500 kHz (600m) Band Operation
It is amazing what a few uWs or mWs ERP can achieve!
Updated 2510.08

Links
NoV application form
Getting on 501 kHz
RSGB MF webpage
RSGB info on members only website
ERP Calculator

G0MRF's 500 kHz low pass filter
USA 500 kHz group website
Malin Head (EJM) coast radio station on 500 kHz
GM4SLV's excellent 500kHz webpage
G3YMC's MF pages  
G3YMC's 500 kHz TX

Operating

The 500kHz band was historically a maritime and emergency band but it has been little used in recent years, at least in Europe. Several national radio societies have been making overtures to their licencing authorities and now several have allocated special frequencies near 500kHz for experimental use by amateurs.

In the UK the band 501-504 kHz is available by Notice of Variation (NoV) with an ERP limit of 100mW. Despite this, normal speed CW stations have been received at my location at good strength with just a barebones FT817 (no up converters or preamps) and an untuned 15m wire with a very basic earth (central heating radiator). The band is ripe for experimentation by many others.

I have just started to TX on the band, but so far only very crudely - see below! Next stage is to build a transverter to use with the FT817 to produce a more stable rig with a bit more power.

My first QSO, crossband to 6m, was using a 20mW output signal generator keying the RF output (yes, sorry!) and coupling this via a simple (not optimised) ferrite rod ATU into my 15m long wire and central heating ground. The contact was with M0BXT 2 miles away who received the signal reasonably well on his inverted-L antenna for 40/80m.

Crossband QSOs (me on 80m) have also been made with G3XIZ and GI4DPE.                      

Stations heard so far

This is a list of the stations I heard on the band in the first few months of listening.

Note 24.10.08: I am hearing more and more stations so have not updated this list recently 

QSL cards received

I am collecting QSL cards from 500kHz stations heard.  Cards received so far (thanks to those who have QSLed direct):

G3XAQ          
G3XIZ             
GI4DPE