Stuck channel or keyed mike

[tcg]

Hi,

I have an old Radio Shack PRO--2030 that I use to scan the marine channels and then broadcast the feed to a local boating forum.

The last couple of days channel 16 156.8000 has sounded like a keyed mike or at least some kind of interference that causes the scanner to stay on the channel for a second or two or sometimes several minutes or yesterday several hours. It seems to be happening in the evening,

It also happens at the same time on an old Regency scanner on a different antenna.

The Radio Shack scanner uses a discone antenna in my attic.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Matt

[ecps92]

Do you or a Neighbor have another Scanner running at the same time?

Originally Posted by tcg

Hi,

I have an old Radio Shack PRO--2030 that I use to scan the marine channels and then broadcast the feed to a local boating forum.

The last couple of days channel 16 156.8000 has sounded like a keyed mike or at least some kind of interference that causes the scanner to stay on the channel for a second or two or sometimes several minutes or yesterday several hours. It seems to be happening in the evening,

It also happens at the same time on an old Regency scanner on a different antenna.

The Radio Shack scanner uses a discone antenna in my attic.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Matt

[tcg]

I don't have another scanner running at the same time this happens.

I live on a small private road not to many neighbors. I can't be sure but definitely no one right next door. I have run this set up for more than a year and nothing has changed in my house.

The scanner is in a different room than the computer it streams on. No new wireless devices in the home. I can't be sure about the neighbors.

Matt

Originally Posted by ecps92

Do you or a Neighbor have another Scanner running at the same time?

[ecps92]

Well there goes that theory. Two Scanners could affect each other.

Originally Posted by tcg

I don't have another scanner running at the same time this happens.

I live on a small private road not to many neighbors. I can't be sure but definitely no one right next door. I have run this set up for more than a year and nothing has changed in my house.

The scanner is in a different room than the computer it streams on. No new wireless devices in the home. I can't be sure about the neighbors.

Matt

[tcg]

I had the interference yesterday on and off for about 2 hours. Today it is fine.

Very odd to me.

Thanks for the reply.
Matt

[Hoofy]

Sounds like your problem is gone for now. Remember it does not have to be something wireless that is causing the problem. Even adding an extension cord to something can cause it to become a resonant antenna.

I had a wall wart charger for an answering machine for years and one day it started producing noise on 147.50. It was actually backing up the neutral wire to the breaker box and spreading throughout the house.

Maybe it was an alien stuck in your vent. Who knows............

[tcg]

An active Coast Guard member in aviation on our local boating forum also responded to my question. He says it is common to get interference, unless it's a constant 100% signal they ignore it. He also tells me if I can hear it they can hear it. If it becomes a safety issue they will try and investigate. He says if it sounds like a keyed mike it usually is and they hear it all the time. I didn't get his permission to quote his response but that's the gist of it.

Matt

Originally Posted by Hoofy

Sounds like your problem is gone for now. Remember it does not have to be something wireless that is causing the problem. Even adding an extension cord to something can cause it to become a resonant antenna.

I had a wall wart charger for an answering machine for years and one day it started producing noise on 147.50. It was actually backing up the neutral wire to the breaker box and spreading throughout the house.

Maybe it was an alien stuck in your vent. Who knows............

[jcityfire]

My Dad had a keyed mike on his boat. We didn't know about it. Some Coast Guard Auxiliary guys in a suburban showed up and asked if we had a marine radio. We brought them to the boat and there it was. It was almost keyed for 24 hours. They told us they just drove around following the signal till it was strong. They did it.

[masonb]

Originally Posted by jcityfire

They told us they just drove around following the signal till it was strong

Lol Tax Dollars At Work !

[hill]

The CG Auxiliary is a volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and is very cost effective. These CG Auxiliary members volunteer their time and money to support CG missions. The CG AUX saves the CG and the taxpayers of the USA a lot of money. Members use their own boats, aircraft and radios to support the CG. More information can be found at the website below. It is much better to send a local Auxiliary member, then a CG member from a distant CG unit. Open and stuck mics need to be resolved, since many times these block distress calls on VHF-FM marine channel 16. Abuse of the VHF-FM marine band is a major problem in USA and all users need to make sure all radios are operated within the FCC rules.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Larry