The National Radio Quiet Zone is a controlled area in Virginia and West Virginia where radio transmissions are limited to allow sensitive telescopes at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory to pick up faint signals from space. The zone covers 13,000 square miles and prohibits the use of wireless devices and petrol vehicles. Interference is monitored and solutions are implemented. The area also houses a naval installation and communication utilities.
The National Radio Quiet Zone of the United States is a stretch of land between Virginia and West Virginia where radio transmissions and other sources of potential electronic interference are tightly controlled. The controls in the Quiet Zone are designed to allow highly sensitive radio telescopes at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) at Green Bank to pick up extremely faint signals from space. These signals can be used to gather information about the nature of the universe.
The NRAO was founded in the 1950s with the goal of promoting scientific knowledge in the United States. The site was chosen very carefully, as the surrounding landscape minimizes interference from signals on the ground. However, the explosion of radio, television and other communications quickly became a problem, with the telescope picking up interference which prevented it from functioning. In response, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established the National Radio Quiet Zone in 1958. This zone covers 13,000 square miles (33,670 square kilometers).
In the National Radio Quiet Zone, cell phones, pagers, and other wireless devices don’t work. The use of wireless network cards, cordless speakers, etc. is also strongly discouraged in this area, and any radio station should coordinate its transmissions with telescope personnel to ensure that its transmissions do not conflict with the telescope. Only diesel vehicles are allowed near the telescope, as petrol vehicles need spark plugs, which can cause interference.
The Quiet Zone rules are enforced by a roving patrol boat using a monitoring system to detect sources of interference. A variety of interference solutions can be achieved. For example, a malfunctioning power pole could lead to a call to the utility company for replacement, while a shorted appliance could be replaced so that the short does not interfere with the highly sensitive telescope. As a general rule, potential sources of interference are permitted only if necessary for public safety, not for purposes of entertainment or profit.
In addition to housing the NRAO, the Quiet Zone is also home to a naval installation in Sugar Grove. The functioning of the Sugar Grove installation is top secret, although given that it is located in the Quiet Zone, it is safe to assume that it is used to monitor broadcasts. Several communication utilities also have installations in or near this area to pick up and rebroadcast the broadcasts.
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