8-meter band

The 8 meter band (40 MHz) is at present the lowest portion of the very high frequency (VHF) radio spectrum allocated to amateur radio use. The term refers to the average signal wavelength of 8 meters.

The 8 meter band shares many characteristics with the neighboring 6 meter and 10 meter bands. However, as it is somewhat lower in frequency it does display the better propagation mechanisms via the F2 ionospheric layer normally seen at high frequency (HF) which occasionally appear in 6 meters. However, sporadic E propagation, whereby radio signals bounce off ionized clouds in the lower E region of the ionosphere, is common on the band in summer.

History

Early to mid 20th century

The 8 meter band was made available 1925-1928 to amateur experimenters in the UK[1] and Irish Free State,[2] also a much wider 8–10 meter band has been allocated to Australia [3] and Germany.[4] Several tests with two portable stations were carried out during July–September 1927, under the auspices of the Q.R.P. Transmitters Society, operated by G.D. Abbott (6TA) and J.W. Mathews (6LL).[5][6]

After World War II, from 1955-1959 the 8 meter band (38-40 MHz) was allocated to USSR amateurs. 1957 - by using a special license Michał Kasia (SP5AM) conducted experiments in the 38-40 MHz band. Contacts with radio amateurs from far Siberia broke a new distance record on this band.[7]

For the International Geophysical Year on 4 October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Earth's first artificial satellite Sputnik 1 and set up to broadcast a beep on 20 and 40 MHz. Its signal was received and tracked by scientists and ham radio operators worldwide. A special permission of 38-40 MHz was issued to Club station SP5PRG in Poland.[8] Yellowknife beacon at 38.07 MHz.[9]

Late 20th century

In 1988, the Australian Department of Communications granted VK6RO an experimental license for one year to transmit on two spot-frequencies (35.81 MHz and 41.75 MHz) for testing propagation paths, to assay trends of the maximum usable frequency (MUF) between 30 and 50 MHz.[10] In March 1993 the European Radiocommunications Office (now ECC) of the CEPT launched Phase II of a Detailed Spectrum Investigation (DSI) covering the frequency range 29.7–960 MHz. The results were presented in March 1995. Regarding the Amateur Radio Service the DSI Management Team recommended (among other things) that frequencies in the vicinity of 40.68 MHz be considered for amateur propagation beacons. A secondary allocation to the amateur service is also appropriate.[11]

At the same time NTIA published U.S. National Spectrum Requirements: Projections and Trends.[12] Future spectrum requirements for the amateur and the amateur-satellite services were contained in responses to the Notice provided by ARRL and AMSAT including narrow spectrum allocations (e.g.. five, 50 kHz slots) in the 30~50 MHz range. As noted in the report, the requested narrow spectrum allocations for propagation tests need to be studied for compatibility with current users of the frequencies.[12]

21st Century

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) in Region 1 is currently encouraging member societies to try to obtain propagation beacon permissions at 40 MHz and 60 MHz. However any action on a CEPT or ITU allocation is considered premature and explicitly ruled out at this stage.

Allocations up to 2023
DateCountryCall sign
prefix		Frequency
band		Allocation
June 1998SloveniaS540.660–40.700 MHz  40 kHz of spectrum allocated for beacons
February 2005  South AfricaZS40.675–40.685 MHz 10 kHz of spectrum allocated[13][14]
July 2013SloveniaS540.660–40.700 MHz40 kHz allocated to the amateur service[15]
April 2018IrelandEI40.000–45.000 MHz5,000 kHz of the low VHF spectrum allocated to Irish radio amateurs.[16]
August 2023BelgiumON40.660–40.690 MHz30 kHz allocated to class A radio amateurs[17]

References
  1. "New short wave oscillator". Wireless World. 10 March 1926. p. 361.
  2. "IARU news". QST magazine. September 1926. p. 52.
  3. "Australia". ethw.org. Call-sign history.
  4. "German amateur transmitters". Wireless World. 25 August 1926. p. 262.
  5. "Tests on 8 metres". Wireless World. 20 July 1927. p. 79.
  6. "Transmitting on 8 meters". Wireless World. 3 August 1927. p. 142.
  7. "Na pasmah". Radioamator. No. 6. 1957. p. 26 – via Internet Archive (archive.org).
  8. "Prikony v. EU na VKV v. roce 1960". ok2kkw.com.
  9. "Worldwide 50 Mc DX prospects". QST magazine. August 1957. p. 69.
  10. "The 50 MHz band" (PDF). Practical Wireless. No. 11. 1988. p. 71 – via americanradiohistory.com.
  11. Results of DSI Phase II (Report). 1995. p. 114 – via yumpu.com. This document provides the results of the Detailed Spectrum Investigation (DSI), Second Phase.
  12. U.S. National Spectrum Requirements: Projections and trends (PDF) (Report). 1995. pp. 163–169 – via its.bldrdoc.gov.
  13. SABRE (PDF) (Report) – via internet.org.za.
  14. Radio regulations (PDF) (Report). South Africa. 2005–2007 – via zs6wr.co.za.
  15. Splošni akt 2013 (PDF) (Report) – via hamradio.si.
  16. Irish 8 m and 5 m Band Plans (PDF). irts.ie (Report).
  17. "40 MHz band in Belgium". UBA (uba.be). Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  • "40 MHz". ei7gl.blogspot.com (blog). Ireland.
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