[HCDX] Mystery signal blocking Ottawa door devices

["Paul" <format4nz@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

CBC News - CBC News: Mystery signal blocking Ottawa door devicesMay be this 
is a job for local DXers to track down the signal source ...

Paul

 http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/04/ottawa-signals051104.html?printC B C . C A   N e w s   -   F u l l   S t o r y :Mystery signal blocking Ottawa door devicesLast Updated Fri, 04 Nov 2005 09:37:24 ESTCBC NewsMany automatic garage doors in Ottawa have suddenly, and strangely, stoppedworking, due to a powerful radio signal that appears to be interfering withthe remote controls that open them.J.P. Cleroux of Ram Overhead Door Systems says the phenomenon began lastweekend."It affects a 25-mile radius. That's huge," said Cleroux.Angolan Ambassador Miguel Puna's operation is one of those affected by theproblem. He can no longer open his embassy's electronic gate."Not only in this gate, but even other gates, we are having a lot ofproblems," said Puna. "This could cause security concerns."Two companies that have plotted the reported problems on maps say theyappear to cluster in the Byward Market area just east of Parliament Hill,and a corridor leading southeast from there.The Door Doctor has received more than 100 calls from irate customers whocan't operate their doors using the usual remotes.The company installs and services Liftmasters, the most popular door openerin North America, which operates by radio frequency.The signal is transmitted on the 390-megahertz band, which is used byvirtually all garage door openers on the continent.That's the same frequency used by the U.S. military's new state-of-the-artLand Mobile Radio System.Cleroux said operators have already been warned of this phenomenon byservice updates from U.S. manufacturers, who started seeing the same problemaround military bases last summer. The strong radio signals on the390-megahertz band simply overpower the garage door openers.One technician likened it to a whisper competing with a yell."From what we hear, it is the American Embassy that's operating on 390, andthey're the only ones who can block it. But I'm not 100 per cent sure,because we're all kind of up in the air until we know exactly what's goingon," said Cleroux.The U.S. Emba
ssy denies any transmissions on that frequency. So does theCanadian military.Copyright ©2005 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved
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