Interference

[scanaholic]

I live in Abilene in an apartment complex on the bottom floor. I have an old GRE-600 that has continued to give pretty good service. On about May 8th or 9th, I started having interference on hi band. What used to be only about 1-2 bars of interference has turned into 3-4. It has wiped out Callahan Co. and signals I used to could get. I'm using an old ground plane antenna that was given to me and it has been a real performer compared to the plug in types that plug directly into the scanner. It is mounted on PVC pipe and I put it up over the doorway on a box which had been allowing good reception. I just wonder how anyone traces down interference like this, which is now 24/7? I've unplugged everything in here, even the computer router to see what could be doing this. Nothing I own, is. It could be something the upstairs neighbors now have or anything-- just no way of knowing. I doubt it could be a bad power transformer of the light co.'s, so I doubt they would bring their box with the meter and small beam antenna to help trace it down. For sure, the enjoyment I once knew, in listening is gone. I can still receive Taylor Co. digital, and their fire repeaters well. Ham repeaters, so it's not a total loss. I'm open to any suggestions, but I doubt nothing but moving is going to cure this. Thanks.

 

[wtp]

it could even be the computer.
cable box, and some routers have a battery, so when unplugged, they are still on.
take the antenna off and that limits it to power line or a REALLY close problem.
next up, take it outside or to a friend/neighbor and try it there.
and even try less of an antenna. sometimes less is better.

 

[scanaholic]

Thanks for the tips. It was off just now, right after I got up, so it does look like it is something that the upstairs neighbors have that they run all day into the night, then turn off when they come in at around almost 11pm at night. That is a touchy situation and there isn't much I can do about it. I sure can't tell the manager to tell them whatever it is, they can't use it or do whatever they are doing to cause interference. I guess it will be up to me to move, if I want a clear hi band. unfortunately. Thanks for your help though. Very much appreciated.

 

[scanaholic]

Also, maybe there is some solar activity that is going on. I've thought of this too. It doesn't affect UHF or higher frequencies, just hi band. Down around 146mhz. ham radio repeater area seems ok, oddly.

 

[scanaholic]

I just checked at 12:30pm, it's back on. I'm wondering now if there really is some sunspot activity doing this. I'm inclined to believe that.

 

[scanaholic]

Well I think I've turned that noise box on for my last time last night. It's going nowhere but I am. Just TV watching is all I need. I can get ONE county now, Taylor, the county in which I live. The only other thought I have would be to get an SDS200 so I can start hearing APD, and all the other services that exited the reach of the old GRE600. The only catch is, I would need someone to program it for me, and I would get some frequencies off the 600 of VFD's, ham repeaters, and such, to add to the main counties. This new technology has ran off and left me and I would gladly pay anyone to program a 200 for me. As for this old radio that the interference has swallowed up, last night may be the final time I sit there listening to nothing for 3 hours before heading for bed.

 

[wtp]

how about searching the 851 to 862 area ?

 

[scanaholic]

Might could, but I'm getting some action! I notified AEP Electric and I think they are going to issue some kind of investigation request to see if the interference is coming from their equipment. I also have messaged the maintenance man here at the apartment to check to see if anyone upstairs may have recently added some kind of new electronic device near the balcony door. May get this case cracked yet!

 

[TomLine]

Using a cheap rtl-sdr I can scroll up and down the bands and see what's going on; get an idea of signal type etc.
What does the signal noise sound like ? Noisiest thing I've found in my house was my chicomm HT radio charger. If it was the power company, I would guess it wouldn't just switch off suddenly.

 

[texas1313]

Do you have a different antenna you can plug into the radio and see what changes?

Have you tried moving the antenna to another part of the room and observing the levels?

You may also want to try taking the radio to another location (like another apartment or someone else's house).

Have seen all sorts of electronic devices cause broadband noise or "birdies" on various frequencies. Cheap power adapters, plasma televisions, electronic devices that use motors, fluorescent lights, marijuana growing lamps, dimmer switches, etc. Not always easy to find the source, but if you think suspect it may be coming from the upstairs neighbor, you could go talk to them nicely, explain what you are experiencing, and ask them if they got any new electronic devices around those dates.

Best first to make sure your antenna/cable/radio is not to blame by trying a different antenna or moving it to another location some distance away from your apartment.

 

[tvengr]

One of the biggest offenders is a USB power supply/charger. The switching supplies can generate wideband interference. A lot of wall warts also use switching supplies.

 

[nd5y]

Also, maybe there is some solar activity that is going on. I've thought of this too.

It's not the sun. If the sun caused anything like that then there would be millions of posts about a new noise that suddenly appeared.

 

[K5MPH]

Have you tried to disconnect the antenna and see if you still get the interference and if you do you know its really close by........