Topband: 80m QRM

[Tom Frenaye]

Here's a followup report on the results of efforts made last year by some 
on the Topband reflector and through PR in the ARRL Letter to track down 
some nasty noises on 80m:

Excerpt from Newsline 4/7/2000  (Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF)

During the latter part of the Cold War, a Russian-built over-the-horizon, 
or OTH radar system swamped large chunks of the short-wave broadcast and 
amateur bands. So much so, that some receivers and transceivers were fitted 
with 'woodpecker' noise blankers. Thanks to perestroika, the use of the 
system was reduced, and it was eventually tested only rarely.

It now appears that the Canadian government, the Canadian Department of 
National Defence and Raytheon have agreed to use an up-to-date OTH system 
with a range of about 450km. Because of wide-band interference which 
enveloped the 80-metre band in eastern Canada and the north-eastern United
States, negotiations between sand departments of the Canadian government 
have resulted in the frequencies being shifted outside the 80-meter amateur 
band on the 7th of October last year.  Moving the frequencies does not 
remove the problem. However; someone else will be suffering now.

While Canada hopes to keep the radar system outside the ham radio bands, 
many experts believe that it's not going to be all that easy. (Jeramy Boot, 
G4NJH)

Tom Frenaye, K1KI


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com