
Intruder Watch by DARC, Germany
Competence
We deal with non-amateur radio band intruders primarily in the shortwave bands allocated for exclusive or primary use by the Amateur Radio Service up to 30 MHz under the International Telecommunication Treaty and the german amateur radio regulations:
Frequency (kHz) | Band |
7.000 - 7.200 | 40m band |
14.000 - 14.350 | 20m band |
18.068 - 18.168 | 17m band |
21.000 - 21.450 | 15m band |
24.890 - 24.990 | 12m band |
28.000 - 29.700 | 10m band |
In the national context it's regulated by Amateurfunkverordnung (AFuV), Anlage 1 (zu § 1 Nr. 6).
In cooperation with the German Federal Network Agency
(Bundesnetzagentur)

Monitoring and reporting centre for foreign radio services within the exclusive amateur radio bands up to 30 MHz (shortwave, HF)
The Intruder Monitoring Unit of the DARC is the intruder watch of the DARC e.V. and deals with unauthorised use of our bands by other radio services within the framework of frequency monitoring.
At the same time, it serves as a reporting centre for the radio amateur community and in this function receives reports on intruders. On this basis, we consolidate the information and, if necessary, initiate official steps that lead to the shutdown of illegal transmissions.
Unauthorised use of the amateur radio bands occurs when a foreign station uses the 40-, 20-, 17,- 15-, 12- or 10-metre bands, because according to the international telecommunications treaty these bands are exclusively allocated to amateur radio.
About radio intruders
Intruders are, for example, radio transmitters or their harmonics, digital modes of operation - such as Morse telegraphy, radio teletype or multiplex transmissions from the military, embassies or international organisations - radiotelephony traffic from the circle of users just mentioned and private radio pirates in the SSB (single sideband), AM (amplitude modulation) and FM (frequency modulation) modes of operation, the most diverse digital modes of operation, over-the-horizon radars, ocean wave radars, drift net buoys or illegal taxi radio.
The Intruder Monitoring Unit is not directed against radio amateurs who, for example, do not comply with band plans or harass or insult other radio amateurs. We also cannot help with local interference, such as that caused by PCL or switching power supplies.

Legal basis of our work
The Intruder Monitoring of the Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club e. V. is the German branch of the "International Amateur Radio Union Monitoring Systems" (IARU-MS) according to the IARU Resolution 12-1 "Terms of reference for the IARU Monitoring System".
Cooperations
We are in close and long-standing contact with various institutions, which we can address directly and involve directly via short channels, including offices of the radio measurement service of the german PTT (BNetzA).
Bundesnetzagentur
Prüf- und Messdienst

FSK intruder on 7080 kHz and 7088 kHz
September 8th 2022
In our exclusive shortwave bands, there are always foreign radio services that really have no business being there. Sometimes they are difficult to be recognise.
Like in the case with the evening transmissions on 7080 kHz. At first glance, it seems to be RTTY and a legal amateur radio signal. But far from it. If you take a closer look at the parameters of the transmission, you will notice that it is a non-amateur radio FSK procedure. The step rate is 50 baud with a shift of 200 Hz. This method, called CIS-50-50, is mainly used by the Russian Navy.
We are preparing a new report to the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) and ask for reception reports from the ranks of radio amateurs and SWLs.
Daniel Möller, DL3RTL
Telediffusion d'Algerie interferes in the 40m and 15m band
August 4th 2022
update August 15th 2022
Algerian Radio has made a frequency change and is now broadcasting with its lower sideband of its A3E signal the 40m band in the early morning hours on 7200 kHz.
The German intruder watch has already involved the Federal Network Agency BNetzA to obtain the withdrawal of the frequency change.
Since 15.08.2022, the station has attracted attention with its Arabic programme on 21450 kHz. In the period from 1600 to 1800 h UTC, it interferes with its lower sideband in the 15m band. further transmission took place on 26th and 30th of August 2022.
Daniel Möller, DL3RTL
Radar in the 10-metre band
May 8th 2022
In the 10-metre band, conditions are gradually improving again. In addition to interesting radio conditions, this also means that intruders are becoming more noticeable.
Currently we have problems with an over-horizon radar (OTHR) from Iran, which causes interference especially at the beginning of the band with its broadband signal. It is highly likely that this is the Ghadir radar. The intruder monitoring unit is already working on this issue and is looking forward to receiving reports.
Example May 8th 2022, centre frequency (CF) 28,200 kHz, bandwidth (BW) 46 kHz, 307/870 sps:


