-
You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
-
A Winner has been selected for the 2025 Radioddity Cyber Monday giveaway! Click Here to see who won!
Scary Anomaly
- Thread starter Greg T
- Start date
No solars that I can see. No indications of grow lights anywhere. Basement windows are visible, etc. This came on all at once. Was talking to a guy a few months ago when suddenly boom. 8 units of noise. Been there 24/7 ever since.
Not many people will let someone in their house to snoop around, so if they are not in the hobby, helping them find the problem will obviously be difficult.
I would recommend recording the noise, then provide the neighbor with a copy of that sound and a decent HT with a coax H-field loop for an antenna and have them probe around the cords of things that he bought within that timeframe. searching for a similar noise. The HT must not have a bar antenna inside. It needs to be H-field only or you'll pick it up everywhere.
If he finds something, he could unplug it and check with you to see if that clears it up, and if so, you could then work with him on a solution. It might be as simple as some ferrite beads, or as extreme as helping him replace the defective device.
Maybe a few beers as a conversation starter.
I would recommend recording the noise, then provide the neighbor with a copy of that sound and a decent HT with a coax H-field loop for an antenna and have them probe around the cords of things that he bought within that timeframe. searching for a similar noise. The HT must not have a bar antenna inside. It needs to be H-field only or you'll pick it up everywhere.
If he finds something, he could unplug it and check with you to see if that clears it up, and if so, you could then work with him on a solution. It might be as simple as some ferrite beads, or as extreme as helping him replace the defective device.
Maybe a few beers as a conversation starter.
I would most certainly do that with nearly anyone. But this neighbor moved in 5 years ago and I just yesterday learned their names. Tried to introduce myself and meet them as they moved in and was met with icy attitude and zero speak. I still wave and nod as we meet now and then in the alley, but get no response. I think asking them to do something is a bust. The engineer at the city did say he would contact the landlord and discuss the issue, but if they don't care, looks like I'm dead in the water.
Last edited:
You said: "Pulled the meter and noise goes away."
(Just trying to get it straight in my head.)
Which meter ..... yours or his?
* If it was your meter, how does that prove it's from next door?
* If it was their meter, how could they pull it without letting them know?
* If they knew, did the Electrical Service Provider (ESP) explained your problem to them?
Your ESP is aware of the TAGS that come on any device that plugs into any AC line that states something like "This device can accept interference from, but can not cause interference to other devices." Your ESP may be aware of it, what they can do about it ...... who knows. I would keep contacting your ESP and keep complaining, "push" may come to "shove".
Do you have 220ac service into your house? If so, and you are using one of the 110ac sides to run your equipment. Have you tried to run it on the other side of the 220ac (the other 110ac side in your house, just a matter of switching wires at two circuit breakers in the box) to see if the noise is coming in through the ac line?
I believe the ARRL would know your answer, you can't be the only person in the world with this problem.
Maybe if you're lucky ..... the item causing your problem will burn out .............. or they move out!
73
DXman
Yes, that's 3100 degrees F. Nine yrs of hard work.
Get your Tech license and then you will have some power to use.
From what I have always understood was, one can not interfere with radio communications if they are knowingly doing it.
I once had a problem with the TV cable emitting a strong signal on 11 meters, I traced it done to a "connection box" located 2 blocks away. I then reported it to the cable company and told them that it wiping out the 10m ham band - they had it fixed in two days!
From what I have always understood was, one can not interfere with radio communications if they are knowingly doing it.
I once had a problem with the TV cable emitting a strong signal on 11 meters, I traced it done to a "connection box" located 2 blocks away. I then reported it to the cable company and told them that it wiping out the 10m ham band - they had it fixed in two days!
It's the neighbor's house. Pull his meter and nose goes away. But here is the strange thing; Pull just one leg and the noise is still there. Reconnect and pull the other leg, noise is still there. It doesn't matter which 120v leg is connected, he gives me noise. This kinda tells me it is a neutral issue in the breaker panel. I think. I'm no electrician, but it just seems logical. The noise is not entering the radio through the power line. The antenna is picking it up. Whatever the culprit is, is broadcasting the racket.
Well, that's just it. I have no idea WHAT is causing the problem. Could be a light, a fridge, a power supply, anything. Whatever it is is running 24/7 non-stop ever. I have no idea WHO to complain to.
Last edited:
@Greg T
It's also possible that the neighbor has two or more of the items that is causing the noise, one on each leg of the 110ac lines.
You are down to the last straw, you may have to contact the FCC seeing that there is a problem with whatever is transmitting the noise from the proven neighbor's house.
First contact the FCC by phone to explain your situation, they will guide you from there. They will more than likely ask you if you have contacted the neighbor and what their response was.
