A reader recently e-mailed me about this item in Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1757, dated April 15 2011:
RESTRUCTURING: UKRAINIAN HAMS LOOSE FREQUENCIES ON HF AND UHF
Some restructuring news out of the Ukraine that’s bad news for ham radio operators in that nation. This, as the Ukrainian government has affirmed new rules for amateur radio operations that have resulted in spectrum losses on the High Frequency, UHF and microwave bands.
According to an e-mail from Alexander Doshchich, UY0LL, the spectrum withdrawn from access by Ukrainian hams includes 10.100 to 10.150 and 14.250 to 14.350 MHz on the HF bands. On UHF an above the losses include 1240 to 1300 MHz, 2300 to 2450 MHz, 5670 to 5850 MHz and numerous other spectrum slots right on up to 248 to 250 GHz. (UY0LL)
He wrote:
One concern is these bands are established by international agreements. For a single country to overrule them is their right in theory, but in practice it bodes poorly if future cooperative agreements are to carry any significance. If it becomes common to disregard the agreements, the whole process collapses into chaos.
The other concern is if they are denying these frequencies to hams, they evidently have some other purpose in mind. This suggests we may be open to new sources of interference to contend with, which undermines the use of these important HF frequencies for world wide communications.
The first step is just to confirm this is true so we aren’t just being stupid. And even if it is real, I don’t mean to be crying the sky is falling immediately. But if this is confirmed, it does seem to me to be an important challenge in maintaining long term viability of the amateur radio bands.
I have no way of determining the veracity of this report.ARN has been a reputable news source for a long time, however, so I wouldn’t question that.
As for interference to contend with, there is an “Intruder Watch.” In the U.S.—and probably for all of Region 2—the ARRL runs this service. In Region 1, there is a Region 1 Monitoring System. I presume there is also a Region 3 Intruder Watch, but didn’t Google them. If there is any interference, I’m guessing that they’ll catch the offenders.
I’m still at a loss for why the Ukrainians would restrict ham radio in this way. I’d guess some kind of military use for those frequencies, but that’s only a guess. Anyone else have ideas?
NA7U says
It’s unclear to me from this and other reports whether or not the restrictions have yet taken place. I have at least two recent QSOs on 30 meters with Ukraine, so either it hasn’t gone into effect or the hams are ignoring it.
73,
Casey
Elwood Downey, WB0OEW says
I sent a note to ARRL. Here is their response:
———————————– Original Message ———————————–
Subject: RE: National Association for Amateur Radio Website Form
From: “Henderson, Dan N1ND”
Date: Thu, April 21, 2011 8:34 am
To: “Elwood Downey”
—————————————————————————————-
Hi Elwood
We became aware of this last week and our International team is aware of the situation. They will address it as appropriate.
73
Dan Henderson, N1ND
Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio(tm)
860-594-0236
[email protected]
Bob (KC2TEL) says
The new world order wants to get rid of amateur radio. So little by little they will nibble.