Alex Schill, DB3TA

Report intruders to the intruder watch of DARC
https://meldung.bandwacht.de
Any radio amateur or shortwave listener can report intruders - i.e. non-amateur radio stations, no electromagnetic interference - to the band watch at any time using the report form. This is independent of a membership in the DARC e.V..
In the report form there is also the possibility to upload a screenshot of a waterfall diagram. Unfortunately, entries by e-mail cannot be processed.
Your data will be transmitted electronically to the band watch and managed there in a digital system. This system automatically triggers an alarm and notifies all service staff of the band watch by e-mail and directly as a message on your smartphone.
It only takes a few minutes from the time you submit your report to the time the service team is informed. As a submitter, you will receive an email from our system immediately after submitting the form, with a link where you can view the progress of the processing or make additions online at any time.
According to availability and time of day, the staff will begin to condense the information, compare it with other reports and, if necessary, ask the submitter questions. Experts in foreign languages and digimodes are also involved if necessary.
If all the information is available and it is a new intruder (foreign band intruder/radio service), the data set is transmitted to the BNetzA via a coordinated procedure, which in turn creates an observation case to confirm the foreign signal.
If the new intruder is confirmed, a so-called international complaint is usually sent to the corresponding country of origin.

The DARC intruder watch also reports its most important observations to IARU R1, where they are published in a monthly newsletter together with reports from other amateur radio associations in IARU Region 1.
Team
The unit currently comprises 21 core staff from the areas of monitoring, analysis, radio directin finding, language translation, IT and project management.
Speakers

Daniel Möller, DL3RTL
Speaker Intruder Monitoring Service of DARC e.V.
National coordinator

Alex Schill, DB3TA
Deputy speaker Intruder Monitoring DARC e.V.
Head of backoffice
Core team
Monitoring service
Name | Rufzeichen | Spezialisierung |
---|---|---|
Alex | DB3TA | Processing and profiling |
Daniel | DL3RTL | Processing and profiling |
Sven | DF2KS | Processing and profiling |
Tom | DF5JL | Monitoring |
Norbert | DL8LAQ | Radio beacon monitoring |
Jürgen | DL2SCH | Radio beacon monitoring |
Analyses service
Name | Rufzeichen | Spezialisierung |
---|---|---|
Alex | DB3TA | Signal analyses |
Daniel | DL3RTL | Signal analyses |
Radio direction finding
Name | Rufzeichen | Spezialisierung |
---|---|---|
Erwin | DL2KCW | TDoA and evaluation |
Andreas | DK7RCA | TDoA |
Daniel | DL9EVO | TDoA |
Mario | DL4MFM | TDoA |
Per | DL2GO | TDoA |
Ralf | DL5HAI | TDoA |
Sven | DF2KS | TDoA |
Ulrich | DL1US | TDoA |
Project management
System administration
Name | Rufzeichen | Spezialisierung |
---|---|---|
Daniel | DL3RTL | Agile projekt management, system administration, Webmaster |
Data privacy
Name | Rufzeichen | Spezialisierung |
---|---|---|
Sven | DF2KS | contact person for data protection datenschutz(at)bandwacht.de |
Language translation
Info |
---|
The intruder monitoting unit has another team for translation tasks. Native speakers of a wide variety of languages (from Vietnamese to Russian to Brazilian Portuguese) are on hand to translate phonetic content to German language. |
Equipment
The monitoring service and analysis staff are equipped with modern, professional SDRs. They also have access to a computerised, automated recording system.
The direction finding service will be equipped with its own remote and networked direction finding sites before the end of the year.
In the area of organisation and administration, we work with the latest project management software and ticket systems to manage and document the assignments.
Structure