Do you have an SDR connected to a computer that you can use to find all the transmitted offending noise frequencies that are coming from said house and how wide they are (meaning that the noise is constant from say 26.000MHz to 30.000MHz (or greater) as shown on an SDR). Taking many pictures and sending them to the FCC showing how wide the noise frequency is.
Also making a "petition list" of friends with mobiles that have had the problem when in your neighborhood, along with a report from your ESP explaining that the problem is from the neighbor.
If you file a complaint the FCC will send a letter to both of you explaining the problem, and that you both have to work together to find and resolve the problem in a given amount of time (which is not very long).
Regardless of the outcome both of you will have to respond to the FCC with a finding. If not resolved in the amount of time given to both of you, you will have to respond to the FCC with an answer.
After that the FCC will make a decision that the neighbor may not like, having all your proof will help you. Having an amateur license would help also (as was stated).
At that point the the FCC may move in, they may want to look at your radio gear also.
This entire mess can be taken care of in one afternoon if the neighbor wants to help find the problem in their house without contacting the FCC. It would be up to the neighbor to comply with the FCC than to keep dragging it on and possibly getting a fine.
I had a problem where one neighbor contacted the FCC for TVI (that was also caused by any CB radio driving by, and a 2 watt hand held would wipe the picture off the TV screen from 20 feet away). I had a petition with 10 other neighbors that claimed no problems with TVI.
We were both given 20 days to comply and respond with a report ..... she did nothing to comply and also did not respond. All she wanted to do was to have the FCC shut down my station. The FCC, according to her, basically told to her "to pack rock salt". The phone company also said that since she bought her phone system in the house she would have to pay to find problems. The house was built in the early 1900s and had intercom wires running throughout the house from before the 50s. Their TVI problem ended when I moved out years later.
Just my 2¢
It's also possible that the neighbor has two or more of the items that is causing the noise, one on each leg of the 110ac lines.
You are down to the last straw, you may have to contact the FCC seeing that there is a problem with whatever is transmitting the noise from the proven neighbor's house.
First contact the FCC by phone to explain your situation, they will guide you from there. They will more than likely ask you if you have contacted the neighbor and what their response was.
Do you have an SDR connected to a computer that you can use to find all the transmitted offending noise frequencies that are coming from said house and how wide they are (meaning that the noise is constant from say 26.000MHz to 30.000MHz (or greater) as shown on an SDR). Taking many pictures and sending them to the FCC showing how wide the noise frequency is.
Also making a "petition list" of friends with mobiles that have had the problem when in your neighborhood, along with a report from your ESP explaining that the problem is from the neighbor.
If you file a complaint the FCC will send a letter to both of you explaining the problem, and that you both have to work together to find and resolve the problem in a given amount of time (which is not very long).
Regardless of the outcome both of you will have to respond to the FCC with a finding. If not resolved in the amount of time given to both of you, you will have to respond to the FCC with an answer.
After that the FCC will make a decision that the neighbor may not like, having all your proof will help you. Having an amateur license would help also (as was stated).
At that point the the FCC may move in, they may want to look at your radio gear also.
This entire mess can be taken care of in one afternoon if the neighbor wants to help find the problem in their house without contacting the FCC. It would be up to the neighbor to comply with the FCC than to keep dragging it on and possibly getting a fine.
I had a problem where one neighbor contacted the FCC for TVI (that was also caused by any CB radio driving by, and a 2 watt hand held would wipe the picture off the TV screen from 20 feet away). I had a petition with 10 other neighbors that claimed no problems with TVI.
We were both given 20 days to comply and respond with a report ..... she did nothing to comply and also did not respond. All she wanted to do was to have the FCC shut down my station. The FCC, according to her, basically told to her "to pack rock salt". The phone company also said that since she bought her phone system in the house she would have to pay to find problems. The house was built in the early 1900s and had intercom wires running throughout the house from before the 50s. Their TVI problem ended when I moved out years later.
Just my 2¢
I appreciate the advice. I do have an SDR, although not in service now, can be set up again. What kind of complicates this a bit is that this is a rental, and that the issue COULD be coming from the beaker panel, which would be the landlord's concern, OR, could be something the renters are using. These renters are NOT easy to talk to and have already told the electrical crew that they haven't done or changed anything since they moved in 5 years ago. I think, just to get the ball rolling, I'll contact the home owner and see if they will talk to the renters or have the panel checked out. I have a hand held here that worked pretty well helping out the city crew. I'm willing to help identify the source, and wanting to make the FCC a last ditch effort to resolve this. Thanx much for the help. I'll make a call to the property owner first and see what happens.
