[Laser] Remarks on regulations and contest rules in DL - Laser vs. LED

[Dieter Palme]

hi OM's
Here are some remarks from Pit, responsible for:
DARC e.V. VUS department 'Terahertz Communication', person in charge: P.
Greil, DL7UHU
73 Dieter dl7udp
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Since years unobstructed HAM- and contest activities are acomplished
above 0.3 THz in DL.

 Nevertheless some frequency-bands between 0.3 and 1 THz are not allowed
to be used for 
HAM purposes.

 Legal fundamentals for the operation is the following "administrative
order 14/2005". 
No restrictions concerning bandwidth, operation mode, transmission mode
and type of 
light-source are given.

 Of course the general safety rules for light-sources (like laser, LED
or others) 
according DIN EN 60825-1 have to be applied.

 The term "laser" or "coherent" does not show up in the regulations as
an restriction. 
However no one dictates the use of an electron-tube in a RF-band
power-amplifier and 
calls this "Tube-radio".

 In the contest- and HAM-rules for Germany the frequency band 0.3 to
1667 THz is cited 
to be equitable to all other bands.
The microwave contest rules simply are expanded to the region above 0.3
THz. Solely the 
supplements for contest activities have to be accounted for.

 No limitations are given for certain operating modes. For distance
calculation a more 
precise system than the standard 6-digit locator-system (Maydenhead)
should be used. 
There is also log- and contest software availlable, which makes use of
"THz" notation 
and a 8 to 10 digit locatorsystem.

 The first places in contest operation where mostly acquired by
THz-transceivers which 
make use of an IRLED (Infrared Light Emitting Diode).

 Sadly the contest participation in the lower bands (<24 GHz) is mostly
much higher.

Vy 73 Pit dl7uhu 

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Administrative Order No 14 / 2005

Amateur service; conditions of use in the frequency bands above 444 GHz

As provided for by additional condition of use no. 15 of Annex 1 letter
B of the 
Amateur Radio Ordinance (AFuV) of 15 February 2005 (Federal Law Gazette
I page 242), 
the conditions of use for amateur service in the bands above 444 GHz are
hereby 
determined and published in conformity with footnote D565 of the 
Frequency Band Allocation Ordinance of 28 September 2004 (Federal Law
Gazette I page 2499).

Footnote D565 states that frequency bands 444-453 GHz, 510-546 GHz,
711-730 GHz, 
909 926 GHz, 945-951 GHz and frequencies above 956 GHz can be used by
the amateur 
service. For use of these bands by the amateur service, the following
conditions apply 
in conjunction with DIN EN 60825-1 of October 2003 and correction 1 of
June 2004 
(subsequently designated "the standard").

1.	Equipment used by radio amateurs admitted to the amateur service
with a class E 
certificate and operation of this equipment must be in conformity, in
its entirety, 
with laser classes 1, 1M, 2 or 2M of the standard.
Equipment used by radio amateurs with a class A certificate and
operation of this 
equipment must be in conformity, in its entirety, with laser classes 1,
1M, 2, 2M, 
3R or 3B of the standard.

2.	Interference may not be caused to other radio equipment. No
protection against 
interference is given. The provisions of the German Electromagnetic
Compatibility Act 
(EMVG) of 24 September 1998 (Federal Law Gazette I page 2882) must be
observed.

3.	When radio equipment classified as laser class 3B is used, the
safety distances 
must be calculated and observed for an exposure period of at least 100s
before the 
beginning of the experiments according to the above standard. This also
holds good for 
the so-called extended safety distance if observation is possible with
optical aids or 
instruments (e.g. binoculars).

4.	Equipment and its emissions must be configured in such a way
that, in particular, 
persons are not endangered. If necessary, the calculation referred to in
3 must be 
extended to include laser classes 1, 1M, 2, 2M and 3R, taking account of
the exposure 
period occurring in practice. Nor may the safety of surface, maritime or
air traffic 
be affected by the experiments.

5.	Provided there is compliance with the essential requirements of
the standard, 
other types of oscillator and emission than those named in the standard
can be used. 
The standard should be applied accordingly.

The regulatory authority can include further conditions and amend the
conditions of 
use at a later time.


 [1] 	Changed to no. 14 with the First Ordinance amending the
Ordinance concerning 
the Amateur Radio Act of 25 August 2006(Federal Law Gazette Part I 2006,
No 41, 
p 2070 of 31 August 2006).
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