Identifying Interference

[KC3ECJ]

What might be this kind of interference?
It only started in the last 2 days or so.
Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

RFI from an electrical source? What antenna are you using? Stock? External? Too many factors come into play. If you move the radio to another location, does the noise continue? I've observed similar behavior on my SDR from fluorescent lighting, even opening and closing my refrigerator generates some interference on AM for me

 

[KC3ECJ]

RF from an electrical source? What antenna are you using? Stock? External? Too many factors come into play. If you move the radio to another location, does the noise continue?

I usually use a rooftop antenna with the Pro-163. But I'm also picking it up with handheld radios.

Same interference is strong at 101.000(picked this up on th UV-5X3) and 255.550(a frequency I had pre programmed in the Pro-163).
It's also intermittent. As I'm typing here it went out and came back a minute or two later.

 

[RoninJoliet]

When my wife puts on the basement neon lights I have exactly the same on my SWave till she makes them off.....

 

[ecps92]

So many possibilities, cable box, wall warts etc
You can try by unplugging them or going breaker-by-breaker.

Also, some of these can be from Cable TV [the line, vs the cable box]

What might be this kind of interference?
It only started in the last 2 days or so.
Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

 

[KC3ECJ]

So many possibilities, cable box, wall warts etc
You can try by unplugging them or going breaker-by-breaker.

Also, some of these can be from Cable TV [the line, vs the cable box]

Not stuff I'm using.

 

[ecps92]

TV, Radio, Refrigerator, Freezer, Microwave - any powered device is capable of generating RFI, to include coming from the neighbors as well

So you say, you have nothing plugged into a 120v recepticle ?

Not stuff I'm using.

 

[mmckenna]

Could be cable TV leakage. There are some carriers in the VHF bands that will result in some wideband noise like that. It's especially problematic to VHF Air band. A leaky cable TV connection can cause interference to aircraft in the area, and the cable TV companies usually monitor for it carefully. I occasionally get some noise on 2 meter frequencies near my in-laws home from a cable TV tap out in front of their house.

One thing you can try is taking your scanner outside and sniff around the neighborhood until you get a stronger signal. Then remove the antenna and try to narrow it down.

If you do track it down to a Cable TV source, call the cable provider and let them know. They'll usually jump on it pretty quickly since it'll cause issues to aviation radios and get them a call from FAA/FCC.

 

[Bustergrn]

In the RAN world, we run into a few types of florescent light ballasts that create a harmonic interferer. I've also found a few baby monitors, cheap intercoms and older security cameras have caused issues not to mention cheap, poorly installed cell amplifiers/BDAs from Jeff Bezos. Of course this is all in the LTE and 800mhz bands and higher. I've never hunted down in the VHF bands.

 

[BF8609]

Certain LED bulbs can/will cause problems especially if used in a garage door opener....remote opener worked from 300 feet when closed ...when door was open as it is when pulling out of garage remote wouldn't work until lights went out Feit was the brand.

 

[AM909]

I've seen it come from newer, UTP-wired/powered security cameras, too. Hunt with a handheld.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

Got to be something in close proximity to affect that wide of the spectrum...

 

[BF8609]

What might be this kind of interference?
It only started in the last 2 days or so.
Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

What might be this kind of interference?
It only started in the last 2 days or so.
Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

Sounds like analog TV channel's video sync carrier

 

[MStep]

Sounds electrical, but who knows. Use one of your portable units to keep reducing the antenna length until you track it down. When I lived on the 8th floor in Brooklyn, I suddenly had a very irritating on/off blast of electrical noise every 5 seconds. All I had to do was look out my window and in all of 30 seconds I saw the flashing neon PIZZA sign in the store window a cross the street causing the interference.

A friend went in and ordered a slice of pizza and permanently disabled the sign. Some problems are simple; others require a bit more effort.

 

[merlin]

If it sounds like the old NTSC synch, my guess is a cheap switching power supply. (wall wart chargers and such)
Could even be a neighbor sharing your electric distribution.
My two main offenders are my computer monitors and the brain/display in my coffee pot.
Not too bad but spikes all over the spectrum.

 

[Chronic]

What might be this kind of interference?
It only started in the last 2 days or so.
Affecting VHF air band and some VHF high public safety.
Particularly strong around 120 some mhz to around 140mhz. But interference can still be found in the 150s.
Also weaker from 108 to just under 120.

What electronic items did you add to your home from Christmas . Many Chinese electronics are made very cheaply and cause all kinds of noise .

 

[KC3ECJ]

What electronic items did you add to your home from Christmas . Many Chinese electronics are made very cheaply and cause all kinds of noise .

Am I the only person with neighbors?

 

[tvengr]

When my wife puts on the basement neon lights I have exactly the same on my SWave till she makes them off..

I agree. I have heard the same noise from a CB radio when parked in front of a store with a neon sign. Also, try unplugging any USB power supplies.

 

[slicerwizard]

When my wife puts on the basement neon lights I have exactly the same on my SWave till she makes them off.....

Odd lighting choice...

 

[tvengr]

Odd lighting choice...

Probably the Miller sign over the bar.