The IARU Region 1 Monitoring System is ever vigilant in monitoring the amateur bands for intruders. It is ably led by Coordinators Wolf Hadel, DK2OM, and Uli Bihlmayer, DJ9KR. To aid in their work they initiated an online reporting system via [email protected] last year.

On April 12, Bihlmayer first observed a shortwave station on 7150 and 7190 and alerted the monitoring group to listen and send reports to their appropriate authorities. Through combined efforts, he identified the station as Radio Kuwait. Once the station was identified, Bihlmayer immediately informed the German Federal Net Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) to monitor the QRGs and to send an official complaint to KWT. Also he sent a fax and an e-mail to the Embassy of KWT in Berlin and e-mails to Radio Kuwait and to the Ministry of Telecoms in Kuwait.

Bihlmayer invited all participating IARU Intruder Watches to inform their telecom authorities and ask them to send observations to KWT. One very important asset is that the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System has a coordinator in the State of Kuwait, Faisal Al-Ajmi, 9K2RR. He contacted Radio Kuwait and informed them of the many amateurs asking them to cease transmissions inside our bands.

On April 19, Al-Ajmi sent word that he was very pleased to inform everyone that the General Manager of Engineering for Kuwait Radio had informed him that transmissions on both 7150 and 7190 had been suspended. Al-Ajmi went on to say that this is another battle won against intruders to the 40 meter amateur band. As usual, the Region 1 Monitoring System will keep monitoring the band for any other complaints.

Amateurs in all three IARU regions expressed their thanks and congratulations to the IARU Region 1 Monitoring System for their prompt and excellent work in helping to maintain the integrity of our bands worldwide. Bihlmayer credited the online reporting capabilities as a tremendous aid in their efforts.  -- Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch Coordinator