Firedrake – China’s Secret Shortwave Jamming Project Exposed!

Firedrake – China’s Secret Shortwave Jamming Project Exposed!  by Steven Handler is the new revised and updated version of  this electronic publication.  Published in late August, 2012, this eBook it is now available through Amazon.com for the Kindle, and Barnes and Noble for the Nook.
A little “Firedrake” History-
The Chinese government jams or interferes with the HF broadcasts of certain shortwave stations that they apparently deem “dangerous” for their citizens to hear. My publication serves as a guide to the world of Chinese jamming and helps the reader learn about Firedrake and some of China’s other shortwave jamming stations.
Included are jamming frequencies heard during the current A-11 shortwave broadcasting season as well as times of reception. Also included are frequencies heard in use during the past two shortwave broadcasting seasons (A-11 and B-11).  Readers will also find information about the direction finding results identifying transmitter sites which I obtained from ITU registered monitoring sites. There is also a virtual tour of a Chinese jamming facility.
The Kindle version is available for $3.99 from Amazon.com (stock number ASIN: B0093NNABQ ) you can find more information and view sample pages at Amazon.com.  Click Here 
The Nook version is available for $3.99 from Barnes and Noble.com ( Stock number BN ID: 2940015701814)  you can find more information and view sample pages at Barnes and Noble.com Click Here
For those that have neither a Kindle or Nook, both Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook) on their respective web sites offer free downloads to allow their eBook formats to be read on PC’s, MAC’s, iPads, iPhones and Android devices.
The author does not sell copies of this publication directly.  Rather copies are sold by Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and are or will be sold by other e-Bookstores.
Additional information is available from shortwavereport [at] yahoo.com.  Please remove [at] from the above email address and substitute @ before sending your email.
My other new books published in 2012 include

Firedrake Jammer Helps Listener Find Broadcasts of Voice of Tibet and Sound of Hope!

Anyone who has followed my writings for any length of time knows I am philosophically against the jamming of shortwave broadcasters.

Recently I found a way to use the jamming from China’s Firedrake musical jammer to help me locate the frequencies of two stations which I wanted to hear.

The Voice of Tibet and Sound of Hope’s broadcasts change frequencies from time to time, I suspect, to avoid the jamming and harmful interference originating from China’s Firedrake musical jamming broadcasts. However, these same Firedrake broadcasts have helped me find the frequencies in use by the Voice of Tibet and Sound of Hope.

When I can’t hear the Voice of Tibet on their usual frequency, I simply check the frequencies between 15400 and 15700 kHz and listen for Firedrake’s musical jamming broadcast. When I find a Firedrake jamming broadcast I use Radio Free Asia’s Anti Jamming Antenna to help null out the Firedrake jamming so that hopefully I can listen to the Voice of Tibet.

The same procedure can be used for listening to the Sound of Hope. When I can’t hear the Sound of Hope on their usual frequency, I simply check the frequencies below 15400 and above 15700 kHz and listen for Firedrake’s musical jamming broadcast. When I find a Firedrake jamming broadcast, I use Radio Free Asia’s Anti Jamming Antenna to help null out the Firedrake musical jamming so that hopefully I can listen to the Sound of Hope.

If you don’t already have Radio Free Asia’s Anti Jamming Antenna, you should. It is easy and inexpensive to construct. For information about the antenna, its construction, and use, go to the Radio Free Asia web site, at http://www.rfa.org/english/about/help/Anti-Jamming.html

I do not condone China’s harmful interference to shortwave broadcasts of others. I believe this conduct is wrong and the Chinese should discontinue all jamming of shortwave broadcasts. I do however, find it ironic that I have been able to use their jamming signals to help me find the frequencies of their targets.

Good Listening-Steve

For a Tour Inside China’s jamming facility Click Here

Inside Firedrake, a Tour of a Chinese Shortwave Jamming Facility

By Steven Handler

Copyright 2012 © Steven Handler, All Rights Reserved.

West of the central city of Beijing is 16a Shijingsham Road in Baboshan, part of the Shijingshan District of Beijing. As you arrive, you observe a modern high rise building. At the entrance lies a wall of glass rising almost six stories in height; a beautiful and imposing site.

