Please note that these pages are now very old and date from the time when I was active on the 136kHz amateur band. I am no longer active there. They are kept on the website for archive purposes, and many of the links are no longer valid. For information about what G3YMC is doing these days please visit my main website.
UK Radio Amateurs received permission to operate on the new 136kHz band (135.7-137.8kHz) in February 1998. This follows earlier permission to use the 73 kHz band.
The power output limit on this band is limited to 1W erp. To produce this radiated power with reasonable size antennas requires transmitter output powers of over 1kW - a few operators on the band are approaching the legal limit, but for many stations erp is measured in mW rather than Watts.
Because of the narrow width of the band, most of the activity is in
normal CW, although SSB and AM has been used on the odd occasion. Low data
rate data modes have also been used on occasion. Another specialist technique
used is very slow CW with dot periods of several seconds which can be copied
by DSP digital techniques allowing copy of signals way below the background
noise level. Distances now being worked with conventional CW are now approaching
those that have been worked using slow CW.
I have been active on 136 since soon after the UK was licenced
for the band. Although still occasionally on the band, I am
now spending most of my time on the HF bands working QRP with my Elecraft
K2 transceiver.
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copyright Elecraft |
This is my 136kHz award, number 7, obtained for confirmed QSOs with 5 DXCC countries. Details of this award and other HF awards are available from the RSGB HF Committee website. |
Present station set up is as follows:
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Further Details:LoopsVertical G3YMC Transverter Equipment Operating Summary QRM from TVs |
If you have not listened on the band, 136kHz is a band which is both
technically challenging and a refreshing change from the rat race of the
hf bands. All newcomers to the band are most welcome.
Loops: Information on transmitting loop antennas, theory of loops, and practical experience at this station. | Equipment: what equipment is used on the band and the various options | Operating: modes, techniques and practices. Propagation, QRN sources |
Which set to buy and which not to?? |
G3YMC Transverter: Circuits and description of the transverter used by me at present. | Experimental Vertical: experiences with a vertical in a problem QTH. |
(by no means complete!) G3YXM site Plenty of 136kHz information and equipment circuits GW4ALG site Steve is no longer active on the band but there is a wealth of information here. G0MRF site More equipment designs. G3LDO site Updates to the LF Handbook, and his 3M impedance bridge with software G3XDV Mike Dennison's site, with plenty of links to other sites and pictures of the 136 gang. DK8KW Geri's site. Details the voluntary 136kHz bandplan |
Bracknell Amateur Radio Club | Dave Sergeant TV | G3YMC Home Page |