Help with interference

[xpawel15x]

I've been having some interference problems for the past few months...I can't figure out what might cause this. Here's the deal, sometimes im getting scratchy flickering on my pro-97. It happens a few times a week or even goes away for a month and then happens again. The scratchy interference lasts from 5 mins to 4 hrs. It happens on any frequency and it has nothing to do with squelch, antenna, etc. Because whenever I get that scratchy break on my scanner, my TV flickers at the same time !! I have Cablevision and it breaks the channels every once in a few seconds and at the same time my scanner breaks up too. It happens on the local channels 2 to 18. So what might cause interference that affects both my Cablevision TV channels and my scanner? Someone please give me any ideas as I'm trying to figure the source of this...

I tried unplugging cable wire, tv, etc. with negative results. Although I couldn't unplug my tennant's cable and appliances.

 

[Joseph11]

Are you RXing everything normal and than randomly loud static or buzzing comes in? I have that same problem over here. Very annoying.

 

[xpawel15x]

whats Rxing?

And yeh, when I listen its all normal and then out of nowhere...it starts to break up and then goes away like in a few hours to even the next day.

 

[Joseph11]

RXing means "receiving".

Anyway, I'm having the same problem. It went away for about a month and came back last week. I have no clue what's causing it. It also happens when I'm watching TV via an antenna, but not when I use DirecTV.

 

[SLWilson]

Black Ops Helicopters?

Wonder if it could be the Black Op helicopters?

No, on a serious note, it kind of sounds like you have an electric transformer CLOSE to you that is dieing a slow horrible death.

Why don't you turn on an AM radio when this is going on and see if it is frying too? The AM radio might even hear it when your TV and scanner don't....

It could be the transformer feeding your home, or just one on the same circuit as yours....IF the AM radio hears it when the scanner doesn't, take the AM radio around the neighborhood and see if you can locate the source....

I had an issue with the gas pumps two doors down from me here at the service station there. Computer "whine"....They finally replaced them....

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[k9rzz]

Is it 'scratching' like you're connecting and disconnecting the antenna, or a steady 'buzz'?

Power line noise is a buzz.

 

[xpawel15x]

For me, its a scratching sound. I'll try to get a recording of it next time it happens.

 

[Joseph11]

Is this anything like what you're hearing? I just made that recording. It's like what I usually hear, except for some reason, it's cutting in and out. Usually, it's constant.

 

[kb2vxa]

XP, "scratchy" and "flickering" are a poor choice of adjectives in this case, I have no idea what you're talking about. Unless you can be more accurate and better describe the problem all you'll get are wild guesses. I have a hunch there's a problem with the cable (that part is obvious) that could be causing stray radiation of some sort being picked up on the scanner. It doesn't seem like the usual signal egress so it's just a hunch but in any case CATV being a closed circuit system nothing should get into or out of it. That's why the first thing I'd do is call your service provider and complain of poor service, tell them your picture breaks up so they'll fix it. It may cure your scanner problem at the same time but in any case the main problem is with the cable, the scanner is another issue that may or may not be related. Still Larry the cable guy or whatever his name is a clueless individual so don't expect an installer to understand tech talk. If he can't fix the cable being he's not a troubleshooter, (he's lucky to find a bad connection) they'll send a technician who knows what he's doing. Get the picture? Right, getting good cable service can be like playing ping pong so be prepared for frustration but they'll fix it eventually if you holler long and loud enough.

Oh, like the Mythbusters say, "don't try this at home, we're professional idiots" so don't monkey with the cable or you'll worsen your relations with the professional idiots. In other words don't let them blame it on you and charge extra for fixing your mess.

Joseph, what's up with the link to the web hosting service that goes nowhere? I see no way to find or select a file for download.

 

[Joseph11]

Click "Free" on the bottom than enter in the anti-robot code on the next page.

 

[xpawel15x]

noise

Joseph, that noise is very similar to mine but it doesn't happen that long...mine makes that sound for a second or two and then goes away and then does it again a few minutes later.

 

[Joseph11]

Interesting. It was doing it here from when I posted that clip to yesterday.

 

[xpawel15x]

Also my interference usually starts at night...i guess im just gonna learn to live with it. It came all of a sudden maybe it'll leave too.

 

[gmclam]

PRO-97s...

PRO-97s; you can't live without them, you can't live with them. My feeling about this model scanner are so mixed. And I must be crazy to own more than one of them. I've certainly experienced the "scratchy" sound. MOST of the time for me it is being caused by "bleed over" from an adjacent channel. Keep in mind you're listening in FM. Bleedover does not sound like it does for AM. I've found broadcasts on adjacent channels from over 50 miles away causing a channel to be scratchy.

 

[N4JNW]

Also my interference usually starts at night...i guess im just gonna learn to live with it. It came all of a sudden maybe it'll leave too.

It starts at night??? Hmm...

Got any security lights in your area that have the photo cell that kickes em' on?

Just something to consider....

 

[wlmr]

Have you considered the possibility that somewhere near you is a transmitter causing both the noisy TV signal and the noise you're experiencing on your scanner?

If it's consistent enough and lasts long enough you could tighten the squelch on the scanner and put it in a wide frequency search looking for traffic that matches your interferrence.

 

[kingpin]

You may can try unplugging things in your house when this happens. Perhaps you have something in your house creating harmful interfearance. Nay want to check your cable TV connections and make sure they are snug. I had a case several years back there a leaky coax was causing problems with my VHF reception.

Also, is your on wall power when this happens? If so, remove it from walln power and see if the problem goes away.

 

[wesct]

I've been having some interference problems for the past few months...I can't figure out what might cause this. Here's the deal, sometimes im getting scratchy flickering on my pro-97. It happens a few times a week or even goes away for a month and then happens again. The scratchy interference lasts from 5 mins to 4 hrs. It happens on any frequency and it has nothing to do with squelch, antenna, etc. Because whenever I get that scratchy break on my scanner, my TV flickers at the same time !! I have Cablevision and it breaks the channels every once in a few seconds and at the same time my scanner breaks up too. It happens on the local channels 2 to 18. So what might cause interference that affects both my Cablevision TV channels and my scanner? Someone please give me any ideas as I'm trying to figure the source of this...

I tried unplugging cable wire, tv, etc. with negative results. Although I couldn't unplug my tennant's cable and appliances.

Do you live near a Farm with an electric fence?

wesct