8-meter band
The 8-meter band is the lowest portion of the very high frequency radio spectrum available for amateur radio use in some countries. The term refers to the average signal wavelength of 8 meters.
The 8-meter band shares many characteristics with the neighboring 6-meter and 10-meter bands. However, as it is somewhat lower in frequency it does display the better propagation mechanisms via the F2 ionospheric layer normally seen at high frequency which occasionally appear in 6 meters. However, propagation, whereby radio signals bounce off ionized clouds in the lower of the ionosphere, is common on the band in summer.
History
Early- to mid-20th century
The 8-meter band was made available 1925-1928 to amateur experimenters in the UK and Irish Free State, also a much wider 8–10 meter band was allocated to amateurs in Australia and Germany. Several tests with two portable stations were carried out during July–September 1927, under the auspices of the Q.R.P. Transmitters Society, operated by G.D. Abbott and J.W. Mathews.After World War II, from 1955-1959 the 8 meter band was allocated to USSR amateurs. Using a special license, Michał Kasia conducted experiments in the 38-40 MHz band in 1957. Contacts with radio amateurs from far Siberia broke a new distance record on this band.
For the International Geophysical Year on 4 October 1957 the Soviet Union launched Earth's first artificial satellite and set up to broadcast a beep on 20 and 40 MHz. Its signal was received and tracked by scientists and ham radio operators worldwide. A special permission of 38-40 MHz was issued to Club station SP5PRG in Poland. A beacon was operated at Yellowknife on 38.07 MHz.
AMS and other organizations encouraged the creation of networks of amateurs. Since 1957, radio amateurs have been systematically recording meteor reflections and other phenomena. Noted the ~36.2–37.5 MHz range, where the reflections were longer and stronger, it was also suitable for other ionoscatter types. This made possible to determine the intensity of MS and its recurrence patterns. All the obtained data were significant for scientific research.
Also conducted radio-propagation experiments, such as the IQSY program with the VL5SA beacon at Darwin operating on 32.85 MHz. These experiments were conducted in collaboration with amateur radio operators and the Radio Research Laboratories in Japan. There were also other experiments, such as the 34 MHz test from Okinawa.
Late 20th century
In 1988, the Australian Department of Communications granted VK6RO an experimental license for one year to transmit on two spot-frequencies for testing propagation paths, to assay trends of the maximum usable frequency between 30 and 50 MHz.In March 1993 the European Radiocommunications Office of the CEPT launched Phase II of a Detailed Spectrum Investigation covering the frequency range 29.7-960 MHz. The results were presented in March 1995. Regarding the Amateur Radio Service the DSI Management Team recommended that frequencies in the vicinity of 40.68 MHz be considered for amateur propagation beacons. A secondary allocation to the amateur service is also appropriate.
At the same time NTIA published U.S. National Spectrum Requirements: Projections and Trends. Future spectrum requirements for the amateur and the amateur-satellite services were contained in responses to the Notice provided by ARRL and AMSAT including narrow spectrum allocations in the 30~50 MHz range. As noted in the report, the requested narrow spectrum allocations for propagation tests need to be studied for compatibility with current users of the frequencies.