Hopefully a place to post when we're out and about on the air.
To kick-off - I'll be operating from Somerset on Sunday June 7th (from around 11am ) on 27.555 or nearby.
I'm also happy to put a shout out on the UK or EU bands (say channel 25?) if anyone wants to name a time/channel.
Cheers.
Gary
26-TM-2307
Thunderpole Forum Members on the Air
Make friends with the guy and perhaps he'll let you in to sort it.
Have a look at the UKQRM videos link on the www.ukqrm.org site - click on the pictures and hear the sound of the QRM (might help you find out what it is). Might just be a noisy switch mode power supply in his TV, and a ferrite on the flex and TV coax might do the trick.
I got the noise down from S9 to S1 at my QTH - a cheap DVD player, two cheap CRT TV's and the power supply on a broadband router were to blame.
Cheers.
Have a look at the UKQRM videos link on the www.ukqrm.org site - click on the pictures and hear the sound of the QRM (might help you find out what it is). Might just be a noisy switch mode power supply in his TV, and a ferrite on the flex and TV coax might do the trick.
I got the noise down from S9 to S1 at my QTH - a cheap DVD player, two cheap CRT TV's and the power supply on a broadband router were to blame.
Cheers.
That's a shame.
If it's BT vision and it's BPL/PLT adaptors, you've probably had it - having said that, the PLT adaptors are usually on all the time unless the owner switches them off (these are the devices that allow the TV service to work in multiple rooms by sending the broadband signal over the mains cables, using an adaptor that plus into a wall socket, and wouldn't just come on with the TV).
It's an easy noise to identify - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V4UiTXfIto
Unless UKQRM win their battle and get the things outlawed, then often the only way to sort it is to get your Ham ticket, get a legal Ham setup, and complain to Ofcom stating "Radio Spectrum Abuse" - they will investigate on an individual basis.
If it's not BT Vision, it may be worth temporarily powering your radio via a car battery to see if any of the noise is coming up the power connection - if it is, ferrites and mains filters will help.
If it's not coming through the mains, then an earth stake in the ground with an earth bond helps with QRM (seek further advice on this if your house has a PME earthing system) or moving the antenna (the problem TV I have radiates a 20 metre zone of interference in all directions).
Failing that, experiment with wire antennas as these can be less prone to QRM (and can be made directional, so can be positioned to pick up less from a particular noise source) - look at wire dipoles (vertical, horizontal and inverted "V" configurations (lots of designs available on the 'net)).
The good thing about wire antennas is that they are pretty easy to hide in trees or disguise as washing lines etc. - the problem is that, if anything other than a vertical is used, your signal will suffer in certain directions. Again, there's a lot of examples of typical radiation patterns on the 'net.
Unfortunately QRM like yours can be a swine to fix, but can usually be improved by a lot of fiddling about and trial and error.
Hope this helps.
If it's BT vision and it's BPL/PLT adaptors, you've probably had it - having said that, the PLT adaptors are usually on all the time unless the owner switches them off (these are the devices that allow the TV service to work in multiple rooms by sending the broadband signal over the mains cables, using an adaptor that plus into a wall socket, and wouldn't just come on with the TV).
It's an easy noise to identify - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V4UiTXfIto
Unless UKQRM win their battle and get the things outlawed, then often the only way to sort it is to get your Ham ticket, get a legal Ham setup, and complain to Ofcom stating "Radio Spectrum Abuse" - they will investigate on an individual basis.
If it's not BT Vision, it may be worth temporarily powering your radio via a car battery to see if any of the noise is coming up the power connection - if it is, ferrites and mains filters will help.
If it's not coming through the mains, then an earth stake in the ground with an earth bond helps with QRM (seek further advice on this if your house has a PME earthing system) or moving the antenna (the problem TV I have radiates a 20 metre zone of interference in all directions).
Failing that, experiment with wire antennas as these can be less prone to QRM (and can be made directional, so can be positioned to pick up less from a particular noise source) - look at wire dipoles (vertical, horizontal and inverted "V" configurations (lots of designs available on the 'net)).
The good thing about wire antennas is that they are pretty easy to hide in trees or disguise as washing lines etc. - the problem is that, if anything other than a vertical is used, your signal will suffer in certain directions. Again, there's a lot of examples of typical radiation patterns on the 'net.
Unfortunately QRM like yours can be a swine to fix, but can usually be improved by a lot of fiddling about and trial and error.
Hope this helps.
I nearly went 10-7 straight away when I first put the radio back on after years away - S9 of crap at the QTH and a load of engine noise in the mobile. After two weeks he QTH was sorted and after 8 months the mobile is sorted.
Don't give up mate!
This Sunday 14th I'll be on 555, or nearby, from about 11am and if anyone is around with an FM rig, I can put a shout out on UK 25 or EU 25.
If the skip is up, it's a job for me to hear any UK stations though
Don't give up mate!
This Sunday 14th I'll be on 555, or nearby, from about 11am and if anyone is around with an FM rig, I can put a shout out on UK 25 or EU 25.
If the skip is up, it's a job for me to hear any UK stations though
Looking hopeful that I might be back on the (SSB) air later today or tomorrow.
My first tests on the radio with its new Super Co-ax and Air-choke SEEM to indicate that the RFI is gone.
The rig is set-up in the conservatory at the moment and there's no RFI into the phone from there (there was interference when I had the radio there initially).
Did a radio check yesterday and got a 5/7 with a chap in Stuttgard, so I'm hugely relieved to see it still works!
Next step is to drill hole in wall for cable and reinstall in its proper home in the office upstairs . . . . Fingers crossed.
MIGHT catch you chaps tomorrow then!
My first tests on the radio with its new Super Co-ax and Air-choke SEEM to indicate that the RFI is gone.
The rig is set-up in the conservatory at the moment and there's no RFI into the phone from there (there was interference when I had the radio there initially).
Did a radio check yesterday and got a 5/7 with a chap in Stuttgard, so I'm hugely relieved to see it still works!
Next step is to drill hole in wall for cable and reinstall in its proper home in the office upstairs . . . . Fingers crossed.
MIGHT catch you chaps tomorrow then!