The Intruder Monitoring Unit of the DARC is divided into the Monitor Service, Analysis Service, Tracking Service as well as Translation and Project Management.
Monitoring service
The monitoring service is used to observe and log the HF bands for intruders. We make use of different sources for this.
We have technical possibilities for automated band monitoring. In addition, we receive reports from the ranks of radio amateurs, which reach us via the band watch reporting form. We call such reports community reports. They are processed in a modern electronic system.
It doesn't matter from which source the information comes: It is collected and condensed to create a profile of the intruder.
Analyses service
In monitoring, we are not always successful in classifying a signal right away. Sometimes there can be deviations or even new procedures. We have the relevant experience and resources to analyse such signals and assign them to a specific procedure.
Radio direction finding service
It is important to know where the foreign signal comes from. Only then it can be assigned to a specific radio service or originator with a high degree of probability. The DARC band watch uses the KiWi network with the TDoA function for this purpose.
In order to be able to achieve a consistently high DF quality, the band watch is currently setting up its own KiWi at locations far apart from each other. These are equipped with very sensitive antennas and are exclusively available to the intruder watch.
Language translations
Not all foreign signals can be assigned to digital operating modes. Occasionally, they are also transmissions in phonics. The intruder watch maintains a network of translators, including for Eastern European and Asian languages.
Project management, development and data protection
To operate our systems and design concepts for a wide range of tasks, the intruder monitoring unit has its own project management, developers and a contact person for data protection. We work in a structured way according to modern, semi-agile processes and with systems that are state of the art.
Learn more
A detailed description of our measuring and receiving station can be found on its own website.
System status
Monitoring in service
Direction finding
on standby
Service team available
Software
Receivers
Winradio® G33DDC, G31DDC
Antenna splitter Elad® ASA-62
IT
- Server with RAID 10 SSD Cluster
- UPS for the entire setup
- fire alarm system
- Security technology

Technical equipment
The Intruder Monitoring Unit of DARC is the operator of its own measuring and receiving station. It is equipped with the most modern, software-supported systems and allows the automated monitoring and analysis of emissions on the shortwave bands.
Monitoring and analysis systems

The hardware consists of
a commercial broadband magnetic antenna
an antenna splitter
sevaral SDR Winradio® G33DDC nad G31DCC
a server with
the monitoring software go2monitor®
Control software for the SDR
Control software for the antenna splitter
and various other support systems
Automated Radio Monitoring
The core of our system is the Procitec go2monitor® software. It allows us to scan shortwave frequency ranges for emissions in real time. The system simultaneously records all signals and classifies them. The parameters of the emissions are written into a database and stored there for further evaluation.
The following video shows part of our facility in operation, using the 40-metre band as an example:
Procitec go2monitor® in use at the Intruder Monitoring of DARC e.V.

DL0IMO is the club station of the Intruder Monitoring Unit (intruder watch).
DR50BAWA is the special call and 50BW the special DOK for the 50th anniversary of the band watch of the DARC e.V.
The Intruder Monitoring team is also QRV on the bands under the call DL0IMO.
IMO stands for Intruder Monitoring.
Call | DOK | QSL |
---|---|---|
DL0IMO | IMO | via bureau |
Radio contact will be exclusively with intruder watch staff.
We look forward to contacting you and confirm QSL cards via the office.
Special call sign DR50BAWA and special DOK 50BW
The Bandwacht celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022.
To mark this occasion, from 01.01.2022 to 31.12.2022 we will issue the special DOK 50BW
and work with the special call sign DR50BAWA.
Call | special DOK | QSL |
---|---|---|
DR50BAWA | 50BW | via bureau |
Contacts will be made exclusively with the intruder watch staff.
For every QSL card received, we send a special anniversary QSL card via the office.
Dates
You can find the activity dates under this link at QRZ.com.
QSL
We confirm contacts with a QSL card via the office.

