HFU HF Underground

General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: TonyD on July 01, 2022, 1002 UTC

Title: April/June 2022 Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: TonyD on July 01, 2022, 1002 UTC
Comreg is having a cleanup of the Shortwave band here in Ireland

Be careful out there folks.

(No idea where else to put this Ray)
edit by Shortwave_Listener: Moving this topic to General Radio Discussion
Title: Re: Comreg Raids
Post by: Brian on July 01, 2022, 1110 UTC
I heard a whisper about this this morning. I wonder why?
Title: Re: Comreg Raids
Post by: Harmony on July 01, 2022, 1258 UTC
I heard that Comreg had received complaints from their German counterparts.
One would wonder why that was when there was no interference to any German legitimate stations.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids
Post by: Stretchyman on July 01, 2022, 1652 UTC
Yes just heard from a local source.

Sad news... :'(
Title: Re: Comreg Raids
Post by: Shortwave_Listener on July 01, 2022, 1655 UTC
What stations have been raided? I can’t seem to find anything online.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids
Post by: Radio Parade on July 01, 2022, 2223 UTC
I heard that Comreg had received complaints from their German counterparts.
One would wonder why that was when there was no interference to any German legitimate stations.

About two years ago, around Christmas time, Bogusman got raided by ofcom and UK police after a complaint from German maritime authorities of sideband interference of an emergency maritime channel near or on 6312 khz

I believe Radio Merlin also got raided by ofcom and UK police after a complaint by German authorities, although I'm not 100% sure on that one.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Brian on July 01, 2022, 2231 UTC
I heard 2 stations were raided.
 
I don't really want to name them in case the info is incorrect.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Misti-Radio on July 02, 2022, 1009 UTC
 :'( :'(Sad news
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Bali_Frank on July 02, 2022, 1634 UTC
I got this info from "Premier Radio"
Hi Frank, one station was raided on Thursday and one in April….. I’m not in a position to name them until I hear from the operators.
Premier Radio will not be on air until we see what is happening ! Will keep you updated.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Misti-Radio on July 02, 2022, 1707 UTC
Thanks for your information Bali Frank !!
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Brian on July 02, 2022, 1739 UTC
Usually Comreg send a letter to site owners informing them of the fines they face. This has been the case in recent years in relation to the FM pirates. This why there are few FM pirates on air these days.
Both these SW stations were, I believe, in the same part of the spectrum which makes me believe it was frequency related. Perhaps on or close to distress frequencies or frequencies reserved for something.
The chances are that Comreg were instructed, maybe by the ITU, to remove these transmitters from the air. Hence the lack of a warning letter.
I don't think it was a case of Comreg having nothing better to do.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: TonyD on November 19, 2022, 1107 UTC
The Comreg annual report is out now!!

https://www.comreg.ie/media/2022/11/ComReg-2294.pdf

Jump to page 35 for Shortwave info.

Stay safe.
Title: Re: Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Ray Lalleu on November 19, 2022, 1130 UTC
The two SW stations raided were :

Radio Sovereign (5770 kHz) Dundalk area (NW OF Ireland), complaint from UK
Last report on HF-U was on 06 APR 2022 (in the 6900 range)
Last report on 5770 was on 03 APR 2022

The Vault (6985 kHz) Carlow area (SE of Ireland), complaint from Germany
Last report on HF-U was on 18 JUN 2022
Title: Re: July 2022 Comreg Raids against SW stations in Ireland
Post by: Ethernut on November 19, 2022, 1139 UTC
From the Comreg report:

"Following extensive field investigations and co-operation from several
other European National Regulatory Authorities (“NRAs”) to determine the direction of the
incoming skywave, the transmitter location was pinpointed and confirmed by ComReg to
be coming from a private residence in the Dundalk area. "

So they likely use TDoA mapping to get the approximate area and Comreg then move in with their DF equipment to pinpoint it.
The lesson here is "don't be on air all day" and "don't stick to schedules", I think. As well as : "be aware of what's officially on the frequency you're going to use".