Black channels
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A black transmitter is an illegally operated transmission system for which there is no license to operate in the affected territory .
Manifestations
Black transmitters are classified into three groups. If a black channel is used to broadcast television or radio programs or broadcast-like performances, it is often referred to as pirate channels . These in turn differ in land-based “free radio” and “offshore” radio broadcast on the high seas.
Second, clandestine broadcasters (secret broadcasters): The second and smallest group only partially concerned the propaganda stations operated by opposing states or governments in exile or broadcasters in the “no man's land” between two state borders. Often the “clandestine stations” were even to be ascribed to the influence of secret services or political parties or opposition groups or armed rebels.
Thirdly, black channels for transmitting messages from private individuals.
Demarcation
Black transmitters can be observed in every frequency range , from the longest wave to the microwave range.
Even non-approved transmitters for radio remote controls are black transmitters. In principle, a black transmitter can transmit in any conceivable operating mode.
Today, however, the operators of a black channel are often young people - ignorant of the regulations and the possible consequences. Their antennas and transmitting power amplifiers are mostly limited to short ranges and the responsible radio interference or radio control measuring service of the supervisory authority has little trouble to shut them down. The often accompanying broadband interference, including on secondary and intermediate frequencies, can, however, have life-threatening consequences (interference with important radio channels), of which the hobbyists are often negligently unaware.
Call sign abuse , i.e. legal damage to the rightful license holder, occurs relatively rarely with black channels .
The “ agent radio ”, which was common for a long time during the so-called “ Cold War ”, was a form of black-out broadcasting that mobile direction finders from the BND and the Bundeswehr electronic warfare system , mostly with MAD participation, tried to address, albeit with moderate success.
Today, black channels have become rarer because you can operate your own "channel" on the Internet without license problems, as long as you adhere to the GEMA regulations regarding the fees for licensed music.
There are a large number of illegal radio stations around the world that contact each other without, as in amateur radio (or CB radio ), having a permit. This includes black channels in countries with a lack of communication options or a lack of radio surveillance by authorities. Typical examples are deep-sea fishermen who shy away from the cost of satellite telephony or shortwave telephony, private ocean-going sailors, missionaries in African countries, but also simply radio enthusiasts without a license to broadcast.
Laws against black channels
The first law against black channels was enacted in Germany on November 24, 1937 (RGBl. Year 1937, part I, p. 1298). I was already used to combat political opposition , the radio - technology was using to counter propaganda. Extract from this law:
- § 1 threat of punishment:
- (1) The black channel is punished with prison .
- (2) In less serious cases, the penalty is imprisonment.
- § 2 black channel is:
- 1. Whoever sets up or operates a radio transmission system without prior award from the Deutsche Reichspost ;
- 2. Anyone who has been awarded by the Deutsche Reichspost to set up or operate a radio system, but uses the system for transmissions that are not permitted in the Deutsche Reichspost award;
- 3. who, contrary to its intended use, uses a radio receiving system for sending messages, characters, images or sounds without permission.
The penalty is in principle independent of the transmission frequency used. However, it can be increased if other radio services , such as e.g. B. aeronautical radio frequencies, navigation transmitters or radio telephony systems are disturbed.
During the Second World War , the law was tightened and the operation of a black channel was equated with treason , for which the death penalty threatened.
The Telecommunications Act valid in Germany today (as of 2020) contains the paragraph in Section 64 :
- (2) In order to ensure the frequency regulation, the Federal Network Agency can order a restriction of the operation or the decommissioning of devices. To enforce these orders, a fine of up to 500,000 euros can be set in accordance with the Administrative Enforcement Act .
Furthermore, § 149 Paragraph 1 Number 10 determines an administrative offense that can be punished with a fine of up to EUR 500,000 under Paragraph 2 Number 2 if someone uses a frequency without a frequency assignment in accordance with § 55 Paragraph 1 Clause 1. According to Paragraph 1 Number 12 and Paragraph 2 Number 4, a fine of up to EUR 100,000 can follow if someone violates ancillary provisions of a frequency allocation ( Section 60 Paragraph 2 Clause 1).
According to Section 5 (5) of the Amateur Radio Act , radio amateurs are only allowed to conduct radio traffic with other amateur radio stations, i.e. not with black transmitters. Some try in organized private initiatives to identify unauthorized users of their frequency ranges .
Article 109 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea deals with combating unauthorized broadcasts from the high seas. Among other things, it allows states in which such broadcasts can be received to arrest people, detain ships and confiscate broadcasting equipment.
Troubleshooting by radio interference suppression services
Interference caused by the unauthorized transmission of a transmission signal is generally prohibited. In Germany, they are determined by the Federal Network Agency , the successor to the former radio interference suppression service, usually at the request of the person concerned. The polluter is obliged to comply with the statutory provisions for a fee or the source of the interference is confiscated. Additional legal measures can then be taken.
Web links
- Example of a black channel that does not broadcast a radio program
- via hobby black channels that broadcast radio programs at spiegel.de
- www.addx.org/textarchiv/04-23-64-65.pdf
- Excerpt: Black channel Gemini
- Sample recording of a number sender
Individual evidence
- ↑ IARU Region 1 Monitoring System / DARC Bandwacht. German Amateur Radio Club , accessed on February 22, 2020 (German, English).
- ↑ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 0.747.305.15 (translation). In: Systematic Collection of Federal Law . Federal Chancellery , December 10, 1982, accessed on March 3, 2020 .