activity mainly on 27Mhz to 29.9Mhz, 49Mhz, and that is it. There is a very rare, occasional, beacon I have heard on 70.45Mhz. I mainly hear much, except on 2 metres, 70 centimetres, GMRS/FRS, 49Mhz, 10 meters, 11 meter CB, 15 meters and below. 80 meters and 40 meters seem to be the most vulgar of all the bands but quite entertaining to listen.

[@VNV67]

We had a good band on the 60 meter band until they ruined it with digital signals. It was only 5 chanel band but it was nice to get away from contesters. But as usual they messed that up to. So now I guess I will have to build a 40 MHz quad beam just for kicks.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm not sure I follow how 60 meters had gotten messed up but I'll take your word for it. I'll have to tune there and listen - my radio doesn't xmit there...

[@temporarilyoffline]

More bands = good news

[@SevenFortyOne]

Agree!

[@gilbertclement5427]

Totally unused 10 meters and never open 6 meters and now you want another band between? how about a Citizens band channelized at the 150Mhz with 50 Watts. (Making the CB band what it was meant to be.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Hmmm ... I use 10 and 6 pretty often. 6 is a great local rag chew band when it's not open. I wouldn't mind seeing some vhf cb too.

[@Porty1119]

Now that I think about it, I already have some 8m equipment! I use it for commercial land mobile in the 43MHz range.

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Is it some band where we could have voice operations. Have you heard if the max power is defined. Has the experiment been completed. I can see it now 2,4,6.8 and 10M WHEEEEEE

[@SevenFortyOne]

Still experimental....

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

@@SevenFortyOne Worth keeping and eye on

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Iam INTERESTED yes 👍💯⚡⚛

[@lapinebob]

I watched the video up until you said Wikipedia was every bodies trusted source. I am sure you meant well.

[@SevenFortyOne]

So you're saying it's not???

[@indridcold8433]

I have been experimenting on 49Mhz for decades. With only about a 500 milliwatt RadioShack walkie talkie to begin, which is far above what the legal 100mW amount it is supposed to be, I would take it apart modulate a 2 kilohertz tone into a homemade Yagi antenna. I was achieving distances of over 3 kilometres. Then, I got an early cordless phone from an attic, that was transmitting at a whopping 2.1 watts! That was tremendously higher than the legal 100mW limit. With that, I was able to receive the tone at 6 kilometres on the RadioShack walkie talkie connected to just a magnetic CB radio antenna. When my antenna experimentation accomplished 10+ kilometres, although in a very thin channel with a Yagi connected to the walkie talkie and another on the cordless phone, I decided to start sending simple binary data, on pulse to turn on a light, two pulses to turn off the light at around 8 kilometres. It is likely all these experiments were illegal since they were all above 100milliwats. It started a long love for the radio hobby. One day, I may get an amateur radio license. But, alas, my conversational abilities are limited, almost crippled. Thus, I remain an unlicensed hobbyist experimenting in the public bands, 27Mhz, 49Mhz, 151Mhz, 462Mhz, 902Mhz. All of them have amateur radio proximities, 10 metres, 6 metres, 2 metres, 70 centimetres, 33 centimetres. The 33 centimetre band I use is from a VTech walkie talkie.

[@SevenFortyOne]

You should look into the digital modes. You can talk keyboard to keyboard. I bet you'd have fun with that

[@indridcold8433]

@@SevenFortyOne I have not been doing the 49Mhz experimentation in many years. I have no easily accessible 49Mhz cordless phones, RadioShack walkie talkies, motorcycle helmet com headsets, wireless microphones, and room monitors. I still remember everything I did with just the tiny bit of junk I had. I have been dying to try some experimentation with the GMRS/FRS transceivers that are everywhere. I want to send data and receive data. Or maybe repeat 462.6Mhz to 27.195Mhz, or even send data and repeat across those frequencies. But all of that is considered illegal, where I reside. Although, the bands, in question, are completely license free and open to the public, except GMRS. GMRS, although free here, requires a license to use. It is the same as FRS with different power restrictions. I have had so many ideas that I can not play with because of CRCT and ISED laws. I really see no harm in repeating an FRS signal to CB radio, or send data over FRS.

[@kurtschreihart7424]

Then they should take away the 10 meter band and make it a non license free for all like CB but no power limitation rules.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I get where you are going but that's a bit unrealistic....

