New Digital Mode Puts Beacon Off Air in Australia:

A clash has occurred on 6-metres in Australia with the popular FT8 digital mode, introduced in June 2017 nominating 50.313 MHz as a worldwide operating frequency, already occupied by a propagation beacon. The Barossa Valley beacon VK5RBV has been switched off to avoid interfering with stations running FT8. Mind you, VK5RBV has been operating for many years on 50.315 MHz, but the developers of FT8 have nominated 50.313 MHz as its operating frequency. The WIA Technical Advisory Committee is carefully looking at the matter and welcomes input as it looks for a new beacon frequency. The obvious choice would appear to be the band segment beginning at 50.400 MHz. This segment has already been adopted by IARU Region I as its new exclusive beacon segment, and it is logical for us to follow the same path.

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