Sometimes you or others will contact the ACMA seeking advice relating to interference. Like many organisations and Government departments, ACMA is a large bureaucracy and employees hundreds of staff. Not all of them will be well versed in the nuances of amateur radio or the Radiocommunications Act. Not every enquiry will meet our expectations and there may be inconsistencies in the advice received.
Below are three examples of enquiries to ACMA and how a more appropriate outcome may have been achieved. Amateur Radio is a hobby of technical investigation, research and self-help. We must use our skills, be proactive and we must take some ownership for QRM issues; whatever the source.
Follow the guidelines, tools and techniques presented in QRM Guru. Seek out assistance from fellow hams or clubs. Build and maintain friendly relationships with your neighbours. Above all, be realistic and exercise good judgement when dealing with others.
Engaging ACMA for formal assistance should be a last resort.
Situation: “Amateur causing nuisance transmissions”
An amateur’s 7MHz transmissions are causing interference to his neighbour’s televisions. The neighbour has five televisions fed through a distribution box, possibly with some form of mast-head pre-amplifier. The neighbour is aggressive and unwilling to assist. ACMA are contacted and advise the amateur that “his station could be shut down for nuisance transmissions”.
What should have happened:
The amateur is transmitting 50W and has a clean and compliant station. The problem is with the neighbour’s television antenna feedline system (most likely). Either it is poorly installed or has a broadband pre-amplifier that is amplifying unwanted signals; in this case the 7MHz amateur signal.
ACMA should, at the very least, acknowledge the amateur and inform his neighbour that the problem lies in his television antenna feedline system. The neighbour should have been advised to either work with the amateur or employ a television antenna professional to resolve the problem in collaboration with the amateur.
As with all externally sourced QRM, we must take ownership and work cooperatively to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome. Reverting to the Regulator should be a last resort, but, when contact is finally made, we should expect reasonable support.
Amateurs are a licenced service just like any other administered by ACMA. As long as our transmitters are not generating spurious emissions, and we are operating within our licence conditions, we can not be shut down on the basis of supposed “nuisance” interference to TV broadcasts.
UPDATE – What actually happened (March 2020):
“Update… the neighbour has chilled a little. He has accepted an offer from me, at my expense, to have a professional TV guy fix his system. I have some nice HF High Pass Filters (70db rejection below 54MHz) coming from the USA… would you believe they were on sale for $2.95US…. the TV tech is replacing the coax (he thinks that is the most likely issue), installing a new masthead amp, and possibly a new antenna. About $350-400… the price of operating.
$850… I’m in the dog house with the wife for agreeing to it… he had a heavily corroded antenna connected to coax that had gone brittle. He was then using an internal amplifier to split the noise 5 ways… I had to think long and hard but if it means being able to use the radio in peace I had to pay it.”
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Situation: “Amateur is to blame – big antennas and extra sensitive equipment”
An amateur contacts ACMA to seek advice relating to RFI caused to his receiver by a neighbour’s LED lights. ACMA advise that the problem is due to his “highly sensitive receiver and big antenna” and that there is nothing they can do about it.
What should have happened:
The amateur must take ownership in these situations. Use the tools and techniques in QRM Guru to prove the neighbour’s LED lights are the source of the noise. Offer to work cooperatively with the neighbour; inform them about Amateur Radio and provide them with links to ACMA’s web site. Provide solutions, not more problems.
Check the case studies on QRM Guru to see what how fellow amateurs have dealt with similar issues.
If this doesn’t work, collate all your supporting evidence and contact ACMA. Reverting to the Regulator should be a last resort.
The amateur has rights, and these must be acknowledged and protected.
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Situation: “Amateur radio has no protection – tuff!”
An amateur is suffering QRM from power line infrastructure. The power authority has no interest in investigating the complaint and advice from the ACMA indicates there are no service obligations for power companies to resolve such matters.The ACMA also advised that Amateur Radio is a “non-protected service” and as such has no protection against any interference at any time. There are no Radio Inspectors in the area, and they would not send anyone over to investigate even if the source of the interference can be confirmed.
“Amateurs pay a minimal licence fee and that is reflected in the service provided.”
What should have happened:
Interference from mains power infrastructure may interfere with amateur radio and other services. If power line noise is interfering with your station, then it may well be interfering with other services (e.g. broadcast services). If you can confirm the interference is impacting commercial broadcast AM radio you will have a stronger case.
Power line noise also represents arcing which could also be a fire hazard… the power companies need to understand that it is in their best interest to address such issues.
The amateur must take ownership in these situations. Use the tools and techniques in QRM Guru to locate and prove the source of the noise. If the power company is unresponsive, follow the guidelines provided in QRM Guru. This may mean you need to involve the Ombudsman in your state, as well as the ACMA.
Be especially diligent in your record keeping.
Check the case studies on QRM Guru to see what how fellow amateurs have dealt with similar issues.
The amateur has rights, and these must be acknowledged and protected.
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If neighbours are complaining that your station is causing interference, a critical part of your “defence” will be to illustrate your station is clean and compliant. You can do this by demonstrating that you are not causing any interference to your own TV, broadcast receiver or modems etc.
If you are ever informed by an official that the Radio Communications Act provides no protections for Amateur Radio, please ask the person to provide the reference.
The only way the Regulator can stop you transmitting is if you are interfering with another Radiocommunication (not broadcast) service – especially safety communications – maritime/aeronautical/police/fire/ambulance i.e. your transmitter has gone spurious or you are creating deliberate interference.
Amateurs are a licenced service just like any other administered by ACMA. As long as our transmitters are not generating spurious emissions, and we are operating within our licence conditions, we can not be arbitrarily shut down.
Interference to amateur radio may be against the provisions of the Act and may require action by the owner of the offending equipment. Proper representation and support for Amateur Radio requires a consistent approach by all parties. Please follow the guidelines presented in QRM Guru and continue to share your experiences with us.