IARU Region 1 Monitoring Service Reports an Apparent Success

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU-R1) Monitoring System (IARUMS) reports that the Russian military apparently responded positively to a complaint from German telecommunications authorities to eliminate an intruding signal on 20 meters. The Russian Navy “RDL” signal from Crimea had been transmitting on 14.180 MHz, using F1B at 50 baud and 200 Hz shift for several days. IARUMS said the transmissions were heard for the last time on October 31. IARU Region 1 includes Europe and Africa.

German telecommunication authorities have, so far, had less success in quelling the intrusion of Radio Eritrea (Voice of the Broad Masses) on 7.185 MHz, which Ethiopia is said to be jamming with broadband white noise. So far, Germany has filed two official complaints. IARUMS reports that 7.146.5 MHz and 7.175 MHz are still in use by Radio Eritrea. The jamming signal reported by the IARUMS is 20 kHz wide on each channel. The on-air conflict has been going on for years, and the interfering signals can be heard in North America after dark.

IARUMS Coordinator Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, said the Russian Over-the-Horizon radar (OTH) “Konteyner RLS” remains a problem on 40 and 20 meters, with lengthy transmissions, often with many spurious emissions. Hadel said the radar’s transmissions interfered with participants in the Worked All Germany Contest in mid-October.

One apparently frustrated radio amateur in Germany “tried again to chase away Russian MIL FSK traffic on 80 and 40 meters by transmitting dashes on the mark or space frequency,” the latest IARUMS newsletter reported. Hadel cautioned that such actions, even when aimed at intruding signals, are illegal. German telecommunications authorities were alerted. IARUMS also reported someone was transmitting empty Stanag 4285 mode signals on 7 MHz, hunting and QRMing German contesters on October 29. That signal was also believed to be originating in Germany. The Stanag 4285 modem is used for HF radio links between the NATO military bases.

IARUMS also reported an OTH radio on 10 meters, transmitting daily on 28.960 MHz covering about 50 kHz “with many spurious emissions.” Strong F2 propagation has also made Brazilian CBers audible on 10 meters, running AM between 28.000 and 28.325 MHz.

Source:ARRL