ROS interfering with international beacon network

A new amateur radio digital mode is causing havoc to reception of the NCDXF international beacon chain on 14.100MHz.

The culprit is ROS - a new spread-spectrum, multi-tone mode that is already being considered as illegal in the US where spread spectrum cannot be used below 222MHz according to FCC rules.

The ROS frequencies have been declared as 14.098MHz and 14.1011MHz, but Steve Nichols, secretary of the RSGB's Propagation Studies Committee, says that ROS has been heard wiping out weak beacon signals on 14.100MHz.

"This is a real shame," Steve said. "The international beacon chain is a very important tool for understanding HF propagation. Many people around the world use it and a lot of effort has gone into automated monitoring using programs such as FAROS. The weaker beacons are being wiped out by S9 signals at times.

"I would urge the originators of ROS to think again about their choice of frequency - or at least ensure that users are not interfering with 14.100MHz."