06-05-2014, 08:21 PM
03-04-2022, 09:22 AM
(06-05-2014, 08:21 PM)K1RCT Wrote: [ -> ]Check this link out, Pot Growers cause Interference.
Now You Know.
I'm not growing anything, nor do I think my neighbors are.
I had a confounding source of interference that was making listening to anything on HF miserable. Every two seconds I had a loud clicking noise. I did some snooping around the house and the neighborhood. I couldn't locate an exact source. I didn't want to start flipping breakers but was left with no choice. The prospect of having to reset all those flashing clocks, microwaves, Amazon Echos, and everything else that we leave plugged in was a big factor in me putting off switching those breakers off.
Of course, the offending circuit was one of the last ones towards the bottom of the box. I was very happy to locate the circuit. The main area was my son's room, the bathroom, and part of the kitchen. The bathroom was easy. My son's room, not so much. I was sure it must be in his room with all his gaming equipment, lights, and wall-warts. I unplugged everything in his room while he was gone for the day. I was so happy, I was sure the source would be here. Nope. I turned on the breaker. That infernal clicking was still there. I checked the GFCI outlet in the bathroom. Nope. I did find that the outlet was bad and replaced it but the clicking was still there. Then I noticed that one of the "smart" bulbs in the kitchen ceiling fan was out. So I figured while I'm dealing with all this other stuff, I'd replace the bulb. I didn't bother to turn off the breaker, only the wall switch. I changed out the bulb and low and behold when I turned the light back on my clicking noise was gone. Not only the clicking but my noise floor had dropped considerably also. It was a pleasure to listen to the radio again. Signals were clear, static was low and no confounded clicking. Now I'm going to go around and check the rest of those stupid smart bulbs to see if any others are causing some kind of noise.
So, bottom line - if you're experiencing clicking noise on your HF radio, mostly between 160 and 20 meters, check those smart bulbs if you have them. I never would have thought that they would be such a loud source of RFI.
03-05-2022, 10:20 PM
Good troubleshooting. Or in my business, excellent kill!