Deliberate / Intentional QRM
Many people would like me to magically cure the intentional QRM (iQRM) that we receive on some of my live-streams. Unfortunately there’s not much that can be done. I have had lengthy discussions about 2-years ago with the RSGB and although they are sympathetic, that have no “teeth” because Ofcom are extremely wary about getting involved due to cost and resources. I am not apportioning any blame to either party.
I did put a call out for volunteers who have got involved and the evidence from KiwiSDR and also by monitoring a specific station, we are confident who this is. However I am not keen to get involved myself or do anything about the problem other than use the iQRM to enhance my personal skills of working through heavy contest style QRM. However, I recognise this iQRM upsets you.
Recently Ofcom seem to have taken an about-turn with this “hands-off” policy approach. They have recently prosecuted an iQRM individual and the courts sentenced him to 26 weeks prison, suspended for 12-months. It is likely that if he ever does this again, the courts will take a dim view and probably jail him.
Ofcom’s press release is in full here:
It appears that Ofcom took action because of a large number of complaints from users of the amateur radio service that found their signals were jammed. Ofcom said:
“In February 2021 we received complaints from radio amateurs in the area, who told us they had been subjected to deliberate interference of their transmissions, as well as receiving abusive messages. The culprit had been using radio bands illegally to do this..”
Ofcom does have a method of creating an interference report and you can use their form here:
https://ofcomlive.my.salesforce-sites.com/formentry/SitesFormAmateurRadio
Feel free to use this form to draw attention to any iQRM problem.