We have a quite large national radio quiet zone in the states which covers a zone of parts of 4 states on the east coast, and centering around a site in WVa and one in Va. the WVa site is the radio telescope observatory the other is a not so secret military and CIA type listenimg post. its less stringent now than it was, used to be no broadcasting sets of any kniind in the entire zoone, now its a gradient zone, the closer you get the more restrictive, at the closest not even microwave ovens unless shielded and the area is patroled by RDF equipped "police"
In Australia we have secondary access to the 70cm band (like almost everywhere else). Before 2000 we had access to 420-450 MHz, with most the activity in the 430-440 MHz segment. During the Sydney Olympics, the 420-430 MHz segment was used for comms during the event... and we never really got full access back afterwards. Now it is totally off limits although most of our 70cm radios will transmit happily in the 420-430 MHz segment.
I have an ex Sydney 2000 Olympics Motorola XTS3000 in the collection. Still going strong. And down here in Melbourne the 420-430Mhz band is home to the Metropolitan Mobile Radio network which is a huge P25 trunking system, covering Melbourne and Greater Geelong. Police, Ambulance (both encrypted) and Fire services are the primary users along with SES. So a no go zone here also for Amateur operators.
Spot on.. But the big question is... Where can I get one of those Satellite Dish looking Goverment Antenna's ? .... And will they work on PMR ? and How Much they cost ? ;-)
70cm is not dead! We all need to do our own bit to encourage more activity on 70cm and on other bands like 2m , 4m and even 6m. These bands are NOT dead around the country. Do your own bit and make activity happen! If no one actively does anything, nothing happens! Plus negativity from many amateurs are killing the bands so think about what you are doing. By that attitude it's making the situation worse!
I've been working through the Dutch 70cms repeater PI2NOS many times during the past 10 years and here in Eastbourne I'm just in the exclusion zone as the input frequency is 431.725MHz.Ive never had any problems with Mod or Ofcom on this frequency.73 G7HFS/PA3IKH
👍Thanks for that. Remember learning this studying for my RAE years ago and wondering what was going on at Charring Cross. UK license allocation for 431-432MHz states: Secondary. Not available for use; within 100km radius of Charing Cross, London (51°30’30’’N,00°07’4’’W)
@@adomm420The first authentic use of 73 is in the publication The National Telegraphic Review and Operators' Guide, first published in April 1857. At that time, 73 meant "My love to you". Later updated to mean "Best Regards". In the early days of telegraphy, various number codes were developed to reduce valuable "wire time". These were adopted by professional and amateur (ham) operators for radio telegraphy and then phone operators adopted some of them. I was always taught that 73 meant " Best Regards". You here some people say "73s" which would mean "Best Regardss" and "Best 73" which would mean "Best Best Regards". I usually just say "73".😅 You might hear some CW ops sending "72" at the end of a QSO. I believe this started in the 1980s and it seems to be more common now. 72 is used by low power QRP operators to say 'Best Regards" and signify they are are using low power of 5W or less.
I asked that question many times and never did get an answer, just blank looks. Sometimes I got "It is the MOD that uses it" but I was never convinced. That is a bit of a let down lol.
Excelllent Lewis. I remember the old MOULD system....wondered why the bandplan had that gap in it.....must get back on the air soonest.73, Howard, M0WEM
Back in the 90s, when I worked for HMG, we was of the understanding that the exclusion was in place because Special Branch where based in Charring Cross and used those frequencies.
I remember a few years ago (over 10 years) hearing a story of some hams in Cheshire being asked to move frequency buy someone claiming to be mod. If course you don't question you just move, like all us hams and being nosey they monitored the frequency and it turned out to be something to do with the catering core. So not exciting at all.
Great video and info , I remember mould got involved whist in the T. Army , they used the same equipment but different frequency bands for the met police as I was also employed. Thanks 73s mark G8Rde
Secondary authorization, that sounds familiar. In California, some 70 cm repeaters were ordered to reduce power, out of concern they could degrade performance of an antiquated military over the horizon radar system called Pave Paws.
Tony I am a scanner user in London still and have my own database of some intresting users.Are you aware in Colchester the British Army still use 70 cms for Garrison coms etc.
I should imagine in the past that was the case but I doubt it now a days last time I was in London I didn't hear much.... thanks for sharing most hams should know this anyway am always fascinated with radio but these days digital has taken over 👍👍👍
Great video Lewis. Tell me, where did you get the list of freq and the users ? (2:14 of your video!) See you have a tad of spam in your messages ! Stay Safe
The MOD still use 70cms I bought a Tait base station last year and it was on 435 MHz and had electrical safety certs on it for 2018-19 and the name of a Army barracks. on it. It was a easy conversion to 433 MHz for a Ham. Back a few years I remember a Military exercise taking place in the North Sea where Grumman E2C Hawkeyes were taking part. and temporary restrictions were put on 70cms . Possibly it was data links from the aircraft to ships.
70cm is NOT dead! It is still active on the FM repeaters and on simplex in and around London. Yes there are DMR repeaters but FM and SSB on 70cm is not dead.
