24-Feb-99
Changes to 6M, 4M, 2M and 70CM UK Band Plans

At the request of the Data Communications Committee, during 1998 the VHF Committee began a review of the utilisation of the 4M (70.0 - 70.5 MHz) and 70CM (430 - 440 MHz) bands in an attempt to balance the needs of the current users against the published plans for those bands. Additionally, some proposals for some changes to the 2M (144 - 146 MHz) band were to be considered, and in particular clarification regarding the use of 144.800 MHz, which has been assigned as "digital modes" since the the 1996 Tel Aviv Region 1 Conference.

Towards the end of 1998 it became apparent that a number of key digital node sites would be lost due to increases in site rental costs. Both VHFC and DCC sought solutions which would provide additional spectrum allocations for digital communications which would ease the provision of replacement (and additional) facilities for those which are under threat.

The new band plans achieve this objective while providing allocations which are proportionate to the current and projected use of the bands.

Additionally, work with the Repeater Management Committee has enabled certain frequencies within the repeater sub bands to be prioritised for Emergency Communications use.

Effective 1st March 1999, the affected portions of those band plans will be:-
50 MHz
50.7500 Emergency Communications Priority [*]
51.2100 Prority for Emergency Communications DELETED
51.2500 Emergency Communications Priority [*]
  [*] This channel pair is allocated for emergency communications talkthrough operations, subject to RMC approval.
 
70 MHz
70.3000 RTTY Calling / Working
70.3125 Digital Modes
70.3250 AX.25 DX Cluster User Access / Linking
70.3375 Digital Modes
70.3500 Digital Modes. Emergency communications priority.
70.3625 Digital Modes [*]
70.3750 Digital Modes [*]
70.3875 Emergency communications priority
70.4000 Emergency communications priority
70.4125 Emergency communications priority
70.4250 FM simplex
70.4375 FM simplex
70.4500 FM calling
70.4625 Digital Modes [*]
70.4750 Digital Modes [*]
70.4875 Digital Modes
  [*] DCC will recommend utilisation of these frequencies at a later date.
 
144 MHz
144.6750 Emergency communications priority.
144.8000 Digital Modes. Emergency communications priority.
145.7900 Point-to-point links. 16 kHz *maximum* bandwidth. Subject to VHFC/RMC approval on a case-by-case basis
 
430 MHz
430.0000
to Digital Communications [*]
431.9900
430.8250 Emergency Communications Priority [+]
432.6000
to Digital Communications
432.7000
432.7250 Emergency Communications Priority
432.7500 Emergency Communications Priority
432.7750 Emergency Communications Priority
433.6000
to Digital Communications [*]
433.8000
438.0250
to Digital Communications [*]
438.5250
438.4250 Emergency Communications Priority [+]
439.6000
to Digital Communications
439.9990
  [*] DCC will recommend utilisation of these frequencies at a later date.
  [+] This channel pair is allocated for emergency communications duplex digital operations, subject to DCC approval.
 
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