My Midland WR-120DSP keeps losing signal when I plug it in

Joined
Aug 12, 2024
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The title, it works perfectly when it runs off batteries and gets alerts but when i plug it in all I hear is static and was wondering if there was anything I can do to fix it or if I perhaps have a faulty unit and I wasn't sure where else to post this, thanks in advance.
 

ScannerSK

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Weld County, Colorado
It sounds like radio interference is being generated either by the adapter or is present in the power grid. You could try a different adapter or relocate the radio to a location with better reception. Maybe a different outlet has less interference? It could be something else plugged into a nearby outlet causing interference too.
 
Joined
Aug 12, 2024
Messages
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It sounds like radio interference is being generated either by the adapter or is present in the power grid. You could try a different adapter or relocate the radio to a location with better reception. Maybe a different outlet has less interference? It could be something else plugged into a nearby outlet causing interference too.
Update: I have been messing around with it and have got it plugged into an outlet in my room where the signal seems to be good (albeit i had to mess around with the cord and its like wrapped around the table weirdly its on and the antenna is fully extended) but it seems to working, i will update again later tonight when it becomes night time and the temperature starts to drop cause ive also noticed the signal drops at night most of the time and im unsure as to why, if you have any ideas for why that might be too let me know lol
 

DVINTHEHOUSEMAN

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I would try to localize the source of interference; try turning all the breakers off except for what the radio is on and unplugging everything on the same circuit as the radio and turning the breakers on one by one until you find what is causing the noise.
 

N4SRN

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Same here with my Midland WR120DSP. As I carry the unit around the house on battery, the signal is clearest where there is nowhere to set the radio down, which probably corresponds to no wiring or other devices causing RFI and/or reception nodes indoors. I finally found one window on the South side of the house, not facing in the direction of the three closest NOAA stations to the North and West, that is static-free with a good signal

I had to wind the wall adapter cable multiple times through two ferrite beads and route the power cable downwards from where it plugs into the radio so it's parallel with the vertical antenna versus perpendicular or I'd get static.

I have Midland's thru-glass antenna on order for this home WX-Radio. I'm using the same setup at my local Makerspace and I works quite well. As I have double-pane windows at home, I'll mount it on my exterior screen and route the cable through a window port.

For a $50 WX-radio, it's OK. My KWD TM-D710G with roof 2m antenna gets better NOAA RX but doesn't have the SAME alert selections the Midland has - it just comes on blasting at every WX-Alert. That drive my wife crazy.
 

AK9R

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The Midland WR120 series has an external antenna jack. I wonder if connecting an external antenna would help with the RFI problem.

WR120DSP? Did Midland redesign the circuit board to use one of those Chinese "radio on a chip" devices?
 
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