[W5SFA] radio interference?

Tue Aug 9 10:27:45 CDT 2016

Brad,

Guess all you can do for the cable part of it is to complain to the management that your TV reception isn't working right.  But this addresses the symptom (guessing that a damaged cable letting in RFI), not the root problem, which is the RFI source. 

One thing you could try is installing an RFI filter on your coax, these are fairly inexpensive.  Here's one I found on Amazon, but not sure how good it is.  Your local Rat Shack might have it cheaper.  https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-RF-Interference-Filter-1500025/dp/B00VZ29NMI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8 <https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-RF-Interference-Filter-1500025/dp/B00VZ29NMI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1470756195&sr=8-6&keywords=tv+coax+filter> &qid=1470756195&sr=8-6&keywords=tv+coax+filter 

Anyone else have any ideas or suggestions?

Roger

From: Buckeroo Brad [mailto:buckeroobrad at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2016 10:15 AM
To: Roger Klein
Cc: Mail List for the W5SFA Radio Club
Subject: Re: radio interference?

Well, the cable is private property.  Beyond replacing the cable from my box to the trailer, I can do nothing.  I don't know if it's a ham radio or a private radio communication system, or part of the Direct TV service system.  I just get get this weird, Squelch, click, chirp sound like someone keying a mic.

On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 9:10 AM, Roger Klein <rwklein at katyweb.net> wrote:

Brad,

Since your neighbor is experiencing RFI with his over the air antenna, and you're picking up the same interference over your cable, there is a good chance your cable is compromised in some way.   The outer covering could be damaged and is letting moisture in, or it got partially cut underground with a shovel, or the connectors aren't properly waterproofed.  If you can trace the cable back toward the source, you might be able to find a bad connection.  But if the cable is buried and the damage is underground, the cable would need to be replaced.

W5SFA members - anyone have a suggestion in diagnosing this, or finding the source of the RFI?

73,

Roger

From: Buckeroo Brad [mailto:buckeroobrad at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, August 8, 2016 10:04 PM
To: Roger Klein
Subject: Re: radio interference?

The camp receives a signal from Direct TV I think, then they redistribute 59 channels.  At the camp controller there seems to be no interference at all.  But I am at the end of the cable.  We are having problems with signal clarity.  The man next door receives his signal "over the air HD" and he gets interference at bight, I think.  He first brought it to my attention when I first moved here.  He thought was me because of my antenna set-up.  But it was happening when I was off the air.  

Currently, I have no shortwave radio.  I have a mobile vhf/uhf rig YEASU FT-7900 that I use for my base.  I was just looking for my software to update my radio to SFA's frequencies.  I may to do it manually.  I'll watch for it to happen again and check other stations. 

I thought that it might be our cable out here.  The fact is, they buried the cable without a conduit.  They didn't tape the connectors either.  It was done shoddy country boy style.  There is no telling what I am hearing or if it isn't some shared signal with Direct TV that is bleeding through.  I wish I had a way to record the noise.

Thanks for answering my query, and any help.

Brad

On Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 9:30 PM, Roger Klein <rwklein at katyweb.net> wrote:

Brad,

Sure sounds like it could be RF interference.  Can you give a little more information about your antenna setup?  If it's cable TV, I'm a bit surprised you'd pick up interference, but it's not impossible.  If it's an outside antenna I'd expect it would be more likely to pick up interference from a nearby transmitter.  

I've cc'd the club's reflector to get ideas on how to best track down the source.  If you have a portable receiver like a shortwave radio, you might be able to tune around when it is happening to figure out what frequency the interference is coming from.  

Some other thoughts:  does it happen on a particular station that you're tuned to, but not on others?  That might also provide a clue to track down the source. 

73,

Roger

From: Buckeroo Brad [mailto:buckeroobrad at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, August 8, 2016 7:11 PM
To: Roger Klein
Subject: radio interference?

Hi Roger,

This is Brad Taylor.  I live at Coushatte Recreation Ranch on Nelius Road.  Lately, our television cable signals have been getting interrupted by what sounds like someone keying a mic with static, but no voice.  I've heard of other residents having this issue also.  Does anybody in the club have the equipment to find this kind of interference?

Brad

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