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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Hiding In WARC Bands

From Wikipedia,

The WARC bands are three portions of the shortwave radio spectrum used by licensed amateur radio operators. They consist of 30 meters (10.100–10.150 MHz), 17 meters (18.068–18.168 MHz) and 12 meters (24.890–24.990 MHz). They were named after the World Administrative Radio Conference, which in 1979 created a worldwide allocation of these bands for amateur use. The bands were opened for use in the early 1980s. Due to their relatively small bandwidth of 100 kHz or less, there is a sort of gentlemen's agreement that the WARC bands may not be used for general contesting. Throughout most of the world, the 30 meter band cannot be used for phone communications except in emergency situations. However, part of Region 1 (Africa, south of the equator, during daylight hours) is permitted to use phone. The USA limits amateur radio users to 200 watts peak envelope power on this band.
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As you can there up here, the WARC bands are widely known as the "WARC Bands" because they were first allocated at the World Administrative Radio Conference (W. A. R. C.) in 1979.  They were first used on the air in the 1980s.

WARC so called heaven to those who didnt like to join any contest, they can simply do a normal DX net or rag chewing on WARC bands when the contest begun. For example, QRP stations occasionally will not joining any contest, if they want to be on the air when there is any contest started on 10m, 15m, 20m or 40m, then the best choice is the WARC bands.

Many stations will operate CW on the WARC bands because of narrowed range on that bands. Take a look at 10MHz, starting 10.100 - 10.150MHz.

I heard many stations replying my CQ call on WARC bands when most of other amateur radio operator chasing DX stations and exchange report to score high points on 10m, 15m, 20m, 40m and 80m. Maybe those people didn't like to participate on contest or maybe they can not spend their 48 hours on the shack just for contest. They just like to hide on the WARC bands and listening to any DX calls.

And bytheway, most of amateur radio gear made before 1979 was not capable of operating in these WARC bands. Almost all modern radios, however, offer these bands as standard features.

Do you operate on WARC bands ?

Extra readings for amateur radio, www.arrl.org/files/file/0107059.pdf







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