FCC opens up 60 meters to QRP ops

8 views
Skip to first unread message

Martin Crabtree

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 3:23:53 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com
Apparently, the FCC is opening up a portion of the 60 meter band, 5351.5 - 5366.5 kHz, for use on a secondary basis. You're limited to a max of 9.15 watts ERP.

The 4 current 100 watt channels on 60 meters will remain.


Maybe we can focus a bit of attention on 60 meters during our annual QRP event.

73,
Martin - W3PR

Bob Bowden KB3BB

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 3:38:35 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com
Thanks Martin. That’s a weirdly precise number, 9.15W, way beyond the precision of the typical amateur’s wattmeter. Is it antenna-dependent, as the existing 60 Meter power limit is, where it’s equivalent to 100W with standard dipole? And will that band segment be “channelized”, perhaps into five adjacent channels with no dead space between them and a 3 kHz bandwidth per channel?

Are the new rules published yet, and are they already in effect?

- Bob KB3BB

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "W2ZQ Membership" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to w2zq-membersh...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/w2zq-membership/CADeCrXoP%3DUh9_2FDm%3DYha5vbsfAib5PpPb-WeeGmWfLSAkr1Nw%40mail.gmail.com.

David Doler Jr

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 4:49:33 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com

Bob Bowden KB3BB

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 4:56:54 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com
Thanks!

So, can it be summarized as
Four of the five existing discreet channels remain available with the same-as-before 100-watts ERP with dipole-equivalent antenna power limit continuing unchanged, except some added digital modes are being permitted on those four channels,
PLUS about 15 kHz new non-channelized spectrum will become available with a 9.15 dBd limitation (~15 watts isotropic), also with additional digital modes permitted on that new spectrum as well. And the new rules are not yet in effect, as they will take effect in 30 days.

Is that a decent layman’s summary, or do I have something wrong?

- Bob KB3BB


k2...@optonline.net

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 5:33:38 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com

Here’s how 9.15 watts was determined based on the ITU allocation:

“The WRC-15 Final Acts allocated the 5351.5-5366.5 kHz band to the amateur service on a secondary basis in all ITU regions and generally set a maximum radiated power at 15 watts equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP), equivalent to 9.15 watts effective radiated power (ERP).”

73

 

Gary, K2GW

Message has been deleted

Gregory Mauro

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 5:37:58 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com
15W into an isotropic antenna is equivalent to 9.15W into a dipole antenna

Leslie L

unread,
Dec 11, 2025, 6:48:57 PM12/11/25
to w2zq-me...@googlegroups.com
FT8 is is at 5.357 MHz,  thought that was 100w previously.

Les
W2LPL

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages