Australia Intros New Over The Horizon Radar System

Has a new state-of-the-art over-the-horizon radar in Australia's Torres Strait become the source of interfence to that nations Amateur Radio operations? Bruce Tennant, K6PZW reports:

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At least one ham down under is asking just that question. This, after the Australian Government launches a trial of the new early warning system that meant to boost that nations protection of its northern borders from drug runners, disease, illegal immigration and unlicensed fishing.

But some believe that the new radar could already be the source of objectionable interference to ham radio operations. In fact, Dale McCarthy,VK4DMC in North of Queensland State asks if the radar trial could be the source of the pulse type signals that we are hearing on 40 and 80 meters. And the answer is that nobody knows. At least not yet.

The Wireless Institute of Australia describes the installation as consisting of two sites. A 440 meter long receiver array is located on Dauan Island, in the northern Torres Strait. The transmitter is on an uninhabited island, to the north of Badu Island, in the middle of Torres Strait. Actual transmit power is not discussed but the W-I-A quotes a government release that says the new radar system can detect surface vessels and low-flying aircraft beyond the visible horizon. As such, it has the potential to deliver 24-hour wide-area coastal surveillance of aircraft, ships and boats travelling in the Torres Strait. It also has the potential to provide early storm warnings and to protect offshore oil and gas installations, if further developed and deployed.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.


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Meantime, if you hear any interference on the high frequency bands that might be attributed to this radar system, please notify the Amateur Radio Inteuder Watch Coordinator for the country that you live in. Be certain to include any directional bearings of the you may have along with the UTC time and date you heard it. You must make reports using UTC since that is the only world-wide time standard for investigators to refer to as they proceed. (WIA News)

Source: Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1454