Good news! The licencing authorities in Spain have decided to open up the 40 MHz (8m) amateur radio band with conditions.
The national association for radio amateurs in Spain is the URE and they released this notice... "After hard work by the URE before the administration, today the Resolution of the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure was published on the Amateur Radio website, which authorizes holders of Spanish amateur radio authorizations to make broadcasts. in the 40,650 – 40,750 MHz band, with a maximum peak envelope power (PEP) of 25 W, for a period of eighteen months.
Broadcasts will only be made from fixed stations that have the corresponding license. In addition, the radio amateur must inform the Provincial Telecommunications Inspection Headquarters of the province in which he or she resides about his intention to operate in this band before broadcasting for the first time on these frequencies."
This is huge news for those interested in the 40 MHz band and Spain is the first 'big country' to allow radio amateurs access to the 8m band.
Analysis... In terms of propagation, Spain is in an ideal spot.
F2... For F2 layer propagation, there will be plenty of openings from Spain to the Caribbean (PJ4MM) and the signals should be clearly heard in the USA and Canada as well. The north-south paths will be especially good and the 40 MHz signals will be heard all over South America and TEP openings to the radio amateurs in South Africa should be a regular occurrence.
Conditions from EA8 (Canary Islands) should be amazing while the southern EA5, EA6, EA7 stations will be a bit better than those further north.
Sporadic-E... The workhorse over the Summer months of May to July will be Sporadic-E with typical distances in the region of 1000 to 2200 kms.
For EI stations in Ireland... Expect EA5, EA6 and EA7 to be the most common. EA1 and EA2 will be harder.
ON stations in Belgium... Expect EA7 to be the most common with EA3 the hardest.
S5 stations in Slovenia... Expect EA1 and EA7 to be the easiest with EA3 and EA6 the hardest.
SV stations in Greece... EA1 might be difficult as it's close to the maximum one hop Sporadic-E distance. The rest of Spain should be easy.
In conclusion... One of the big problems with the 40 MHz band is the lack of activity. For those that are using the band, it soon gets to a stage where there is no-one new to work. With Spain joining the party, that should hopefully change.
As we're at the peak of the solar cycle, now is the time to explore the 8m band before the conditions drop away.
Links...
1) For more information on the 8m band, see my 40 MHz page.
3) The official notice in Spanish posted 2nd April 2024... https://avancedigital.mineco.gob.es/espectro/radioaficionados/autorizaciones/Documents/RESOLUCION_40_MHz.pdf
Addendum... This is the official document via Google Translate...
RESOLUTION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES FOR WHICH IT IS AUTHORIZED, IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND ON A TEMPORARY AND EXPERIMENTAL NATURE, THE USE OF THE 40 MHz FREQUENCY BAND (8 METERS) BY OWNERS OF AMATEUR RADIO AUTHORIZATIONS.
The group of radio amateurs expresses to this Management Center a growing interest in use of frequencies in the 40,650 – 40,750 MHz band for experimentation with new technologies. Currently, in accordance with the provisions of the National Frequency Allocation Table (CNAF), this band is allocated in its entirety in primary to the fixed and mobile services and to various commonly used applications. Considering Law 11/2022, of June 28, General Telecommunications, the Royal Decree 123/2017, of February 24, which approves the Regulation on the use of the domain public radio, Order IET/1311/2013, of July 9, which approves the Regulations for the use of the public radio domain by amateurs, the current Table National Frequency Attribution, the Radiocommunication Regulations annexed to the International Telecommunications Convention, and other applicable provisions, this Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures,
CONSIDERING
First. - That other countries, including member countries of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), currently allow their radio amateurs the use, under certain conditions, of frequencies in the 40MHz.
Second. - That it is possible to make current uses of fixed and mobile services compatible and commonly used applications, in the 40,650 – 40,750 MHz band with the implementation, in certain conditions, of frequency emissions in said band from stations authorized amateur radio
Third.- That the third section of Order ETD/1449/2021, of December 16, by the that the National Frequency Allocation Chart is approved, enables the Secretary of State of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, to authorize uses of a nature temporary or experimental other than those provided for in the National Table of Attribution of Frequencies
SOLVE
First.- Authorize for a period of EIGHTEEN months from the receipt of this notification to holders of Spanish amateur radio authorizations of carrying out emissions in the 40,650 – 40,750 MHz band with peak envelope power (PEP) maximum of 25 W.
Second.- The average power of all components of an out-of-band emission authorized power must not exceed 50 milliwatts and will comply with the provisions of Annex I of the Order IET/1311/2013, of July 9, approving the Domain Use Regulations public radio by radio amateurs.
