[Starlink] Re: Starlink and Iran

Jim Forster
2026-01-15T18:56:53Z

Another detection used in other places is to look for emissions that the terminals might make. Back in the days of analog TV, which are nominally receivers,, I understand UK OFCOM would check for people that had TV’s and were not paying their license fee, by listening for the characteristic IF (intermediate frequency) that the heterodyne? based receivers emitted.

I’ve no idea if approach can be used now, Anyone?

— Jim

> On Jan 15, 2026, at 9:42 AM, Colin_Higbie via Starlink <starlink@lists.bufferbloat.net> wrote:
>
> Can't the traditional approach of just flooding the air with noise reduce the SNR to the point that most packets are indecipherable? I don't believe this requires a digital or technically advanced approach nor a focus on GPS or anything else so specific, just sufficient power and ability to broadcast fully across the same spectrum bands to drown out the valid signals. Starlink, like cellular technology, uses excellent methods to operate amidst a lot of noise and find its packets, but it's still not immune to noise.
>
> Iran is a large area, and probably the government lacks the ability to block the entire nation simultaneously, but I would think they could drown out the signal in specific geographic regions, effectively jamming the signal entirely or almost entirely in those areas.
>
> Perhaps some of the cellular or satcom experts here can expand on or correct me if I'm mistaken. My physics knowledge on this has not updated much since the original spread spectrum work decades ago.