[VHFcontesting] 422-449 MHz UHF being jammed by Fallon NAS/FTTR.

[Michael Clarson]

Jay: We are only secondary to authorized primary users. A story: Back in
the late 1970s, our group operated a 440 repeater in Northern New Jersey.
One day, this really raucous buzz that varied in strength appeared on our
output. It was loud. It sounded broadband. Checking with some other
repeater owners and our local police. They had a 450+ MHz channel.  but it
didn't bother them much. The noise would be around for a week or so, then
be gone for about a month. One day, it was particularly bad, and one of our
guys "had enough". He figured the source was military. On our autopatch, he
calls information, asking for the number of the Navy. Operator had quite a
few, then mentioned there was one in Perth Amboy. "Give me that one."  He
calls the number, and he gets the radio operator on a ship in port!  What
luck! He explains our problem, radio operator offers to give a listen.
Sure enough, he hears it and confirms it is a radar. He also said it is not
supposed to be there -- no 450 MHz radars allowed around here. Radio
operator speculated it was from a ship from somewhere where 450 is still
used for radar that travels here occasionally. He offered to see what he
can do. The noise disappeared in a few days, and has yet to return.

The moral: Just because we are secondary, don't assume the interference is
primary, or that the primary user will not cooperate with us to minimize
interference. Track it down, and don't be afraid to "call the Navy".
--Mike, WV2ZOW

On Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 10:43 AM Jay RM <w9rm at calmesapartners.com> wrote:

> Unfortunately, we are secondary users in the 70 cm band.
>
> Part 97.301 )b states:   Amateur stations transmitting in the 70 cm band,
> the 33 cm band, the 23 cm band, the 9 cm band, the 5 cm band, the 3 cm
> band, or the 24.05–24.25 GHz segment must not cause harmful interference
> to, and must accept interference from, stations authorized by the United
> States Government in the radiolocation service.
>
> -W9RM
>
> Keith J Morehouse
> Managing Partner
> Calmesa Partners G.P.
> Olathe, CO
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 17, 2019 at 4:40 PM K7XC Tim Marek <k7xcnv1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Good Morning Folks,
> >
> > I have lived in Northern Nevada since 1977 and current reside in Silver
> > Springs, DM09jh.
> >
> > This morning was getting ready to resume tuning a new 20 ele 222 yagi I
> > finished building yesterday. Popping thru the memories on the IC706mkIIg
> IF
> > rig as I passed 432.100 SSB only to find it being jammed with some
> > wide-band digital signal.
> >
> > Looking at the interference I found the ENTIRE UHF BAND from 422MHz to
> > 449MHZ being Jammed with suedo random Pulses that change in (1)
> Frequency,
> > (2) Amplitude, & (3) Duration.
> >
> > Applying 20dB of attenuation I swept the Horizon from South through West,
> > North, East, and finally South. The Offending signal peaks around due
> east
> > which leads me to believe it is originating from either Fallon Naval Air
> > Station, Fallon NV or further East on the Fallon Tactical & Training
> Range.
> >
> > I have heard all manner of strange signals from them over the years but
> > this is the first time they have laid waste to an ENTIRE Amateur Radio
> > Band!
> >
> > These signals are loud enough they should be heard for Hundreds of Miles!
> >
> > If you have a UHF system fire it up and see if you can hear the racket
> > being generated from the Fallon EW Range, Due east of Fallon NV in
> central
> > DM09.
> >
> > I'm plan to contact one of the officials on the EW range where I used to
> > work to report this.
> > It would help I had reports from others as well to show them how
> offensive
> > this is.
> >
> > Thanks & 73s de Tim - K7XC - DM09jh... sk
> >
> > Adapt, Overcome, Succeed!
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
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