The WIA have recently published a consultation paper proposing a global rationalisation of the 40M band plan. I am a member of FISTS and there is obvious concern amongst members about the proposed reduction of the CW segment of the 40m band to 25kHz.
The proposals are made by fellow amateurs, working on our behalf. I agree with much of the rational in the document but am alarmed at the proposed reduction of allocation for CW on my favourite band, but I am just one user of the 40m band. Rationalising the band plan is a thankless task and any changes are unlikely to gain universal acceptance.
IARU Region 3 HF Band Plan Committee Amateur Service Consultation Document
My interests outside of SOTA are in construction and CW. The proposed CW allocation would place the current 7.030 MHz QRP COA and 7.028 MHz FISTS COA outside the CW allocation which would be frustrating for homebrewers and owners of rockbound transmitters.
I frequently find the 40 CW segment very busy, particularly during the regular CW Ops CWT events, and would welcome a segregation of contest activity. I suspect that the use of Club Log as an indicator of band activity under represents the number of CW, SOTA, POTA, and social QSOs which are unlikely to be logged on Club Log, whilst probably over representing digital modes with automated logging. What’s more, not all QSOs are equal: A contest or FT8 exchange has a much shorter duration than a 30 minute chat on CW.
Whatever your views please read the document and provide the requests feedback to help shape the future of the band, to tac@wia.org.au, before the 6th Sept .
73, Kevin, MW0KXN
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Correct me if I am wrong, Kevin, but my understanding is that despite the “official” CW allocations CW can take place anywhere in the band so the change need not affect the specialist COAs?
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There have been numerous posts on other forums and reflectors from outraged VK’s about the WIA’s solo run using poor statistical data i.e gleaned from Clublog, which while a great resource for DXers reflects only its own users. I think this proposal has already failed on its home soil before it gathers traction
Declan
EI6FR
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Hi Brian,
Whilst this is true, it would be a challenge to enjoy QRP CW on a homebrew radio, with limited filtering in a FT8 segment of the band.
As I say, my views and opinions are unlikely to be representative of the wider amateur radio community.
It is brave of anyone to propose changes when there is such a diverse range of opinion.
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While I can understand the desire to re-imagine the band plan, especially 40m, where the mismatch between the regions is considerable, I see several serious problems in that line of effort that R3 took so far.
You ask any of your friends in JA or any ham-dense region in R3 and ask how their CW bands sound like. They’ll tell you it’s nearly empty, literally “radio silence.” I often call CQ from SOTA and POTA and pick up JA stations, and follow up by emails. They very often say that “you were the only one on the CW subband so I called you back” to me, even when I was running 10W into a whip. So, there is very little CW life in R3. They need to know that the CW subbands are packed in R1 and R2 and we often get QRM even when there is no contest going on.
When I look at my LoTW, Clublog, QRZ confirmation status (for QSOs in CW only), about only 20% of the stations confirm by any method. The number is MUCH lower if I limit to Clublog. Clublog is popular among DXers but majority of CW ops in R1/R2 are not DXers.
Anyone can offer their inputs to this person in charge in VK / IARU R3. I’m certainly writing mine and I don’t mind sharing what I write with those who are seriously interested (just email me directly via QRZ or mastodon.radio).
Making changes to a band plan is always a complex problem to solve. Multiple groups need to be provided the opportunity for input and many views need to be considered. For this proposal to proceed, the following steps have been proposed:1. The IARU Region 3 member societies are asked to also circulate this among their members and form individual society views which should be communicated back to the IARU Region 3 HF Band Plan committee for consideration by the consultation deadline
2. IARU Region 3 invites IARU Region 1 and 2 to form a joint multi-region committee to progress this matter as a global IARU initiative.
3. A final multi-region proposal should be submitted for consideration by the IARU-AC and the AC be asked to determine the most appropriate pathway for ratifying the changes on a global basis that where possible avoids the delay of a further 3 year regional conference cycle.This preliminary consultation process for step 1 is now open. 10 weeks will be provided for comment, with the intention that the first formal proposal can then be formulated in time for presentation at the IARU Region 3 conference later in 2024.If you wish to provide feedback on this consultation, please send your comments addressing the consultation questions to:
tac@wia.org.au no later than 6th September 2024.
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I also think that the real problem is that there are too few CW operators in R3. (They have a LOT of phone and digital only ops there.) There is nothing wrong with it, but what are all those CW operators groups doing in R3? Are there any joint efforts to increase CW activities in Asia (and Africa)?
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Declan,
Sorry mate you are miss-informed.
This is an IARU proposal which the WIA has asked its membership to comment on.
