If you tried to work the Bouvet Island DXpedition, you heard some nasty deliberate interference (DQRM). Well, the Northern California DX Foundation has had enough. They’re going to be issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to address this problem. Their website reads:
DQRM RFP Project
The Northern California DX Foundation recognizes the negative aspect deliberate QRMers are having on our hobby. We believe this is a problem that can be mitigated by applying amateur operators’ vast knowledge and receiving tools to good use. In order to spur research into solving the problem the NCDXF Board of Director’s at their latest Board meeting allocated $100,000 to help develop solutions.
NCDXF will entertain grant proposals from individuals and/or groups that specifically outline their approach to identify bad actors. A group of directors led by Craig Thompson (K9CT) and Don Greenbaum (N1DG) will weigh the probability of success of these proposals as well as monitor the progress of the grantees.
Funding is available for R & D as well as implementation of the technology. It is hoped that manufacturers will also assist us with equipment and resources.
NCDXF will shortly outline specifics for how to apply for these grants.
So, get your thinking caps on. This is serious money to address a serious (to the NCDXF, anyway) problem.
During WWII, a lot of money was spent in putting up fixed DF systems, supplemented by mobile DF setups to resolve the ‘last mile’ after the fixed systems gave a triangular box that often was accurate to within a several block area.
The idea was to find any ‘rogue’ or enemy transmitters on US soil, and it was pretty impressive the speed and accuracy the overall system achieved.
Of course, it required a lot of manpower around the clock, including volunteers to ‘scan the bands’ looking for rogue signals. Likely something all but impossible to put together these days, it would seem.
WWII of course, gave US citizens and military the impetus to put all this in motion.
With modern computers and number crunching, it should be workable to allow the computers to do what 24/7 humans did in WW II. The next step would be getting the (underfunded) FCC to do something about the QRM’ers. It is, after all, illegal.
Not that I necessarily condone direct physical (or even mental/psychological/emotional) confrontation, with some maladjusted individuals this is ofttimes the only way they will take a hint.
It’s past time to always cry for the authorities to take care of QRM. Either do something about it, or stop complaining.
Just my (not-so) humble opinion. 73.