Further to the recent news about new Class licensing changes affecting 430 MHz, that news item also revealed that
                    that the WIA had raised concerns with the SMA about the proliferation of permitted devices on the 2.3 GHz, 5.65
                    GHz and 24 GHz bands.

                    However, the Class licence for "low interference potential devices" (LIPDs) updated in June also provided new
                    access for RF identification (RF ID) transmitters at 2.93-3.58 MHz and 7.2-10.01 MHz, which potentially impacts
                    the 80m and 40m bands. The 80m band has been shared with Class-licensed "RF tag" devices (for 3.5-3.7 MHz
                    operation) since 1990 (see WIA News, Amateur Radio magazine, April 1990, p.3). RF tags are a technology used
                    for 'wireless' identification or security of merchandise. However, with radiated powers of 30 picowatts, their signals
                    fade into to the general urban noise level within 30-40 metres of where the devices are installed.

                    The new allocations for RF ID applications are authorised for a maximum power of 100 picowatts (EIRP), which
                    means that about 100m or more away from the source, the signal falls below the general urban RF noise levels. If
                    you're unlucky enough to live next door to a location where one is installed and it interferes with 80m reception, a
                    polite approach to the operator and local ACA area office should open the way to solving the problem. As a
                    taxpayer and a fee-paying licensee, you're entitled to relief from interference.

                    While the earlier LIPD Class licence which the June issue replaced provided access for telecommand/telemetry
                    and RF ID transmitters of 1 W on 2400-2450 MHz, and 5725-5875 MHz, devices having 2 W output are now
                    permitted on 5795-5815 MHz. The previous access for 1 W devices has been split into two sub-bands, at
                    5725-5795 MHz and 5815-5875 MHz. Any devices operating in 5815-5875 MHz may affect satellite reception as
                    5830-5850 MHz is the amateur satellite downlink segment on the 6cm band. The only saving grace (?) is that these
                    devices are intended for in-building applications and employ low-gain antennas. Amateurs are a secondary
                    service on this band, and that includes amateur satellites. Radiolocation (radar) is the primary service, so there's
                    going to be more sharing.

                    The situation on 13cm (2300-2450 MHz) has been deteriorating in recent years and the outlook for amateur
                    operations on the band is not bright. Already, activity has been affected since the introduction of microwave
                    distribution services (MDS) in 1993, using 2300-2400 MHz for Pay TV distribution and for commercial high speed
                    data links. Installations have proliferated in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Both narrowband and
                    wideband amateur activities have been affected in these cities, in areas surrounding MDS installations. In addition,
                    wireless local area network (wireless LAN) systems are an application for which a special Class licence was
                    created in 1996, licensing spread spectrum modulation equipment for powers up to 4 W, specifying bands at
                    2400-2483 MHz and 5725-5875 MHz.

                    Other applications include wireless PABXs, wireless barcode readers and point-of-sale (POS) networking.
                    Transmitter power of 200 mW is allowed in 2463-2483.5 MHz, 4 W in 2400-2463 MHz, and 1 W in 5725-5875
                    MHz. These applications are also generally meant for in-building installations and employ low-gain antennas.

                    As Amateur activity is "retreating" to 2400-2450 MHz, the 4 W power for devices using 2400-2463 MHz represents
                    an additional potential threat to amateur operations, especially considering the 2400-2403 MHz Amateur satellite
                    segment and other weak-signal segments above 2403 MHz. Permission for 1 W devices in this band was brought
                    in with the 1993 LIPD Class licence.

                    The finalisation of IEEE Standard 802.11 applicable to wireless LAN technology is likely to lead to an explosion in
                    development and sales of technology exploiting the standard and thus of systems making use of 2400-2483 MHz
                    and 5725-5875 MHz.

                    With transmitter powers of 1 W permitted on 2400-2450 MHz and 24-24.25 GHz under the LIPD Class licence, the
                    WIA raised particular objection to the latter, as the lower 50 MHz of the 1.25cm (24 GHz) band is the first primary
                    Amateur band segment above 2m, and is an amateur satellite band.

                    LIPD applications have something less than secondary status, and the licence conditions offer no protection from
                    interference. But that's of little consequence when an attempted contact fails as a result of random or intermittent
                    interference which is hard to track down.