Can a computer cause interference that is harmful to a scanner??
I'm starting to wonder. I noticed with my RS Pro-99 that it would receive a loud scratchy buzzing sound on certain freqs (500 and 150MHz) when I move the mouse (Its wireless) and it would stop on a 151 MHz freq. when I type on the keyboard (Thats wireless too). It also receives interference from the printer (it stops on a certain freq and quietly hums), so I usually turn that off when I'm scanning. Anyway, I always used to have my scanner next to me when on the computer and just dealt with the interference by putting CTCSS codes on freqs that had interference. Well, I noticed that after 6 mos. or so, my Pro-99 would stop on certain freqs without picking anything up. This happened even while I was well away from the computer. Then sometimes it would stop on a frequency (one w/o a CTCSS code) and buzz (Just as if the squelch were all the way down).
Eventually this happened more and more often until the scanner was useless unless the channels it scanned had PL tones programmed to them. At the time I thought it was just a bad squelch pot because I did a total reset of the scanner, used batteries and AC Power, and tried a whole host of things without results. I did not take it in to be repaired however because I knew I was saving up for a better scanner anyway. At the time I did not connect the scanners problems to computer interference. So just recently, (about a few weeks ago) I bought the BC396t. Great scanner!!
Anyway, I noticed that it too picks up the same interference from my computer, unless i moved it all the way on the other side of the room. When I move the mouse it makes a scratchy buzzing noise, and the typing on keyboard makes it stop on 151 MHz, and I always turn off the printer when I'm there. And I hear a new sound, an intermittent click. It sounds just like what you would hear if you put a digital watch next to an AM radio (each second, you hear a click). But I noticed after a long session on the computer while scanning, that afterward this scanner too, even when moved away from the computer would occassionally stop on frequencies w/o Pl tones assigned, and buzz as if the squelch were all the way down, just for a second
So all this makes me wonder, could my computer be an evil :evil: scanner killer????
I'm starting to wonder. I noticed with my RS Pro-99 that it would receive a loud scratchy buzzing sound on certain freqs (500 and 150MHz) when I move the mouse (Its wireless) and it would stop on a 151 MHz freq. when I type on the keyboard (Thats wireless too). It also receives interference from the printer (it stops on a certain freq and quietly hums), so I usually turn that off when I'm scanning. Anyway, I always used to have my scanner next to me when on the computer and just dealt with the interference by putting CTCSS codes on freqs that had interference. Well, I noticed that after 6 mos. or so, my Pro-99 would stop on certain freqs without picking anything up. This happened even while I was well away from the computer. Then sometimes it would stop on a frequency (one w/o a CTCSS code) and buzz (Just as if the squelch were all the way down).
Eventually this happened more and more often until the scanner was useless unless the channels it scanned had PL tones programmed to them. At the time I thought it was just a bad squelch pot because I did a total reset of the scanner, used batteries and AC Power, and tried a whole host of things without results. I did not take it in to be repaired however because I knew I was saving up for a better scanner anyway. At the time I did not connect the scanners problems to computer interference. So just recently, (about a few weeks ago) I bought the BC396t. Great scanner!!
Anyway, I noticed that it too picks up the same interference from my computer, unless i moved it all the way on the other side of the room. When I move the mouse it makes a scratchy buzzing noise, and the typing on keyboard makes it stop on 151 MHz, and I always turn off the printer when I'm there. And I hear a new sound, an intermittent click. It sounds just like what you would hear if you put a digital watch next to an AM radio (each second, you hear a click). But I noticed after a long session on the computer while scanning, that afterward this scanner too, even when moved away from the computer would occassionally stop on frequencies w/o Pl tones assigned, and buzz as if the squelch were all the way down, just for a secondSo all this makes me wonder, could my computer be an evil :evil: scanner killer????
