Other services in the 73 kHz band

There are many strong signals in the 73 kHz band, using transmitter powers between 1 and 250 kW (30 - 54 dBW). These stations are listed in the ITU's International Frequency List. (This is published as a CD-ROM database twice a year, and uses data from official notifications of frequency assignments by governments to the ITU. Unfortunately it is not cheap!)

From the International Frequency List (March 1996 edition), the stations with frequency assignments in or close to the 73 kHz band are shown below. Note these are just assignments: the stations shown are not all on the air all the time, and may not be using their full permitted powers, bandwidths or classes of emission.

One particular oddity is the station called ``London''. The latitude and longditude indicated put it within a mile or two of Staines railway station. If it exists I'm sure someone would have noticed by now!

The most powerful signal heard in the UK is the Crimond/Rugby one on 73.25 kHz.

                         Freq.    Class of  Power                   Class of
STATION, Country/State   kHz      Emission  dBW   Lat.     Long.    Station
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AARJAENG, Sweden         71.5830  100H N0N  30.8  59°21'N  12°11'E  NL
HAMBURGSUND, Sweden      71.5830  100H N0N  30.8  58°31'N  11°18'E  NL
VALLDA, Sweden           71.5830  100H N0N  30.8  57°29'N  11°57'E  NL
JOMFRULAND, Norway       71.5833  1H00 N0N  30.8  58°52'N   9°36'E  NL
BAKU, Azerbaijan         72.0000  1K50 A1B  43.0  40°22'N  49°50'E  FC
S ASSISE, France         72.1000  1K50 F1B  46.5  48°32'N   2°34'E  FX
                                  120H A1B
KOSTINBROD, Bulgaria     72.2000  100H A1A  41.1  42°48'N  23°11'E  FX
                                  2K10 A2B
                                  6K00 A3E
                                  4K40 A3C
BAKU, Azerbaijan         72.3000  200H A1B  43.0  40°25'N  49°50'E  FC
SHMIDTA MYS, Russia      72.3000  100H A1A  44.8  68°57'N 179°40'E  FX
CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh   72.5000  100H A1A  43.0  22°20'N  92°00'E  FC
KARACHI, Pakistan        72.5000  100H A1A  43.0  24°50'N  67°10'E  FC
JELOEY, Norway           72.8500  400H A1B  46.5  59°26'N  10°36'E  FX
                                  150H F1B
                                  100H A1A
RUISELEDE, Belgium       72.9000  100H A1A  40.0  51°05'N   3°20'E  FX
                                  100H F1B
DUTCH HARBOR, Alaska     73.2500  100H A1A  47.0  53°53'N 166°32'W  FC/FX
                                  600H F1B
KODIAK, Alaska           73.2500  100H A1A  46.0  57°44'N 152°30'W  FX
CRIMOND, Scotland        73.2500  100H A1A  46.0  57°36'N   1°55'W  FC
                                  300H J7B  46.0
                                  190H F1B  43.0
RUGBY, England           73.2500  100H A1A  46.0  52°22'N   1°11'W  FC
                                  2K00 F1B
ARKHANGELSK, Russia      73.4000  100H A1A  41.8  64°33'N  40°32'E  FC/FX
HALIFAX NS, Canada       73.6000  100H A1A  54.0  44°40'N  63°36'W  FC
                                  400H F1B
BOMBAY, India            73.6000  100H A1A  50.0  19°00'N  73°00'E  FC
DEUTSCH ALTNBG, Austria  73.8500  500H F1B  44.8  48°06'N  16°55'E  FX
                                  100H A1A
CRIMOND, Scotland        74.2000  400H J7B  46.0  57°36'N   1°55'W  FC
LONDON, England          74.2000  100H A1A  40.0  51°28'N   0°30'W  FC
                                  190H F1B
AKKUL, Kazakhstan        74.2000  6K00 B8E  30.0  43°27'N  70°45'E  FX
                                  100H A1A
PETROZAVODSK, Russia     74.4000  100H A1A  33.0  61°45'N  34°20'E  FX
KOENIGSWUSTERH, Germany  74.5000  100H A1A  43.0  52°18'N  13°37'E  FX
                                  1K10 F1B
KARLSBORG, Sweden        74.5500  1K00 A1B  40.0  58°29'N  14°29'E  FX
                                  1K00 F1B
VARBERG, Sweden          74.5500  1K00 A1B  47.0  57°07'N  12°24'E  FX
                                  1K00 F1B
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes

• The station names are as published in the International Frequency List.
• The frequencies shown are centre frequencies. With FSK transmissions, the centre frequency is halfway between the mark and space frequencies.
• The emission designator consists of two parts. The first four characters indicate the bandwidth to three significant figures (e.g. 100H = 100 Hz, 2K10 = 2.1 kHz etc). The next three characters indicate the class of emission. A rough translation is:
  • A1A = CW telegraphy, manual reception (e.g. Morse)
  • A1B = CW telegraphy, automatic reception
  • A2B = MCW telegraphy, automatic reception
  • A3C = AM facsimile
  • A3E = AM telephony
  • B8E = ISB telephony
  • F1B = FSK telegraphy
  • J7B = SSB containing multiple telegraphy channels
  • N0N = Unmodulated carrier
• The transmitter powers are the powers delivered to the antenna system. The power is the same for all classes of emission at a particular station, with the exception of the Crimond 73.25 kHz assignment.
• The classes of station are:
  • FX = Fixed station
  • FC = Fixed coastal
  • NL = Maritime radionavigation land station

© 1996 Richard Lamont