UKQRM Fighting For Short Wave Radio

What does UKQRM stand for? UK as we are based in the UK and QRM is the radio code for Man-made interference, such as that from badly made equipment. There are many so called 'Q' codes click here for some more information.

Are we going to stand by and allow the whole sale jamming of the short wave radio spectrum?

Click this speaker to hear about the problem in non technical language

British Telecom with its BT Vision package and many independent electrical and computer stores/outlets are supplying power line adaptors to as many homes as they can!

What's wrong with that you might ask?

Well there is one element of this package that is causing the death of short wave radio!

Shortwave radio is the medium used by most International Broadcasters to transmit their programming to the World. Commonly referred to as World Band Radio, it has amazing properties that allow world wide communications and it has been in use since Marconi made his first historic transmissions.

Shortwave broadcasts are found in the 2Mhz to 30Mhz band of the radio
spectrum (just above the Medium waveband) and include many thousands of users: Military, Shipping, Long Range Aircraft communication, Space, Amateur, safety of lives and World Broadcasters.

Many Millions of people listen to short wave radio every day, some relying on it for their very existence.
Modern short wave equipment is very sophisticated and can even be computer controlled.
Shortwave radios cost from a few pounds to many thousands of pounds (GBP £) There is a huge world market in shortwave equipment!

We believe it is of paramount importance that its uninterrupted use is
maintained and protected.

(click here for one source of information>>>

Yet despite all this various companies have chosen to ignore this and obliterate this well used and loved radio band.
UKQRM is a group for people to come together and fight against this stupid poorly designed and questionable technology!

Its Piracy pure and simple

The problem is caused by the Power Line Adaptors (Powerline Ethernet)

These are used to set up a home network by passing signals over the mains wires of the house! carrying video and data. To do this they use the almost all of the shortwave spectrum 24 hours of every day! even while no data is being passed.

The result is that the mains wires being unscreened act just like antennas and broadcast the video/data far and wide outside of the house concerned!

This has little to do with Internet access or being connected! you don't need power line ethernet to use the Internet or even BT Vision! UKQRM is not trying to stop people being connected to the Internet, why would we? we all use it every day.

Have a look at our videos page to hear and see the problem.

Many thousands of people use and listen to short wave radio every single day here in the UK and more around the globe, its uniqueness and ability to allow far flung stations around the world to be tuned in from the comfort of your arm chair has fascinated and delighted generations.
This is all under threat now!

There are two types of these terrible adaptors!

Universal Powerline Association (UPA) as used by the BT Comtrend adaptors and Home Plug Power Alliance (HPA) less intrusive but still a problem! Our main focus is the UPA type but we are also very concerned about the HPA and any type of Power Line Communication.

Join us at UKQRM if you are suffering from this interference or feel you could contribute to our very active group.

Make your stand today, tomorrow really will be too late!

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/UKQRM/

28th October 2008 Ofcom have announced their intention to investigate complaints of PLT interference and have set up a special phone number for reporting.

Click here to visit the Ofcom web page!

27/01/2009 Ofcom invited UKQRM to its London office, see the link in the menu section above!

The Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 has been deemed not to apply to PLT despite the fact that
PLT is indeed a radio transmitter. It would not work without generating and transmitting
radio energy into the mains wires which are no different from any other unscreened wire.

However the EMC regulations do apply and we feel that PLT does not meet them!

EMC Essential requirements are:

Equipment shall be designed and manufactured, having regard to the state of the art, so as to
ensure that—
(a) the electromagnetic disturbance it generates does not exceed a level above which radio
and telecommunications equipment or other equipment cannot operate as intended; and
(b) it has a level of immunity to the electromagnetic disturbance to be expected in its
intended use which allows it to operate without unacceptable degradation of its intended
use.

Part III, General Requirements - Apparatus:

15.No person shall place on the market apparatus unless either the following requirements, or
the corresponding requirements of the EMC Directive as implemented under the law of another
state in the Community, are met.

UKQRM LINKS

Notches, are they the way forward ? Click here to see.

UKQRM Links to supporters sites Click here to visit.

Click the speaker to visit the UKQRM QRM sample database

If you think this is all just panic then click here to see what a professional says

ukqrm@insussex.fsworld.co.uk

From the http://www.newscientist.com/ in a recent article about BPL