This is the home of China Radio International. “CRI” is horizontally emblazoned toward the top of the concrete wall lying just right of the front entrance. Next to “CRI” is its name in Chinese, running vertically for about a half dozen stories of the building.

You won’t find a sign labeled “Firedrake”, but this building is also reportedly home to the nerve center of the Chinese government’s shortwave jamming effort.

Broadcast studios are arranged throughout the building including six studios on the third floor and seven studios on the forth floor. The studios are used for CRI as well as for China National Radio. The third floor also houses two separate control rooms.

Security is taken seriously near the control rooms on the third floor. They are guarded by armed members of the Peoples Liberation Army. Access is available only by a pass. The larger of the two control rooms handles the distribution of China Radio International’s shortwave programs.

The smaller, but amply sized control room is the more interesting of the two. A sign in Chinese above the control room door translates into English as “blocking of foreign signals room”. This control room has facilities capable of monitoring foreign shortwave broadcasts heard in China. It is also this control room that handles the satellite distribution of the Firedrake jamming music to transmitters within China. The Chinese government’s shortwave jamming sites can also be controlled from here.

There has always been speculation about why Firedrake usually signs off at the top of each hour. Perhaps it is because, while the jamming broadcasts are silent, the Chinese have the ability to use their monitoring facilities to search for their target’s frequencies that are in use. Apparently, if the target of their jamming switches frequencies, the control room can within minutes, commence jamming of the new frequency.

Although it is the control room which has much of the fancy electronics used in the jamming operation, there are other interesting parts to the jamming operation. Moving on with our Firedrake tour, we make a stop at the central tape archive division. This is the repository for tapes made of, and used for, CRI broadcasts. What is interesting is that, unlike most other tapes which are labeled with the full program details, the tapes containing the Firedrake music are simply labeled with the recording date and the notation “16 track”.

No tour of the Chinese government’s jamming facilities would be complete without a stop at a very special studio. Located to your right as you enter the building on the first floor, is Studio 8. Unlike the other smaller studios in the building, this one looks like a large
auditorium. It was in Studio 8 that the Chinese assembled musicians whom they had contracted to produce a musical arrangement. The music composition lasted over an hour and was recorded in just a single evening.

The tapes of the recording session were edited into multiple versions, including a version that is 59 minutes in length. That 59 minute version has been broadcast from the Control center to the Firedrake jamming transmitters throughout China and from those sites, by shortwave, through-out the world. Three or four minutes of the music from this recording session were eventually also broadcasted by the Chinese governments shortwave station during the Spring festival a number of years ago.

The jamming transmitters however, are not located at 16a Shijingsham Road. They are at sites scattered throughout China. Apparently two different types of jamming transmitters may be in use.

The older and more plentiful type of transmitters were designed by the Soviet Union and built in China. They are able to broadcast throughout much if the HF band. However, they appear to be limited to transmitting on increments of five kilohertz.

A newer style transmitters may have been reverse engineered from those bought from a major shortwave transmitter manufacturing company. Reportedly these newer transmitters more frequency agile and may not be limited to five kilohertz frequency increments.

I hope you have enjoyed this modest tour. The next time you hear Chinese government’s shortwave jamming you will have a better picture of from were it originates.

Note: I haven’t had the opportunity to pay a visit to the Chinese jamming facility mentioned in this article. However, I have spoken to apparently credible source (or sources) who had access to China’s jamming facility on numerous occasions and provided information used for this article. I thank my source (or sources) who shall remain anonymous because of concerns of retaliation.

For more information about Firedrake and Chinese Jamming Click Here

For information on how the author uses Firedrake broadcasts to find frequencies of stations he wants to hear Click Here

Let Me Hear From You. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me at shortwavereport[at]yahoo.com To help prevent spam I have used [at] rather than @ so when you use my email address, please be sure to remove [at] and replace it with @

Copyright 2012 © Steven Handler, All Rights Reserved.

Jamming signals disrupt IRIB broadcast on Hotbird

Jamming signals disrupt IRIB broadcast on Hotbird

Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:3PM GMT

The broadcast of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's (IRIB) international channels on the Hotbird satellite provider has been interrupted for two hours by jamming signals sent from an unknown location.

