VHF CB

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Nomad75
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VHF CB

Post by Nomad75 »

Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, open the consultation period for the use of the released spectrum in VHF

Ofcom Independent Authority for Communications Industries UK opens consultation period for the allocation of applications and services in the frequency range between 143 and 169 MHz

Among the possibilities , the allocation of frequencies available for the use of CB is contemplated , as is already happening in other countries such as Australia , which has to use frequencies in UHF CB plus 27 frequencies MHz (HF ) used in Europe . Malasisa , New Zealand , Indonesia and Japan are other countries that, besides HF CB , have available in VHF and UHF frequencies CB .

The European CB Federation through its Delegate in the UK, David Ogg [email protected] is studying this issue and make the necessary consultations among CB members of the country , to send their proposals to Ofcom . Anyone interested in participating can contact directly with the delegate ECBF UK . The consultation period ends on May 26, 2014

At European level, the ECBF is considering request to the various European governments consider the opportunity to implement the CB VHF/UHF frequencies in addition to the current frequency 27MHz . To do this, anyone who wants to contribute ideas or proposals for work, can contact the ECBF ([email protected]) where your ideas are always welcome.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by ChrisCSL »

Source please.

English is obviously their second language, so where did it come from???
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Re: VHF CB

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Re: VHF CB

Post by kr0ne »

ChrisCSL wrote:Source please.
Ofcom published this at the end of March:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binari ... tation.pdf

From Section 3 - Responses:
We received twenty-three non-confidential responses and six confidential responses to the Call for Input. The non-confidential respondents are listed in Annex 8 of this document and can be viewed on our website1. The respondents suggested that Ofcom allocate spectrum for:

• Existing Business Radio products on a licensed basis to allow industry sectors such as transport and utility to maintain and improve their communications systems, for example to deploy wide area trunked networks;
• A requirement to facilitate Amateur Radio development applications such as digital TV and satellite;
• Protection of safety of life spectrum for Maritime radio;
• Spectrum for land search and rescue services;
• Spectrum for a ‘LTE’ type application / service;
• An allocation for Citizens’ Band Radio (CB Radio); and
• Licence exempt use using a higher effective radiated power of up to five watts.
The bits of interest to (most of) us:
Amateur

3.18 The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) and five other respondents advised that they wanted 146 to 148 MHz to be wholly allocated to the amateur service, with due provision for any remaining legacy use. They argued that this would reduce pressure on the existing 144 to 146 MHz amateur band, as well as provide for the increasing use of the existing allocation for amateur satellite activities by CubeSat and similar spacecraft which are being developed by UK University student teams in collaboration with radio amateurs. RSGB advised that the reuse of this segment purely for narrow-channelled (business) radio would represent a major lost opportunity. They argued that such usage would still leave ample opportunity in other VHF spectrum such as 155 to156 MHz for Business Radio use.
3.19 Geoffrey Ma’s preference was for the expansion of the Amateur band by 0.5 to 1 MHz, on a primary or secondary basis, to all existing Amateur Radio licensees. Contiguous block of spectrum are required to provide a continuous tuning range.
3.20 Professor David Kenward stated a preference for amateur TV and amateur satellite, reserved for digital transmissions only. He advised that the 1 MHz slot above the 145 MHz amateur band would allow digital television pictures to be sent, perhaps with a
Release of spectrum between 143 MHz to 169 MHz
11
further allocation of a 500 kHz orbiting satellite band from 147 MHz for general data reception from experimental satellites. At these lower frequencies he felt it would be possible to communicate with European users as they occupy these channels for Ham radio.
Citizens’ Band Radio

3.21 Geoffrey Ma requested that Ofcom re-introduce a 20 channel CB service at a frequency range which does not have the propagation characteristics of the 27 MHz band. He advised that an allocation at VHF would allow practical antenna lengths to be used in vehicles and buildings and felt CB radio could be integrated within the existing licensing framework. He argued that UK IR 2044 would be suitable for a CB service on VHF as equipment which meets these criteria is already available. He felt the obligation on the end-user to hold a licence may be beneficial on a VHF CB service using high-power levels and suggested a registry of all users would be useful for tackling abuse. He stated that this form of licence could be integrated into the Business Radio Licence products on the same basis as a Business Radio Simple UK, Simple Site or Suppliers Light licence upon payment of a fee.
3.22 One respondent advised that part of this spectrum should support a VHF license free allocation of roughly 40 specific channels, with all modes allowed when using type approved equipment and a maximum output power of 12W P.E.P SSB.
Licence exempt

3.25 Most of the responses were against non-PMR licence exempt use, apart from the following responses:
3.25.1 An unnamed respondent favoured licence exemption for voluntary agencies.
3.25.2 Radio Data Networks proposed that telemetry and telecommand applications with a maximum power of 10 mW on a duty cycle of 0.1% with a maximum repetition rate of once per minute.
3.25.3 TETRA and Critical Communications Association advised that some of this spectrum should be kept for licence exempt use.
However, I didn't read anything that suggested there was much demand for either a CB or a license free allocation and it doesn't look like either are on the table as a result.

It would seem that, despite all the noise on here to the contrary, pretty much nobody was bothered enough about getting a VHF CB allocation or a high power license exempt service to actually get off their arisses! ;)

There will most likely be a temporary allocation to the amateur service however:
Proposed Option

4.16 As demand for both operational and potential future services in the short to medium term is likely to be low we are also proposing to permit temporary access to 1 MHz of spectrum (146 to 147 MHz) for Amateur Radio use, until such a time as it is needed by Business Radio or other services. Should additional spectrum be needed to meet operational requirements, we will remove the temporary allocation. Amateur Radio use of this frequency will be on a non-protection/ non-interference basis and will be subject to some geographical restrictions to ensure that there is no interference to neighbouring countries. We propose that the authorisation will be implemented by an individual Notice of Variation (NoV) to the Amateur Radio licence. The NoV will be for a period of 12 months.
Do you agree with the proposal to make some spectrum not currently assigned to other applications available on a temporary for Amateur Radio use with these restrictions?

4.28 The Radio Amateur community have made a case for utilising additional spectrum to develop new digital technologies for voice, data and video and we have considered this request carefully. We propose to make around 1 MHz1 of spectrum temporarily available with restrictions through a time limited Notice of Variation (NoV) for full Amateur Radio licence holders. We propose to make available the spectrum from 146 to 147 MHz for this use. This is adjacent to the existing Amateur Radio allocation at 144 to 146 MHz.

4.29 It should be noted that the 146 to 147 MHz band is not allocated in the UK Frequency Allocation Table (FAT) to Amateur use and we have no plans to amend this. The band is allocated for Fixed and Mobile use throughout ITU Region 1 (Europe, Russia and Africa), although Amateur Radio is permitted in Regions 2 (Canada, North and South America) and Region 3 (Asia and Australia). Therefore it should be noted that NoVs issued in the band for Amateur Radio use will be offered on a time limited (initial maximum period of 1 year), non-protection, non-interference basis. Users are free to re-apply for new NoVs after each 12 month period.

4.30 In addition, the allocation of this spectrum is made on a temporary basis, and will be reallocated to Business Radio or other services as it is required. However, we are minded to give 12 months’ notice of any such reassignment. This notice would be provided through an announcement on our website. Given the amount of spectrum being made available we expect Amateur Radio to have access for at least the next couple of years.

4.31 Our proposed allocation to Amateur Radio would be in derogation of the Radio Regulations for Region 1. Therefore we need to be satisfied that use of frequencies within the 146 to 147 MHz band for Amateur Radio would not cause harmful interference to designated use in surrounding countries.

4.32 Given the existing constraints relating to international coordination (based on PMR), we undertook some technical analysis to identify whether Amateur Radio use in the band could be facilitated. Our analysis can be found in Annex 6 of this document. Through this work we believe that, subject to the restrictions of the NoV, Amateur Radio use in this band could be permitted. However, if use is shown to cause interference to neighbouring countries access to this spectrum will be removed with immediate effect.

4.33 Based on our technical analysis we have set out a number of restrictions on use which relate to geographical deployment, transmit power, and antenna height, these are listed in the NoV and are summarised below:

• 4.33.1 Only available to holders of Full Licences, including Full (Club) and Full (Reciprocal) licences.

• 4.33.2 Fixed station use and mobile use permitted.

• 4.33.3 Maximum power of 25W ERP referenced to a half wave dipole.

• 4.33.4 Maximum antenna height of 20m.

• 4.33.5 Geographical restrictions apply and use within the shaded areas of the maps (as defined by the list of coordinates) in Annex 7 is not permitted.

• 4.33.6 Any transmission must comply with international co-ordination limits.

• 4.33.7 Use would be on a non-protected, non-interference basis.

• 4.33.8 The NoV would require renewing on an annual basis.

4.34 It should be noted that although designation of the spectrum has changed from Public Safety to Civil there is some legacy Public Safety use that will remain on a small number of specific narrowband channels.
Here's a list of the those who took the time to participate:

• Andy Digby
• Andy Foad
• Bruce Fisher
• Cambridge Consultants Ltd
• David Kenward
• Federation of Communications Services (FCS)
• Geoff Ma
• Joint Radio Company (JRC)
• Martin Trott
• Michael Tubby
• Maritime and Coastal Agency (MCA)
• Name withheld 1
• Name withheld 2
• Name withheld 3
• Name withheld 4
• Name withheld 5
• Radio Data Network
• Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)
• Robin Maddison
• Telecommunications Association of the UK Water Industry (TAUWI)
• TETRA Critical Communications Association
• Transport for London
• Wall to Wall Radio Communications Ltd
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Re: VHF CB

Post by ChelseaCat »

MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm so RSGB say reduce pressure on the existing 144 to 146 MHz amateur band, I never hear anyone on it hardly lol.

