Meriden ARC Web Site | Castle Craig Chapter 10-10


Latest news: - - - - Next Zoom Activity Meeting Thursday March 28th - - - -

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Another Interference Source???
#1
Check this link out, Pot Growers cause Interference.

Now You Know.
K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

Reply
#2
(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.
K0OZ
Formerly KC1OYM    Confused
73
Clear on your final
Reply
#3
Good troubleshooting. Or in my business, excellent kill!
K1RCT - Rob
W1NRG Station Activities Manager
Home Email

Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)
[-]
Who's Online
There are currently no members online.

[-]
Latest Threads
Next Zoom Activity Meeting Thursday Marc...
Last Post: N1API
03-24-2024 08:54 AM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 22
2024 Winter Phone Results
Last Post: N1API
02-21-2024 12:03 AM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 88
2024 - 6 Meter Net
Last Post: N1ZN
01-02-2024 09:25 PM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 201
CQ WW CW Contest Results And Reports
Last Post: N1API
11-26-2023 08:35 PM
» Replies: 1
» Views: 307
2023 ARRL Field Day Resuts
Last Post: N1API
11-17-2023 04:06 PM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 237
CQ WW SSB Contest Results
Last Post: K0OZ
10-30-2023 09:27 AM
» Replies: 4
» Views: 638
WW RTTY Results
Last Post: N1API
09-25-2023 11:22 AM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 345
Worked All Europe SSB Contest
Last Post: N1API
09-10-2023 08:41 PM
» Replies: 1
» Views: 474
Third Balloon Launch
Last Post: N1API
09-05-2023 12:46 PM
» Replies: 0
» Views: 342
WW Diggtal Contest Results
Last Post: N1API
08-27-2023 10:13 AM
» Replies: 1
» Views: 469