The transmission of high-power jamming signals on frequency 12437 MHz took place from 9:00 to 11:00 GMT on Saturday, March 10, 2012, during which the broadcast of IRIB’s international channels was interrupted several times.

In addition to the 24-hour English-speaking Press TV, other international channels, including Al-Alam, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, Al-Kowsar, and Sahar 1 and 2 channels were also affected.

The attack on IRIB signals was not the first of its kind in recent months.

On January 19, British technicians operating from Bahrain also sent jamming signals to block IRIB channels on the Hotbird satellite, including provincial channels and a number of international channels such as Press TV, Al-Alam, Al-Kowsar, Jam-e Jam and Sahar.

In addition to jamming IRIB signals, US and Israeli hackers have launched several cyber attacks against Press TV’s website.

The first such attack came on December 9, 2011, when American and Israeli hackers attacked the Press TV website after the network broadcast footage of the US RQ-170 Sentinel stealth aircraft, an advanced US spy drone which was captured by the Iranian military for violating the country’s airspace.

Also on March 5, the Press TV website was subject to another cyber attack by the same hackers.

Both attacks were foiled by effective security countermeasures taken by the Press TV technical team.

SS/PKH/HGH

U.S. TV for Iran Might Be Free, Doesn’t Have to Be Cheap: View

Bloomberg View

By the Editors Feb 21, 2012 9:00 AM GMT+0900

Programs that go on and on. Shows that lack focus. Graphics and production values that make Iranian state TV look hip by comparison. Why has the U.S.-run Persian News Network been so bad for so long?

It’s not for lack of importance. In the absence of a diplomatic mission for 33 years, America’s principal voice in Iran is the actual Voice of America, the U.S. government-run, multimedia news agency. Especially in these times of high tension over U.S.-led efforts to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear-weapons capability, the U.S. has a strong interest in being heard by Iran’s people. But the VOA’s Persian News Network has fallen far short of that aim. According to a survey last year, only 6 percent of adults in Iran watched a PNN program at least once a week.

Iranians depend on external sources for an objective view of current events. Iranian broadcast networks are completely under state control. With one of the highest concentrations of jailed journalists in the world, the country ranks among the worst in terms of media freedom, according to the watchdog group Freedom House. About 13 percent of the population can regularly access the Internet, but the government makes efforts to filter its content.

From its 2007 start, PNN -- which provides six hours of original, Persian-language TV programming a day, repeated over 24 hours, via satellite TV -- has been pretty lousy. The one notable exception is the hit “Parazit,” introduced in 2009 and inspired by “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” An internal 2009 report documented issues of poor technical and journalistic standards that cropped up again in an informal review last year.

The network can ill-afford to be complacent. Since 2010, it has had stiff competition from the British Broadcasting Corporation, whose superior Persian-language service immediately ate up a third of PNN’s 29 percent market share. Later that year, the Iranian government began jamming both signals, forcing PNN and BBC off the satellite to which most Iranian households tune their dishes. Since then, viewers have had to physically manipulate their devices to watch PNN or BBC. Most don’t bother for PNN; in the 2011 viewership survey, its market share plunged from 20 percent to 6 percent. Yet BBC’s actually grew -- from 10 percent to 12 percent.

To its credit, PNN responded to its weaknesses with a fresh program lineup introduced in mid-January. A more diversified mix includes shows on technology, arts and music, and Iran’s economy, breaking up the previous, heavy diet of news and debate. Several unprofessional hosts are gone, and the network’s stronger personalities have been given greater exposure.

Still, whereas BBC Persian offers world-class entertainment, watching PNN feels dutiful. This is unacceptable. At a time when speaking to more than 6 percent of Iranians should be an urgent U.S. priority, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees VOA, should make producing first-rate television at PNN an imperative. President Barack Obama should bear this in mind when he nominates a replacement for Walter Isaacson, a seasoned media executive who resigned as chairman of the board last month. Isaacson’s predecessor was a politician.

Even on PNN’s new shows, content is sometimes frustratingly unprofessional. For instance, PNN’s technology show, created in response to the popularity of a well-conceived, well-edited tech program on BBC Persian, is slapdash. An episode might consist of a journalist simply meandering around a trade show ogling new gadgets.