Third.- Emissions will be made only from fixed stations that have the required license and the radio amateur must inform the Provincial Headquarters of Telecommunications Inspection of the province in which you reside of your intention to operate in this band before broadcasting for the first time on these frequencies. Yes to operate in these frequencies, if it is necessary to modify the station's facilities and equipment, action will be taken in accordance with the provisions of article 20 of the current Regulations for the use of the public domain amateur radio.
Fourth.- This authorization is granted on the basis of non-harmful interference with others telecommunications services with allocation in the band or adjacent bands and not protection against interference.
Fifth.- If harmful interference occurs to other telecommunications services, the Emissions must be suspended immediately.
Against this resolution, which exhausts the administrative route, it may be filed, in accordance with article 123 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on Administrative Procedure Common of Public Administrations, optional appeal for replacement before the same body that has issued it within a period of one month from the day following its notification or be challenged directly before the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the Court National within a period of two months counted from the day following the notification, of in accordance with article 46 of Law 29/1998, of July 13, regulating the Jurisdiction Contentious-Administrative, without both resources being able to be simultaneous.
Long, fairly easy to follow trail but steep at times
Very few other hikers
Large, no trees
Rocks etc to help secure mast
Recommend: Yes but travel light
Solo operation: All alone
Cell Coverage: Good cell coverage
Photos: Copyright Paul Gacek 2024
Spains Atlantic coast
Out of the corner of my eye I’ve watched his movie. It didn’t really matter that I couldn’t hear anything as it was in Spanish, set during the Spanish Civil War and actually looked quite good. Boredom had me restless and I rifled through the Iberian in flight magazine that like so many has airport maps, pictures of unbelievable cuisine and something that absolutely caught my eye. Asturias; mountains, coast line, royal palaces and of course cuisine. I’m sold.
Interrupted by Covid and years later, I find myself driving toward what I thought would be a great first Spanish peak. The barrier was unmistakable and the bright neon lights declaring no entry without reservation was not what I wanted to see this early AM.
“Do you speak English?”, “Yes” she replies telling me that twenty minutes earlier, I could have driven in but now and without any reservation I’m out of luck. Come back tomorrow but that isn’t really my plan as I have this not so carefully planned trip to climb peaks, see Vitoria’s (1813) geography and then enjoy Bilbao and aspects of the Basque Country.
The idea of speeding is silly and really isn’t an option. The mountain roads are very narrow, climb relentless and wind and wind around a geologic marvel that is the Picos de Europa National Park. It’s July and while not a big destination for foreigners, it’s super popular with Spanish and I’m convinced my late arrival will yield no parking spot and all in all I’m skunked.
The downside to parking in Sotres is the 500 ft decent to then start a 2,200ft ascent but I have a space and walk down the paved road trying hard to determine which peak is mine.
Just outside Stores and heading down and down and down
Rustic buildings
Steep ascent, pack is far too heavy and shoes were a poor choice….but it’s worth it all
6,000ft on the peak and the views are stunning
A very fancy peak marker
45 contacts later and I’m smiling away….857D and big battery were overkill
Mainly 20m voice contacts across Europe and a few local on 40m
Above the clouds and always mindful that the weather was forecast to possibly rain
Long journey from Sotres to peak ad back
The car pulls up next to me and the window winds down. “Sorry, I don’t speak Spanish” is my reply to her. “Would you like a ride?”. Thinking wasn’t required and I blurted out “yes!!”. Pilling in the back they inquire where I have been. The story of mountain top radio needs a little explanation. The three young hikers were very curious about my peak and I surmised my paltry 8 miles and almost 3,000ft was just a warm up for them. Nevertheless, this Basque Country trio are charming and pretty much take me right to my car. Absolutely a Godsend as I was knackered.
Thirty euros buys me all I can eat at the hotel for dinner and then I discover it includes all you can drink….wine, beer….
Perfect place to hang out, read, drink and admire the view from the hotel patio
My hotel
View from hotel of Picos de Europa
Like most Brits, I love Spain, I really do. The south is a big attraction with its warm weather, beaches and sometimes Fish and Chips. In stark contrast, the Atlantic Coast of Spain is green, wet and a place less trodden. It’s been a desire of mine to hike/drive west along the Pyrenees and then along the Atlantic coast to that little know Napoleonic debacle that was the evacuation via Corunna (1809). Another day, sooner than later.
I’ve recently returned from a few days in the Basque Country, which included a few summit excursions. Although I’m aware that I’m behind on writing up some of my other SOTA trips over the summer, I’ve decided to type up my notes on this recent trip first before I forget the detail. Aratz EA2/VI-003 (6…
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