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Gary Peterson wrote:<br>
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<div><font size="2">I understand that at one point a 73 kHz shared allocation
was being talked about and that UK hams were authorized to use that band
for a while, back in 1996. </font><font size="2">Do you think the ARRL
would consider petitioning the FCC for ham privileges between 71.6-74.4
kHz?</font></div>
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<div><font size="2">I know some fixed European stations have frequency
allocations in that area. Are there PLC concerns associated with that portion
of the spectrum as well? </font></div>
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Hello Gary,<br>
Yes the 73 kHz band is still in use in the UK but, as I understand it, is
due to be phased out in the near future. As far as I know, no new user may
be authorized to use that band in the UK.<br>
One of the early advantages of 73 kHz was that one could use regular high
power Hi-Fi audio amplifiers whose bandwidth would easily extend that high.
<br>
Now that we better control the problem of building transmitters with cheap
Power MosFETs, that advantage has really disappeared.<br>
The problems of radiating any kind of power at all at 73 kHz are a good
deal worse than at 136 kHz, and I would not see any advantage to that band.
One of the challenges that motivated us was the idea of trans-atlantic QSOs
on 136 kHz. That has now been effectively killed by our dear FCC wizards.
<br>
As far as the PLCs are concerned, you understand, I am sure, that they do
not have any privilege on 136 either. They are secondary users. I have no
idea whether they have equipment on 73, as they would not even tell us the
frequencies they use on the LF band <br>
73<br>
André N4ICK<br>
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