IRTS Recommend Frequencies for 70 cms Hotspots

With the growth of digital modes like C4F System Fusion, D-Star and DMR, some radio amateurs have opted to set up personal hot spots so that they can access the various worldwide networks over the Internet.

These usually operate with 10 to 20 milliwatts of output power on 70cms into very small aerials a few cms long.

There have been problems reported however when users have connected large external aerials to these units and have chosen to use frequencies in the 435.000 to 438.000 MHz range. This part of the spectrum is reserved for uplinks to amateur radio satellites and some interference from hotspots has been heard.

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) has now recommended using 434.000 and 438.800 MHz for personal hotspots.

From the IRTS News...Frequency Allocation for Digital Voice Personal Hotspots
We wish to remind all operators that the frequencies used on some personal hotspot devices have become an issue and it has become necessary to allocate specific frequencies for their use. 434.000 Mhz & 438.800 Mhz are the two frequencies recommended so we would request anyone using a personal hotspot device to consider reprogramming their unit to one of these frequencies. Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.