Note
We share the 80-, 60- and 30-metre bands with other radio services, which may have priority and which we have to avoid.
Band | Frequency (kHz) | ID | Mode | ITU | System | Bandwidth (Hz) / Shift | Baud |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
all bands | all frequencies | FMCW | diverse | Ionosonde/chirpsounder | |||
160m | 1.810,50 | YR1TOP | A1A | ROU | |||
160m | 1.814,00 | J3E-L, J3E-U | RUS | BRAS-3/RS-10 | |||
160m | 1.852,00 | IPP | J3E-U | I | Phonie | ||
160m | 1.855,00 | IQP | J3E-U | I | Phonie | ||
160m | 1.876,00 | IQN | J3E-U | I | Phonie | ||
160m | 1.888,00 | IPD | J3E-U | I | Phonie | ||
160m | 1.896,50 | PSK-8 | D | STANAG 4285 | 2400 | 2400 | |
160m | 1.925,00 | IPL | J3E-U | I | Phonie | ||
80m | 3.506,00 | PSK-2A | RUS | AT3004D | 2400 | 120 | |
80m | 3.525,00 | PSK-8A | F | LINK 11-SLEW | 2400 | 2400 | |
80m | 3.527,00 | F1B | RUS | 200 | 50 | ||
80m | 3.531,00 | REA4 | N0N | RUS | |||
80m | 3.532,00 | PSK-4 | F | LINK 11-CLEW | 6000 | 75 | |
80m | 3.548,00 | F1B | RUS | 200 | 50 | ||
80m | 3.550,70 | PSK-4, PSK-8 | ISR | 2400 | 75/2400 | ||
80m | 3.553,80 | PSK-8A | TUR | STANAG 4285 | |||
80m | 3.581,80 | PSK | TUR | 2400 | |||
80m | 3.585,00 | F1C | TWN | WX-Fax 120 rpm. | 800 | ||
80m | 3.586,00 | PSK-2A | HOL | 40 | 40 | ||
80m | 3.593,70 | D (RCV) | A1A | RUS | |||
80m | 3.593,80 | P (RMP) | A1A | RUS | |||
80m | 3.593,80 | S (RIT) | A1A | RUS | |||
80m | 3.622,50 | JHM | F1C | J | 800 | ||
80m | 3.631,00 | ISR | PSK-4, PSK-8 | 2400 | 75/2400 | ||
80m | 3.657,00 | V | A1A | UZB? | |||
80m | 3.752,00 | PSK-8A | TUR | Link 11-SLEW | 2400 | 2400 | |
80m | 3.756,00 | J3E-U? | RUS | ||||
60m | 5.361,80 | OUA15 | PSK-8 | DNK | STANAG 4285 | 2400 | |
60m | 5.355,70 | PSK | LINK 11 | 2400 | |||
30m | 10.100,80 | DDK9 | F1B | D | RTTY | 450 | 50 |
30m | 10.144,00 | DK0WCY | A1A | D | Aurora beacon |
Errors and typos excluded.
IARU Monitoring System Region 1
Landing page of the higher-level monitoring system of IARU Region 1.
intervalsignals.net
Website with sound samples of radio identification melodies.
schoechi.de
Website of Martin Schöch with information on Clandestine Stations.
fading.de
Introduction to Utility DX.
Ionosonde Juliusruh, Insel Rügen
Plot of the current ionogram*.
*Ionograms are graphical representations of the current state of the ionosphere in relation to a specific location or area.
We see the ionosphere with reflective layers (D layer, Es = Sporadic E, F1 and F2 layer, MUF = maximum usable frequency). N/A = not available = not available. The ionograms are updated continuously.
Explanation of the ionogram (PDF)
Ionosonde Dourbes, Belgien
Plot of the current ionogram.
Ionosonde Pruhonice, Tschechien
Plot of the current ionogram.
AKM Polarlicht Vorhersage
Link to the warning list.
DR2W DX-Propagation
Map of the current propagation behaviour.
dxinfocentre.com
Tropospheric overreach.
Überhorizontradar Wikipedia
Ausführliche Erklärungen zum Themengebiet Überhorizontradar.
Note
We do not accept Intruder reports via this form.
To report an intruder please use the following form:
In order to communicate with the Intruder Monitoring Service in an encrypted way please follow these