[@Thode-R]

We got 4 meter 70 MHz in Norway. You got that in America?

[@SevenFortyOne]

No, we don't have 4m here

[@anthonycosta1776]

So how do we get on this band? Have to buy a new radio? That band will be dead. The only times out bands are crowded is when those contesters come out of the woodwork.

[@SevenFortyOne]

If we get approved you'll have to build or modify something to use it.

[@brettcaporale8031]

Is there going to be any kind of voice privilege or is it going to be all packet

[@SevenFortyOne]

I'm not sure. I think it depends on how much spectrum ends up being allocated if the FCC decides to grant privileges

[@Ei2iP]

By the way anyone with ftdx101, ftdx10 will not be able to listen on 40mhz, I've a video on my channel highlighting this, hence I sold the ftdx101.....

[@SevenFortyOne]

You sold it just because it can't receive 40mhz?

[@Ei2iP]

@@SevenFortyOne plus the scope was crap, it's an over rated radio, I am running full SDR now on PC, and it's pleasure to you...

[@timmartin1395]

Good information ! N4TDM

[@robertbullcarmichael9856]

This sounds very interesting.

[@wa4aos]

Very interesting report and I hope we get privileges on 40 meters. A number of years ago, there was a possibility our 40 meter band might get an expansion from 6.9 to 7.0 MHz. In face when Ten Tec designed the Omni 6 they designed it to transmit in this range but I never heard anything else about this. Unfortunately, there is now some pirate, CB activity in what could have been a legal Ham segment. This would have been a big boost to a very nice part of or HF privileges. Anyone know anything about this??

[@Johnyrocket70]

I got the mod on my yaesu 991a I will see if it works on 8

[@SevenFortyOne]

Keep in mind you can't transmit there...only listen for now.

[@DominicMazoch]

More countries in the EU and UK have 4M freqs. A better idea?

[@SevenFortyOne]

Maybe, maybe not...hard to say

[@535Medic]

I'd rather get 8m than 4m in the US

[@dougrea]

interesting thanks for sharing.

[@just_in_time5518]

Time will tell i guess.... 😎

[@kd6hucatmsndotcom]

I cut my radio teeth on lowband VHF in the 1980's and something like this could be likened to a homecoming of sorts!

[@Tusker2zero2]

Just curious... Who is the primary users on 8 meters right now?

[@SevenFortyOne]

I believe it's allocated to government use now

[@mikemcdonald5147]

So my radio doesnt allow me to transmit on 40mhz so how would we do that? buy a new radio that does?

[@SevenFortyOne]

Yes, you may need to buy,build or modify a radio that will work here if we get approved to use this spectrum

[@drph.d353]

Yes I would set up on 40 meters

[@johnwest7993]

I really don't like secondary basis usage. I prefer being on a band that belongs to hams if I'm going to build gear for it and operate on frequencies that I won't get kicked off of. That's why I haven't built anything for 2200 meters. A good xmit antenna on that wavelength can take weeks to put together and cost much more than the rig. Then once it's up and running I'd just be waiting for someone to tell me I have to shut it off, and I'd have no recourse. So 'no thanks' to secondary allocations.

[@SevenFortyOne]

I get your point but I'd still like to have the privilege to try it out even if it's temporary

[@MichelleBradley]

Secondary only means that your operations cannot cause interference to primary users. Many of our UHF and SHF bands are on a secondary basis. The FCC and the NTIA have recently reached new memorandums of understanding regarding spectrum sharing.. and while that mainly applies to the microwave bands for wireless broadband applications, I am pretty sure that it can help foster a shared usage of a small slice of the VHF low band.

[@johnwest7993]

