Orbital modulation and longer term variability in the radio emission from Cygnus X-1

20 months of observations of the radio emission at 15 GHz from Cygnus X-1, starting in 1996 October, show variations at the binary period of 5.6 d, but with a phase offset from those at X-ray wavelengths. There are also longer term variations on a time-scale of 150 d, which are only loosely related to the soft X-ray flux. The source was in the hard/low X-ray state throughout this period. The mean 15-GHz flux density is 13 mJy, the radio spectrum is flat and the semi-amplitude of the orbital modulation is about 2 mJy. We discuss the possible origins of the modulation and the relationship to the soft X-ray emission.