Canada on May 1 opened 472-479 kHz to general amateur use, allowing any
of that country's hams to operate on the 630-meter band. The move followed the
grant of an experimental license last December to the Marconi Radio Club of
Newfoundland. Radio Amateurs of Canada reports that it is a secondary
allocation with a maximum power level of 5 watts EIRP.
How far can you talk on this band? The South African Radio League
reports that on April 13, ZL1BPU in New Zealand (operating as ZL1EE) was heard
in Western Australia by VK5ABN/8 (at a distance of 2100 miles) and then by
VK6DZ, 3100 miles away. ZL1EE was using WSPR-2 with a 23-foot-high Marconi
antenna.
Here in the US, several hams have been authorized to use the band under
an experimental license, but the ARRL says the FCC has yet to act on its 2012
petition to allow all US hams on 630 meters.