@@SevenFortyOne, I just don't see much difference in running on 7.5 meters. Characteristics change enough between (close to) doubled or halved frequencies to make the bands interesting, but a 7.5 meter band sounds more like something to sell radios. Things are already pretty quiet on 10 and 6 unless the bands are hot for DX, and their attributes are fairly similar with the MUF wandering around there during sunspot cycles. I think adding another band between them would just continue to water down the bands. I'd much prefer to have the tiny allocation, 2.1 kHz, ( that's 1 single low-pitched SSB channel) on 2200 meters be a dedicated ham band, somewhere where signal characteristics are truly interesting and different. As for "try it out even if it's temporary," I'm not sure you fully grasp what it takes to put up an antenna with even 10 mW EIRP on that band, or just above it on 175 kHz as I did. I wound 2 miles of 22 gauge hookup wire onto my 30 ft tall 3" diameter PVC antenna mast and 40' diameter counterpoise, and wound 35 pounds of 8 gauge wire on my 3' diameter loading coil. It took weeks to design and construct after I'd scrounged all of the materials. It took nearly another week to tune it after I built it. A longwave Xmit antenna is not like sticking up a 9 foot whip on a post, or even stringing out a longwire. For starters, a quarter wavelength on 2,200 meters is over 1,500 feet long. Plus, the antenna has to be vertically polarized or it radiates into the ground. Those 2 things make it an engineering project. After the transmit antenna I designed and built a transmitter, and a buddy and I designed and built our receivers. In the end I was able to blanket 1/3 of the 48 contiguous states and on into Canada and Mexico with about 5 mW EIRP, but it cost me my materials, finding a transmitting antenna site, and well over 1000 hours of my time to do it, and I simply wouldn't risk that kind of effort again without knowing that I wouldn't be getting a call from the PUC telling me I was being heard on the PLC system on the power-lines, and to shut it down, which I most certainly would be. Longwave isn't something you can simply play with on a weekend afternoon, not if you want it to reach outside of your own backyard. That's why I was saying that the band has different, interesting attributes for experimenting on, but I wouldn't do so as a Secondary User. There are no 'agreements' you can work out with the PUC. They hear you over their power-line communication system, you get shut down. End of story.

[@antennafarmer7380]

It almost sounds like conditions are better than they are on 6 & 10m. Also since this is half of 4m it might clear the way for the 4m band as well. The smaller antennas than on HF frequencies make this attractive as well.

[@stuarthirsch]

Give the 11 meter band to hams. Let CBers get their ham license and move CB to GMRS. Have the CBers trade in their sets for GMRS radios of course with a GMRS license. Radio manufactures should jump at the prospect.

[@SevenFortyOne]

Seems like a reach....

[@DE-ke2rf]

Agree %1000!

[@jwc4520]

Well that 10 meter band includes 2.4 ghz. The radio control part of it will soon be open . Thank the FAA, DOJ and Amazon

[@SevenFortyOne]

Sorry, I'm not following...10 meters is roughly 28 to 30 MHz.

[@jwc4520]

@@SevenFortyOne I'm old forgot the band limits. Just ticked off about all the new rules on R/C , old enough to remember bands taken away for CB use . The FAA set a cluster of new regulations , the not getting the skies cleared for Amazon, the DOJ announced they would be putting pressure on FAA and investigating the threat . Sorry , there was a time when I played with a mature radio but that was 50 years ago. ...oops 55 years ago ... take care.

[@sfrahm6305]

Hmm... Listening for 8M beacons might be a good early warning for possible 6M openings

[@chrissieracki2959]

That is very interesting. How wide will the band be?

[@SevenFortyOne]

We don't know yet

[@Andrew-bl2vo]

MATH(s) ! 🙂 Thanks for the update regarding possible US hams

[@AA0Z]

Another band would be awesome!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Agreed!

[@cjespers]

Thanks for the video. I was not aware, well done!

[@SevenFortyOne]

Glad you liked this!

[@francismcclaughry9851]

i liike to rag chew but it seems like to talk to me ,not talk to me>

[@SevenFortyOne]

Not sure

[@skeggjoldgunnr3167]

I went to vote in the midterms in a 100% democrat district. The night before I made some cucumber salad: shaved seedless cucumber, cider vinegar, sour cream, slivers of onion and cracked green peppercorn. It was SO delicious I just kept eating it. Then I saw there was so little left of the 5 pounds I might as well finish it. So at the voting location: I had a worrisome rumbly in my tummy. I tried to make it silent but it rattled the windows and relocated furniture. It was horrible. Smelled like vomit, fancy feast filet & pate' and burnt hair - with a hint of decomposing sauerbraten. They almost LYNCHED me! Five hours later I drove by and the place was STILL evacuated with angry blue haired mad looking women that looked like thumbs standing there with furled brows and missing lips. I wanted to visit another one upon them while complaining that they are suppressing my vote. Just a heads-up...that recipe is dangerous.