Italian radio amateurs can use the 70 MHz (4m) band until the end of 2025

In a previous post, I had information about how radio amateurs in Italy had permission to use the 40 MHz (8m) band in 2025. See post HERE

What may have been missed was that the permission from the Italian authorities also applied to the 70 MHz (4m) band. 

From the 8th of April to the end of December 2025, radio amateurs in Italy can use three 25kHz segments of the 70 MHz band centred on 70.100 MHz, 70.200 MHz & 70.300 MHz. These are shown in the graphic above.

The 70.200 MHz segment coincides with the SSB centre of activity. There is no overlap with the usual FT8 frequency of 70.154 MHz so Italian stations have in the past used frequencies around 70.190 MHz.

The maximum power output is 10-watts.

Italian radio amateurs get permission to use the 40 MHz band in 2025

The Italian regulator has just given permission for radio amateurs to use the 40 MHz band (8m) until the end of 2025. The approval is dated the 18th of April 2025 and is for a period of just over eight months. This is just over double the previous period which was from late August 2024 to the end of December 2024.

For the remainder of 2025, Italian radio amateurs can use 40.660 MHz to 40.700 MHz. This 40 kHz wide segment is the same of the 40 MHz ISM band (ISM - Industrial, Scientific, Medical). The maximum power allowed is 10-watts. 

The full announcement via Google Translate is as follows...

SUBJECT: Renewal of authorization for amateur radio experiments in the 40.660-40.700 MHz, 70-70.400 MHz and 1810-1830 KHz bands. Year 2025.

Reference is made to the request for renewal for the year 2025 (prot. E n. 107953 of 11.15.2024) of the authorization for radiopropagation experiments throughout the national territory presented by this Association, representing all the members who will participate, in relation to the use of the frequency bands specified in the subject matter.

In this regard, taking into account the authorization of specific competence expressed by the General Directorate for Digital and Telecommunications of this Ministry with note prot. n. 12452 of 8 April 2025, deemed necessary to meet the needs of experimentation and given the successful outcome of the previous temporary authorizations issued as well as the relevance of the multi-year research activity carried out, amateur radio experiments are authorized (under the conditions indicated below) throughout the national territory in the bands 40.660-40.700 MHz, 70-70.400 MHz and 1810-1830 KHz, on a general and temporary basis, until 31 December 2025, in which all radio amateurs with a valid general authorization for the installation and operation of a radio amateur station are allowed to participate. 

Without prejudice to the right to revoke the authorization in question upon request of the Ministry of Defense or for failure to comply with the provisions of the current legislation on the matter, the experiments must observe the following parameters and the following technical operational conditions:

- on a non-interference basis and immediate revocation in the event that phenomena of harmful interference are detected and without the right to any protection;

- in the location and with the technical characteristics indicated in the request;

- maximum transmission power equal to 10 W; 

- limited to the 70-70.400 MHz band, the Ministry of Defense points out the impossibility of assigning the entire band, but only the following individual frequencies, at 25 KHz max: 70.100 MHz – 70.200 MHz – 70.300 MHz.

- ARI must make available to MIMIT an appropriate system for tracking the experimental activities carried out by the participants, also in order to allow the timely interruption of transmissions in the event of harmful interference;

Finally, it is recalled that it is mandatory to report to the undersigned General Directorate and to the Dgtel of this Ministry on the results of the experimentation at the end of the same.

Analysis ... This is really good news for those using the 40 MHz band. The previous test period of Sept to Dec 2025 was mostly after the Sporadic-E season. The new eight month period in 2025 will cover the months of May, June & July which is the peak of the summer Sporadic-E season.

It's likely that 40.680 MHz will be the centre of activity for all activity.

For more information the 8m band, see my 40 MHz page.

ZETAGI power amps for 43 MHz

ZETAGI is a brand usually associated with CB radio products for 27 MHz although it seems that they also make RF power amplifiers for Italian CB band at 43 MHz.

The B149 and B129 models are shown below. Note that the Irish regulations for 30 to 49 MHz stipulate a maximum power output of 50 watts PEP.

ZETAGI B149

This is designed for 42-44 MHz and runs off 12v DC. It's likely that it will work down to 40 MHz as well although the power may be slightly reduced.

Note the AM / SSB switch on the right is missing and is just a blank plate. It would seem as if this unit is very similar to the B150 27 MHz model and uses pretty much the same hardware for the B149 43 MHz model.

The B149 amplifier is intended for increasing the output power of 43 MHz FM transceivers so there is no need for a TX/RX delay to stop the relay clattering on SSB. As such, it is not suitable for SSB and is more suited for just FM and CW.

ZETAGI B129

Example of Italian CB signals heard at 43 MHz...

The video clip above shows an example of a signal heard on the south-east coast of England of  a 43.3 MHz signal from Italy.

The CB band at 43 MHz in Italy is more of a 'working band' as opposed to the hobbyist nature of the band at say 27 MHz.

There is a short discussion about Italian 43 MHz radio on this forum.

It would also seem that the band is used is used to relay church services in Italy to elderly members of the public at home. Video of 43.575 MHz signal below. In Ireland, this is usually done on the 27 MHz CB band although some churches have been known to use 88-108 MHz!

Italian 43 MHz CB's for sale...

One of the obvious problems with the new 8 metre band at 40 MHz is the lack of equipment. I recently came across an Italian website selling 43 MHz radios. As outlined in a previous post, there is a CB band in Italy on 43 MHz.

The HardSoft Products website is selling the following at present...

1) INTEK - SY-5430M - MOBILE 43 MHz
...a) The Italian version has 24 channels with a 4 watt output. It covers 43.3 MHz to 43.5875 MHz. The cost is €185.

...b) The Export version has 224 channels with a 20 watt output. It covers 42.3 MHz to 45.0875 MHz. The cost is €210.

2) LAFAYETTE - MOBILE UTILITY 43 MHz 24 CHANNELS
This has 24 channels with a 4 watt output. It covers 43.3 MHz to 43.5875 MHz. The cost is €145.

Please note that these were the prices and models as of mid-March 2019. I don't know anything about the website so I can't say if it's ok or not.

Photo of the Lafayette below...

Italy gains access to the 60 metre band

It looks as if Italian radio amateurs have just been allocated a slice of spectrum on the 60 metre band.

They will be allowed to use  5.3515 MHz to 5.3665 MHz on a secondary basis with a maximum
equivalent isotropic power of 15 W (e.i.r.p.).

This follows the pattern set by many other European countries that have obtained similar allocations.

From Google Translate....
The Minister of Economic Development approved, with Decree of October 5, 2018, published in the General Series GU n. 244 of 19.10.2018, Supp. Ord. n. 49, the National Frequency Distribution Plan between 0 and 3,000 GHZ. The aforementioned Decree will enter into force, in the absence of an express indication of a different sign, 15 days after publication. Therefore, the new frequencies assigned to radio amateurs can be used, within the limits established by the Decree de quo, after the term vacatio legis.

The frequency band 5351.5-5366.5 kHz is also attributed to the amateur radio service with the status of secondary service. The stations of the amateur radio service using the 5351,5- frequency band
5366.5 kHz must not exceed the maximum equivalent isotropic power of 15 W (e.i.r.p.)
(WRC-15).

Links...
1) http://www.mise.gov.it/images/stories/documenti/NOTE-pnrf.pdf
2) http://www.ari.it/
3) http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/2907/habemus-lx-metris-italy-gains-60-meters

Italian Paging System at 40 MHz...

There was a news item on the Southgate ARC website today about a new DAPNET POCSAG Pager Gateway being licensed in the UK.

After reading up a bit on it, I found a website which lists the frequency allocations for commerrcial paging devices and it turns out that there is one in Italy at 40 MHz.

As always, I try to keep a record of any 40 MHz information here on the blog for references purposes.

Copied text below......"In Italy the 26.225-26.935 MHz band (AM/FM, odd frequency steps) and 40.0125-40.0875 MHz (in 25 kHz steps) may be used for local pagers. These frequencies are often used for on-site hospital paging systems, including voice paging."

Going off the information above, the four Italian frequencies are...
40.0125 MHz
40.0375 MHz
40.0625 MHz
40.0875 MHz

As can be seen from the proposed 8 metre band plan from the IRTS, these pagers are in the beacon band.

Considering that pagers are only intended to receive local signals, it's unlikely that they are susceptible to interference from Sporadic-E type signals. However, those frequencies are probably best avoided for beacons in Ireland or elsewhere.

Low Band VHF Pagers... I have included a list of frequencies between 30 and 50 MHz which are used for paging systems below...

Italian CB allocation at 43 MHz...

I came across a piece on the web today about an Italian CB allocation at 43 MHz. This is especially relevant considering that the proposed 8 metre radio amateur band in Ireland will go from 40.0 to 44.0 MHz.

The graphic above is from a 2012 brochure from Intek. A close up of the mobile is shown below...

International Versions... Note there seems to be an 'International Version' with 224 channels! With 12.5 kHz spacing, that's about 2.8 MHz of spectrum and it seems to cover 42.300-45.0875 MHz. The power o/p has been increased from 4w to 20w.

List of 43 MHz CB radios... Alan HM-43 4 W, Dragon MX-430 4 W, Intek K-43 4 W, Intek SY-343 4 W, Intek SY-5430M 4 W, Layayette ULTILITY

Wikipedia... Here is some info from Wikipedia...

Italy has a "VHF CB" allocation at 43 MHz, usually called "Apparati a 43 MHz" or "CB 43 MHz". 

Italy, like many other countries, suffers from extremely lax enforcement of radio communications laws, and "freeband" modified equipment covering wider frequency ranges as well as amplifiers are widely available and openly advertised by communications equipment vendors. "Freebanding" occurs with both the 27 MHz area (often as low as 25 MHz and as high as 30 MHz) and the 43 MHz area (as 43 MHz CB equipment is often modified to cover down to 34 MHz and up to 47 MHz, using 12.5 kHz steps). There is evidence of these frequencies being used outside of Italy for illegal "CB-like" operations.

Italian 43 MHz "VHF CB" or "43 MHz CB" allocation. 24 channels, FM mode, 12.5 kHz channel spacing. Each channel has a "recommended use" associated with it. Portable handheld (walkie-talkie), in-vehicle mobile and base station transceivers are available for this band. Channels are numbered in straight sequence, however many transceivers marketed for this band also include a frequency display. Due to the low-VHF band frequency characteristics of this band, it is often used as an adjunct to, or replacement for, the traditional 26–27 MHz CB allocations.

CH - FREQ - USE
1 - 43.3000 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
2 - 43.3125 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
3 - 43.3250 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
4 - 43.3375 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
5 - 43.3500 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
6 - 43.3625 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security
7 - 43.3750 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
8 - 43.3875 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
9 - 43.4000 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
10 - 43.4125 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
11 - 43.4250 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
12 - 43.4375 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts
13 - 43.4500 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors
14 - 43.4625 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors
15 - 43.4750 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors
16 - 43.4875 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors
17 - 43.5000 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities
18 - 43.5125 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities
19 - 43.5250 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities
20 - 43.5375 MHz – to aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities
21 - 43.5500 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them.
22 - 43.5625 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them.
23 - 43.5750 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them.
24 - 43.5875 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them.