Interesting. My neighbor has no solars but I have no idea if there are LEDs or not. Gotta get the owner to let me in there. May not be possible with it being rented.
Excellent advice from @Dr. Frankenstein
I noticed you said you owned a SDR. I would get the SDR set back and see just how wideband the RFI is. If it's wiping out 11m, I would want to know how far above and below 27MHz the problem is.
If it's extending down into the AM BCB or up to FM BCB, you have a good case for getting the FCC involved. Just tell them it's interfering with your ability to receive your favorite AM talk radio station.
If you have your amateur ticket and it's also destroying 10 meters, the ARRL would be able to assist you with the FCC on a RFI complaint.
I had an issue with the system my electric co-op uses to read the meters. They don't use 900 MHz like most power companies use. It's an very broadbanded low frequency system centered around 0.470 MHz transmitted over power lines that completely wipes everything with s30+ data pulses from the AM BCB all the way up to 40 meters. (7MHz)
Filed a RFI complaint, but ended up retracting it. The co-op only runs the system twice a day, 9:30AM & 3:30PM, for about 20 minutes. I'm at work during those hours, so it doesn't interfere with my 160/75 meter operation in the early AM.
I noticed you said you owned a SDR. I would get the SDR set back and see just how wideband the RFI is. If it's wiping out 11m, I would want to know how far above and below 27MHz the problem is.
If it's extending down into the AM BCB or up to FM BCB, you have a good case for getting the FCC involved. Just tell them it's interfering with your ability to receive your favorite AM talk radio station.
If you have your amateur ticket and it's also destroying 10 meters, the ARRL would be able to assist you with the FCC on a RFI complaint.I had an issue with the system my electric co-op uses to read the meters. They don't use 900 MHz like most power companies use. It's an very broadbanded low frequency system centered around 0.470 MHz transmitted over power lines that completely wipes everything with s30+ data pulses from the AM BCB all the way up to 40 meters. (7MHz)
Filed a RFI complaint, but ended up retracting it. The co-op only runs the system twice a day, 9:30AM & 3:30PM, for about 20 minutes. I'm at work during those hours, so it doesn't interfere with my 160/75 meter operation in the early AM.
I sold off all my HF stuff, but my current radio is 10, 11, and 12 meters. The noise covers all of that with ease. No fall-off at all going between 25mhz and 30 mhz. I'll get the SDR set up again, but first I want to talk to the property owners.Excellent advice from @Dr. Frankenstein
I noticed you said you owned a SDR. I would get the SDR set back and see just how wideband the RFI is. If it's wiping out 11m, I would want to know how far above and below 27MHz the problem is.
If it's extending down into the AM BCB or up to FM BCB, you have a good case for getting the FCC involved. Just tell them it's interfering with your ability to receive your favorite AM talk radio station.
I had an issue with the system my electric co-op uses to read the meters. They don't use 900 MHz like most power companies use. It's an very broadbanded low frequency system centered around 0.470 MHz transmitted over power lines that completely wipes everything with s30+ data pulses from the AM BCB all the way up to 40 meters. (7MHz)
Filed a RFI complaint, but ended up retracting it. The co-op only runs the system twice a day, 9:30AM & 3:30PM, for about 20 minutes. I'm at work during those hours, so it doesn't interfere with my 160/75 meter operation in the early AM.
yes your best bet is to contact the homeowner or the property management company that rents the house out.
if none of that works, then you might try using an old galaxy radio with every limiter clipped feeding into a good old fashioned Cb competition style amp.
you don't care about receiving, you only care about transmitting!
so transmit to your heart's content until the neighbors contact you about hearing your voice over all their computer speakers.
then you can tell them that there is an easy way to solve this and that there is something in their house that is causing your voice to come over their speakers and if they are kind enough to let you look, you can fix the problem for them.
ok JK but man i hate hearing these stories where it's the ignorance of the neighbor that wins out.
LC
if none of that works, then you might try using an old galaxy radio with every limiter clipped feeding into a good old fashioned Cb competition style amp.
you don't care about receiving, you only care about transmitting!
so transmit to your heart's content until the neighbors contact you about hearing your voice over all their computer speakers.
then you can tell them that there is an easy way to solve this and that there is something in their house that is causing your voice to come over their speakers and if they are kind enough to let you look, you can fix the problem for them.
ok JK but man i hate hearing these stories where it's the ignorance of the neighbor that wins out.
LC
↑↑↑↑↑↑ This, right here. I like this. Make them come to me so we can make an arrangement that is beneficial to both of us~! And I do still have the beam ready to go up. I WAS going to wait til the noise was gone, but now ....