If resources aren’t available to make low-quality shows like this one creditable -- the Broadcasting Board of Governors just announced a 2013 budget that would cut VOA’s allocation by $17 million -- the network should cancel them and focus on what it can do well. “Parazit,” whose popularity with Iranian youth provoked state television to produce a number of rival programs mimicking its style, demonstrates what can be done.

In addition to the broadcast, PNN should improve its website. Television remains by far the most important way Iranians consume news, but the Internet is significant, too, especially given jamming of TV satellite signals. Though the government periodically blocks access to PNN’s website, many Iranians have software to breach the firewall.

The PNN site, however, is off-putting. Even without knowing Persian, a user can easily see why the BBC site is better. PNN’s staid look should be ditched for something livelier. And a new design should enable users to easily discern the most important news of the day.

From the start, President Barack Obama has been an advocate for American soft power. With the prospect of a shooting war looming in Iran, there is no more pressing place to deploy that power. When a well-executed show like “Parazit” can begin to undercut the legitimacy of the Iranian regime, there’s no telling what a superlative network could do.

Press TV signals jammed in Europe: Report

Press TV signals jammed in Europe: Report

Mon Feb 20, 2012 3:49PM GMT

Jamming signals have been reportedly interrupting the broadcast of Press TV, Iran’s 24-hour English-language news channel, in various locations across Europe.

Press TV viewers in Europe say the frequent attacks last three to four minutes each time.

Some reports indicate that the news channel’s online stream is also targeted at the same time as jamming signals disrupt the broadcast of the channel.

Italian viewers said Saturday was the fifth consecutive day of “Press TV signal black-out in Italy.”

“Today (Saturday) was the worst day of all - almost all day no signal - neither on Satellite TV, nor online streaming,” one Italian viewer said.

This is not the first time that Iran’s television waves have come under attack. Last month, the signals for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) channels on Hotbird were jammed from Bahrain.

HMV/AZ/HGH

New Pressure on Jammers of International Broadcasts

February 20, 2012

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has called upon the world’s nations to take “necessary actions” to stop intentional interference with satellite transmissions.

The change in ITU regulations, which was approved at the just-concluded World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) in Geneva, Switzerland, came after numerous complaints that international satellite TV programs in Persian and Arabic were suffering from deliberate interference, known as “jamming”.

Two satellite operators that have been targeted, Eutelsat and Arabsat, said the interfering signals originated from Iran and Syria.

“We are gratified to see the World Radiocommunication Conference take a position on this vital issue,” said Richard M. Lobo, Director of the United States International Broadcasting Bureau.

“Of course, it remains to be seen whether Iran, Syria and other countries which interfere with international satellite communications will change their practices. Jamming is a fundamental violation, not only of international regulations and norms, but of the right of people everywhere to receive and impart information,” Lobo said.

The interference, which has increased since September, 2011, affected broadcasts of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting Board of Governors, Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (RFI) and France 24 TV and Deutsche Welle. Joining in backing the ITW rule change were Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the European Broadcasting Union.

The change in the regulation came after hours of discussion and debate, both in small groups and on the floor of the WRC. A report by the ITU’s Radio Regulations Board noted “the persistent character of the harmful interference” and the fact that “in some cases, the administrations involved have not responded … and appear to take no action to resolve the interference.”

The revised language says administrations “shall ascertain the facts and take the necessary actions” when they encounter jamming.

Prior to the WRC action, the Directors-General of five major international broadcasters charged that jamming is a violation of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Reporters Without Borders called for nations to “firmly condemn countries that do not respect the fundamental principles of the free flow of information,” adding, “the ITU must not be the accomplice of regimes that obstruct the flow of news and information on their telecommunications networks.”

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran termed satellite jamming part of a broader effort. “The Iranian government is also engaged in comprehensive attempts to take complete control of online access to the internet as well as restricting mobile voice and data communications,” the group said in a statement urging the WRC to address the jamming issue.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international broadcasting, whose mission is inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG broadcasts reach an audience of 187 million in 100 countries. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti).