Correction. Japan does not authorize operations on the 60m band. My error. I will correct my documents.
Thanks to Larry K5RK. On Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 21:54 Don Inbody <[email protected]> wrote: > I have been doing some research on the new FCC rules/guidance on the 60m > band. This is a long email, and I will keep working on it as more > information comes out. You can access the Word File directly here: ===> > File > <https://1drv.ms/w/c/4c80841a5ff10751/IQC_pW0iwbtTT7K9YEjKMR-HAR-3Js5i4rHgfHQh5EORTk0?e=cFw0Pt> > > I sent a version of this email some time ago and have added information > about EU and JA to help with how the new US rules will interface with those > countries. If anyone has better info than this, please let me know. > > *The FCC has proposed these new rules but has yet (as of 2 January 2026) > to file them in the Federal Register. Once that has happened, they will > take effect 30 days thereafter. I suspect we will get notification of this > from ARRL, but it is easy to check for yourself. (I just ask Google Gemini > to check for me.)* > > In short, we will have use of a contiguous band from 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz. > This band will be limited to 15w EIRP (~9w ERP). You will have to calculate > your own line losses and any gain your particular antenna has to find out > what power level that translates to on your radio. In my case, I will have > to keep my TS-590SG to about 10 or 11 watts. Your ERP/EIRP will depend on > your feedline and type of antenna you are using on 60m. In my case, 250 > feet of RG-8 to a 160m inverted vee being operated on 60m gives me means I > have to keep my TS-590SG to about 10 watts in the new contiguous band. I > can run full barefoot on the legacy channels. (Use AI to help you > calculate...it's reasonably accurate if you tell it your exact > configuration.) > > > *We will also have the use of 4 channels:* > Channel ID Dial Freq (USB) Center Freq Status > Channel 1 5330.5 kHz 5332.0 kHz 100W ERP Allowed (160 w EIRP) > Channel 2 5346.5 kHz 5348.0 kHz 100W ERP Allowed (160 w EIRP) > Channel 4 5371.5 kHz 5373.0 kHz 100W ERP Allowed (160 w EIRP) > Channel 5 5403.5 kHz 5405.0 kHz 100W ERP Allowed (160 w EIRP) > > *Note that Channel 3 (5357.0 Dial frequency) (the current standard FT-8 > channel) will no longer be permitted as a 100w channel.* That channel > falls within the contiguous band and so must be limited to 15w EIRP. No > guidance has been provided by ARRL or any other authority as to which > channel is going to become the FT-8/digital channel. (My guess, is we will > find ourselves either operating QRP or working split, with US station > transmitting 100w on our legacy channels and other countries transmitting > on the QRP band. We will see.) > > Why has this occurred? In short, the US is falling in with most of the > rest of the world. However, the background is a bit more convoluted. > > The Federal Government is the Primary User of the entire 5 MHz spectrum. > Amateur Radio operators are guests ("Secondary Users"). > > This means if you hear any non-amateur traffic on these frequencies, you > must cease transmitting immediately. You are legally protecting these > specific agencies and operations: > > *1. The "Big Three" Primary Users: *These agencies use the 60m band for > secure voice, digital data links, and Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) > networks. > > > *(a) Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / FEMA: This is the heaviest > user. They use these frequencies for cross-agency emergency coordination. > **(b) > Department of Defense (DoD): *US Navy, Army, and Air Force use 5 MHz for > tactical communication and data links. > > *(c) US Coast Guard (USCG): *They utilize this spectrum for ship-to-shore > communication and cutter-coordination, often using digital modes that sound > like "chirps" or "hissing." > > *2. The SHARES Program (Shared Resources): *You will often hear traffic > from the SHARES network on or near amateur frequencies. > > What it is: A federal program managed by DHS that coordinates HF radio > resources for national security and emergency preparedness. > > Who is on it: It allows Critical Infrastructure entities (power companies, > telecom providers, hospitals, NGOs like Red Cross) to talk directly to > Federal agencies using government frequencies. > > The Conflict: SHARES traffic often uses upper sideband (USB) voice, just > like hams. If you hear a net checking in stations with strange callsigns > (e.g., "NNA4AC", "AAR3MC"), that is a Federal SHARES net. Do not transmit. > > *3. Department of State:* Embassy and consular traffic occasionally > appears here, usually as encrypted digital bursts. > > Why "Old Channel 3" (5357.0 kHz) Was Demoted > The frequency 5357.0 kHz (dial) was likely targeted for the power > reduction because it sits in a segment heavily utilized for ALE (Automatic > Link Establishment) sounding. > > What you might hear: A rapid "warbling" sound that lasts for 1–2 seconds. > > What it is: A government radio automatically "pinging" the band to see if > propagation is good enough to establish a link. If you transmit 100W on top > of an ALE sounding, you can disrupt an automated federal network trying to > sync up. > > > > *How does this fit in with the rest of the world?* > > *UK:* > > The UK allocation (managed by Ofcom) is unique because it provides a > series of "windows" rather than just a few discrete channels. To talk to UK > stations, you generally tune your *USB Dial* frequency $1.5\text{ kHz}$ > below the upper limit of their segments. > > Here are the *11 specific segments* available to UK "Full" Licensees, > along with the most common frequencies used for calling and DX. > > *UK 60m Band Segments (5.2 MHz)* > > *Segment Range (kHz)* > > *Width* > > *Common USB Dial (kHz)* > > *Notes* > > *5258.5 – 5264.0* > > 5.5 kHz > > *5262.5* > > *5276.0 – 5284.0* > > 8.0 kHz > > *5278.5* > > *5288.5 – 5292.0* > > 3.5 kHz > > *5289.5* > > *5298.0 – 5307.0* > > 9.0 kHz > > *5301.0* > > *5313.0 – 5323.0* > > 10.0 kHz > > *5317.0* > > *5333.0 – 5338.0* > > 5.0 kHz > > *5335.0* > > Close to US 5332.0 > > *5354.0 – 5358.0* > > 4.0 kHz > > *5357.0* > > *FT8 / WRC-15 Block* > > *5362.0 – 5374.5* > > 12.5 kHz > > *5363.0* > > Includes US 5373.0 > > *5378.0 – 5382.0* > > 4.0 kHz > > *5379.0* > > *5395.0 – 5401.5* > > 6.5 kHz > > *5398.5* > > *5403.5 – 5406.5* > > 3.0 kHz > > *5403.5* > > *Primary US/UK DX Window* > ------------------------------ > > > > *Important Coordination Tips* > > 1. *The 5403.5 kHz Connection:* This is the "sweet spot" for > Transatlantic DX. The US legacy channel is *5405.0 kHz* (center), > which uses a *5403.5 kHz USB dial*. This lines up perfectly with the > UK's top segment. If you want to work the UK on SSB voice, this is where > you will find them. > 2. *The FT8 Frequency:* Digital traffic for both the UK and the US has > largely standardized on *5357 kHz*. Note that under the new rules, you > must drop your power to *9.15W ERP* when operating here, as it falls > within the new WRC-15 contiguous block. > 3. *UK Power Limits:* Remember that UK stations can run *100 Watts PEP* > across these segments, making them much easier to hear than stations in > Germany or Italy who are stuck at 15 Watts. > 4. *Frequency Discipline:* Unlike the US "channels," the UK windows > allow for some tuning movement. However, because the windows are very > narrow (some only 3–4 kHz wide), you must ensure your signal sidebands do > not bleed outside the segment edges. > > > > > > *EU: * > > While most EU countries strictly follow the WRC-15 standard (*5351.5 – > 5366.5 kHz at 15W EIRP*), a few nations maintain "legacy" or "additional" > allocations that offer significantly more bandwidth and power.1 > > Note that some of these countries are in the process of harmonizing with > WRC-15, but as of early 2026, the following legacy exceptions are the most > notable: > > *EU & Neighboring Countries with Legacy/Extra 60m Access* > > *Country* > > *Legacy / Extra Frequencies* > > *Power Limit* > > *Notes* > > *United Kingdom* > > *5258.5 – 5406.5 kHz* (11 discrete segments) > > *100W PEP* (200W EIRP) > > The most extensive legacy system in Europe. Includes 5403.5 kHz. > > *Norway* > > *5260 – 5410 kHz* (Contiguous) > > *100W PEP* > > Very liberal allocation; essentially a full 150 kHz band. > > *Denmark* > > *5250 – 5450 kHz* (Contiguous) > > *1 kW* > > One of the highest power limits globally for 60m (Secondary/NIB basis). > > *Ireland* > > *5275 – 5450 kHz* (Various segments) > > *400W* (Limited) > > Access often requires a "Notice of Variation" (NoV) or specific license > class. > > *Portugal* > > 5370 – 5405 kHz (Segments) > > *15W EIRP* > > Maintains segments outside the 15 kHz block but keeps WRC-15 power limits. > ------------------------------ > > *Critical Details by Country* > > *United Kingdom (Ofcom)* > > The UK does not use the "five channel" system exactly like the US. > Instead, they have *11 small segments* of varying widths. > > - *Key Frequency:* They share *5403.5 kHz* (USB Dial) with the US. > - *Power:* UK "Full" licensees can use up to *100 Watts*, which is > significantly higher than the standard 15W EIRP used in the rest of the EU. > > *Norway and Denmark (The "Big Bands")* > > These two countries are the "powerhouses" of 60 meters in Europe. > > - *Denmark:* Permits a massive 200 kHz wide block (*5250–5450 kHz*).2 > While they have moved toward WRC-15 for general use, their legacy rules > still allow high power (up to 1 kW) for certain license classes on a > non-interference basis. > - *Norway:* Maintains a 150 kHz block. Like the US, they are a > favorite for transatlantic DX because their 100W limit allows them to punch > through the noise much better than the 15W "standard" stations in Germany > or France. > > *The Netherlands (A Warning)* > > The Netherlands originally granted a 100 kHz wide band at 100W, but they > *rescinded* it in 2017 to harmonize with the 15W WRC-15 rules. If you see > old charts showing a big Dutch 60m band, it is likely outdated. > > *Why this matters for US Operators* > > When the new FCC rules take effect, you will be able to work these > European legacy stations more easily. > > - Use the *15 kHz block* (5351.5–5366.5 kHz) for weak-signal digital > modes like *FT8* (standardized at *5357 kHz*). > - Use the *Legacy Channels* (like 5405 kHz) for *SSB Voice* to reach > the UK, Norway, and Denmark, as they can run the higher power necessary to > sustain a voice link across the Atlantic. > > > > *Japan (JA): * > > Japan has historically been one of the strictest countries regarding the > 60-meter band. Unlike the US or the UK, Japan does not have any legacy > channels and has strictly adhered to the international WRC-15 standard. > > Japan's 60m Rules (MIC/JARL) > > In Japan, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) > governs these rules.1 Here is the breakdown: > > - Frequency Allocation: Only the 5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz contiguous block. > - Power Limit: Strictly 15 Watts EIRP (approx.2 9.15W ERP). There is > no "high power" channel exception for Japan. > - Mode Restrictions: Japan's band plan is very specific about > "Occupied Bandwidth." While they allow "All Modes" (including FT8 and SSB), > the signal must stay within a 2.7 kHz bandwidth. > - Secondary Status: Like everywhere else, JA operators must not cause > interference to primary users (government/maritime) and must accept any > interference received. > > * ------------------------------ * > > *Comparison: Japan vs. US vs. UK* > > *Feature* > > *Japan (JA)* > > *United States (US)* > > *United Kingdom (UK)* > > *Main Band* > > *5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz* > > *5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz* > > *5351.5 – 5366.5 kHz* > > *Legacy Access* > > *None* > > *4 Channels (5332, 5348, 5373, 5405)* > > *11 Windows (5.2 – 5.4 MHz)* > > *Max Power* > > *15W EIRP* > > *100W ERP (on legacy) / 9.15W (new)* > > *100W PEP* > > *FT8 Freq* > > *5357.0 kHz* > > *5357.0 kHz* > > *5354.0 – 5358.0 kHz* > > > > *Why Working Japan is Difficult* > > Working a "JA" station on 60m is considered a significant achievement for > US East Coast or European operators for two reasons: > > 1. Low Power: Because they are limited to 15W EIRP, their signals are > often very weak by the time they cross the Pacific. > 2. No Legacy "Big" Channels: While you can use 100W to talk to the UK > on 5405 kHz, you cannot do that with Japan. You must meet them in the 15 > kHz "weak signal" window (typically on FT8) where both sides are limited to > low power. > > Pro-Tip for JA DX > > If you are looking for Japan, watch 5357.0 kHz (FT8). Because of their > power limit, Japanese stations almost exclusively use digital modes on 60m > to make up for the 15W restriction. You will rarely hear a JA station on > SSB voice on this band due to the low power and high noise floor. > > *For DXLAb users, I have proposed the following for the 60m segment in the > bandsegments.txt file for Commander. I have it on standby and will > implement once we know the rules are in effect.* > > > If you hear anything else about 60m, let us know. Right now, we are > waiting to see when the FCC proposed rules actually go into effect (they > likely will in January or early February sometime) and we are awaiting > guidance for any gentlemen's agreements on where FT-8 traffic will go. > > 73, Don AD0K > Buda, TX (EM10bc) > Don Inbody Buda, Texas
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