Following submissions from NZ Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART), the group that represents NZ amateur radio operators, the NZ Government has agreed to grant NZ Amateurs temporary access to a slice of the 600 metre spectrum.
From 1 March 2010, NZ Amateurs will have access to some of the spectrum that was previously used for Morse code communications with ships.
The new band, 505 to 515 kHz has been granted on a temporary basis pending an international allocation to radio amateurs and includes some restrictions:
- These frequencies are, or may be, allocated for use by other services. Amateur operators must accept interference from, and must not cause interference to, such other services.
- Radiated power must not exceed 25 watts e.i.r.p.
- The bandwidth of emissions must not exceed 200 Hz
On the international scene, work continues to gain a world-wide allocation in this area through the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), the group that represents Radio Amateurs internationally. Once this is approved, it is likely that the New Zealand Amateurs will be granted a permanent allocation in the 600 metre area.
The updated Amateur GURL which is effective from 1 March 2010, can be found at:
http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/licensees/types-of-licence/general-user-licences/amateur-radio-operators
ZL2KH 24-February-2010