I think CB will be at the bottom of the lst BUT where their is hope ;)
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Re: VHF CB

Post by ChelseaCat »

Dont forget we have until the May 26, 2014 before the consultation period ends, they probably not mentioned them all yet
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Re: VHF CB

Post by kr0ne »

I think that boat may have long sailed ChelseaCat...

The consultation questions are as follows:
Q1. Do you agree with the proposed approach for spectrum management?

Q2. Do you agree with the proposed approach for Business Radio assignments?

Q3. Do you agree with the proposal to allocate spectrum for Maritime and/or Land Search and Rescue use?

Q4. Do you agree with the proposal to make some spectrum not currently assigned to other applications available on a temporary for Amateur Radio use with these restrictions?
By all means try your best, but unfortunately there only seem to have been a couple of individuals who lobbied for a VHF CB allocation during the CFI stage, which closed a long time ago now.

As much as we all like to give the RSGB a good bashing (myself included), it is things like this where it really pays to have an organised body representing thousands upon thousands of individuals with one cohesive voice.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by ChelseaCat »

Well if it sails it sails lol, their was always only a very slight chance of it happening anyway but we can only wait and see.

Lets see what Dave says about it, he might have some news from the ECBF.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by Admiral »

The only difference between CB and Amateur Radio is the Foundation Licence, if serious CBers can't be arsed to sit the 'exam' and be bound by the terms and conditions then they need to STFU.

The Foundation Licence is the closest thing to licence-free that you can get.

YES, you've been an 11m HF operator for 35 years.

YES, you've forgotten more about radio than most M6s will ever know.

YES, you're a lazy tw@t and want everything for nothing.

Swallow your pride, sit the Foundation, and eureka, you have VHF CB, and you can still chat with your procrastinating 11m buddies, cake and eat.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by RadioPixie »

:yawn:

I think you completely missed the point of VHF CB.

What about all those that are campaigning for VHF CB and have an amateur licence already?!
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Re: VHF CB

Post by kr0ne »

RadioPixie wrote:What about all those that are campaigning for VHF CB and have an amateur licence already?!
I guess they figured that their amateur licenses were enough for them in the end as none of them appear to have bothered speaking up when it counted... :lol:
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Re: VHF CB

Post by RadioPixie »

That's because amateur radio is an institution. CB isn't well organised and would take much longer to get the word out. And a forum such as TM1 is a small platform. Ideal though for some ideas brewing alchemy ;) If you don't debate ideas and potentials, then you just get stuck in a rut.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by Adriano9966 »

RadioPixie wrote: If you don't debate ideas and potentials, then you just get stuck in a rut.
I have to agree even if this all comes to nothing this has still sparked a lot of interest on the forum with VHF coms in general .I am hopeful this will transpire as a measely 20 channels would only occupy about 250khz of bandwidth.

The available spectrum is free at the moment so consequently ofcom would not be required to move existing services elsewhere. I am still miffed at 934 being removed by the regulator so in my view its only right and fitting that now there is some spectrum available 20 channels should be returned for the usage of UK citizens/residents
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Re: VHF CB

Post by Admiral »

RadioPixie wrote::yawn:

I think you completely missed the point of VHF CB.

What about all those that are campaigning for VHF CB and have an amateur licence already?!

Maybe I have.

My point is that many licence-free band users in my opinion seem to always want more.

They wanted AM and SSB on 11m, now they(myself included as I use it) have it I'm guessing that will then not be enough, some will demand more frequencies, higher power, digital etc.

If they got a licence-free VHF allocation they would then demand repeaters, multi-mode etc.

My point is what's the point, when you can sit a simple exam and get all of this straight away?

Licence-free, CB, call it what you will, it's still amateur radio, if you've taken the hobby to a level where you are using multi-mode and building your own antennas then surely an amateur ticket is a natural progression? And you can still use the licence-free stuff too.

The most logical thing would be to make 2m licence-free for FM simplex.
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Re: VHF CB

Post by ChrisCSL »

''Licence-free, CB, call it what you will, it's still amateur radio, if you've taken the hobby to a level where you are using multi-mode and building your own antennas then surely an amateur ticket is a natural progression? And you can still use the licence-free stuff too''.

I've never thought about it like that before. Yes ... if it's radio and it's amateur, then it's amateur radio. To my mind there is little difference between some of the more 'radio - minded' CBers and the 'liberal' wing of ham radio. And as somebody else said, the average long-term CBer will probably have forgotten more about radio than a new M6 knows.

Just because you pass the 'entry level' exam doesn't mean that you must have a head transplant, suddenly calling everybody 'old chap' and growing tomatoes. I've also heard M3s/M6s moaning about how the old guard seem to ignore them. Just how many FLHs are there? Surely plenty enough to form their own community on the air.

''The most logical thing would be to make 2m licence-free for FM simplex''.

Sorry, no. A step too far. Pass the foundation and come on 2m. Perhaps an influx of 'proper' CBers would actually improve 2m, which has descended into chaos in some areas.
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