Derry pirates 'putting lives at risk'
A group of Derry-based radio pirates have been warned they are putting lives at risk by deliberately hijacking the airwaves.
Amateur radio enthusiasts across the UK have been tracking the activities of the Derry pirates - identified as being based in the Altnagelvin and Strathfoyle areas of the city - on dedicated 'ham' radio websites over recent weeks.
Peter Clutton, editor of amateur radio site yachydda.co.uk, says the Derry pirates are deliberately setting out to disrupt the airwaves by "whistling and using food processors to make a noise down the microphone just to wind everyone up."
But he told the 'Journal' yesterday that their actions could have much more serious consequences.
"The problem with this type of interference is the danger it poses to people travelling by air, especially during the continued ash cloud from the Icelandic volcano.
"It may be seen by some as funny to cause upset to radio amateurs by playing music and using anything to make a noise.
"It's deadly serious when radio pirates intercept signals to and from aircraft, peoples lives are being put at risk as a direct result of those using frequencies intended for communications between aircraft and the controller in so much as a misheard heading could put the plane directly into the ash cloud.
"This is the third time my website has been contacted naming Derry as the source of the interference on the amateur radio frequencies," he said.
While the Derry radio pirates may be hijacking the airwaves, a spokesman for communications watchdog Ofcom says there is no evidence at present to suggest they are causing "deliberate or unintended interference to Civil Aviation Authorities frequencies" in the Derry area.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 12 C to 26 C
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