The WIA has one vote amongst many in Region 3.
For those in Regions 1 and 2, sorry, your opinions don’t count in this exercise. This is a Region 3 proposal.
And for those hitting out at the ClubLog data, perhaps you had better start working on your own comprehensive data set. No one claims ClubLog is a perfect 100% representation of all amateur activity on 40 m. Clearly casual contacts don’t often make it to the records.
However sampling of the population is a constant activity these days. A thousand people here, a thousand there. It works well enough.
Consider ClubLog is a sample that is available in usable form. It’s a whole lot better than Tom or Dick or Harry opinionating.
And as neither Tom nor Dick not Harry are members of the WIA their complaints are ignored.
73
Ron
VK3AFW.
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And of course, what happens in Region 3 has no impact whatsoever on the rest of the world! 
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Brian,
I don’t think it matters. BTW I cannot recall the RSGB or the ARRL consulting Region 3 users for example.
Mostly what goes on in Region 3 on 40 m stays in Region 3.
It may be different for our JA friends.
I’ve never heard let alone worked a SOTA station outside of Region 3 on 40 m. 40 m is mostly a daylight band. Yes I hear Region 2 stations in the twilight hours but I rarely work them except on FT8, where we are all well behaved.
The IARU are not a bunch of wackers and know very well what is going on outside of Region 3. The WIA recommended frequency usage plan did successfully minimise inter-region problems in mode usage however a review is always a useful exercise especially with the changing digi modes usage.
But for now it’s a Region 3 matter. Regions 1 and 2 may get their turn if a working rationalisation of frequency allocations eventuates. So keep your powder dry.
73
Ron
VK3AFW.
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Excuse me, but what are these strange units - KelvinHertz (KHz)? Makes absolutely no sense!
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It is also a fairly reliable nighttime DX band though I think better at sunspot minimum. Its no skin off my nose, though I like to keep abreast of developments, but that was an isolationist comment that I just couldn’t help responding to! I have no idea of what input the national societies in R1 and R2 have in R3 but it seems to me that they should have some input because radio waves do not stop at regional borders.
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The narrower the proposed CW section in Hz, the higher the temperature of the debate in Kelvin 
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Hi Ron,
I have often worked greyline on 40m SSB from a SOTA summit back into ZL & VK (even S2S into VK1). It does mean, me getting to the summit very early though! 20m long path a couple of hours later is far easier.
73 Ed.
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…but the way those samples are picked matters. The problem with using ClubLog by itself is that it provides a rather specific biased sample. Only QSOs uploaded to ClubLog get counted, and because ClubLog is primarily aimed at DX-chasers, mode data from it is going to be biased towards modes DX-chasers use, and not representative of all amateurs. (I know the data I’ve uploaded to ClubLog is biased because recently I’ve only uploaded data to ClubLog when I’ve been operating from Kenya…).
If R3 is trying to come up with a proposal they hope will be acceptable in R1 and R2 as well as R3 then they’d better do a bit of research about what might be acceptable in the other regions. My more cynical side, having read the R3 consultation document (as published via the WIA website), wonders whether they drafted something with the explicit intention of having all options rejected. After all, given the way the 40 metre band is allocated in the US, a proposal which leaves the CW-exclusive section available only to Extra class licensees is probably going to fall a bit flat there… 
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Well done Ed.
But you still aren’t in my 40 m log.
73
Ron,
VK3AFW.
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Rick,
You need to re read the draft proposal. It’s an IARU document for Region 3.
The WIA is asking it’s members for comments and suggestions. The WIA did not write the document which is what you suggest It’s IARU delegates certainly would have contributed but how much or how little I don’t know. However it’s an IARU Region 3 document.
Getting a consensus in your Region is going to be an interesting process if the IARU goes ahead with that in the future.
(Brian,
It seems my 40 m signals do mostly not get out of Region 3. Exhibit 1 is Eds log in which I am absent on 40 m.)
As for our American cousins, their ARRL and their FCC, they will fiercely protect their own turf.
I support the R3 proposal, with a minor adjustment, and accept an expansion of band space for current and future Digi modes.
73
Ron
VK3AFW
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Ironically, this is all taking place against a backdrop of absolutely unprecedented growth in the use of CW in OC & Asia. I don’t know how many regulars VK2KI has for his evening QRS net, but as the callers pair off, you’d be hard-pressed to find a clear frequency from 7000-7050. His mailing list has 100’s of members. A1 Club’s “Giving Back” initiative also sees consistent use of 40 CW in our evenings.
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John,
Have you passed this data to the WIA?
73
Ron
VK3AFW