RFI Shield

[n4voxgill]

Although they say they were made for Bearcat, should work on about any scanner. Go to www.torontosurplus.com and check the Triton Engineering TEI-920 RFI enclosure. These were made for government agencies.

 

[VernM]

For why? I have four Uniden scanners, three ham radio rigs, computers and other assorted RF generators/receivers all within a few feet of me here and never have found need for RF shielding.

 

[Mozilla]

Shielding

Because conditions vary.... your talking about several radios and scanners, I did time on an E-bird and the one rack alone held 20 AOR units, combine this with other units, transmitters, radar, etc and then also include, metal of varying types for frame, skin, and then throw in turbines, larger engines... well you get the picture.
Years ago several State Troopers got VHS video systems for their vehicles from a grant.
When they keyed up using their HT thru a PAC-RT system, they snowed a good 40% of the video right across the center and an completely washed out the audio. The installs had been done per the specs provided by the makers. Between their radio shop and another group they spent 10 hours and still could not solve the problem. I had run into this situation before with a video set-up in a van, and we went and got some parts and formed up a "shield" and low and behold, it dropped down to nothing. They then went to a local metal shop, who made up the boxes for a better fit.

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

RF shielding and grounding schemes are fine and good if your particular operation needs them. Not all radio installations, wether transmitting or receiving-only need shielding. Me, I like shields. Raise the shields! Maximum shields. High energy subspace fields. Lead lined rooms and tin foil hats. Shoulder fired ground to air missiles work well against black helicopters.......but I like to kid you guys.

The only RF problem I have in my shack is I have one modern TV set in the house that has a switching power supply with an "always on" mode for soft starting. And this supply spits out a rapid popping noise accross much of the HF spectrum when the set is off. Shielding won't help me with this but I have another easy fix employed.

I don't have my ham station RF grounded either. It is of course grounded through the house power electrical ground. I have no RF problems related to grounding.....so I don't need any extra grounding. I have used RF grounding schemes before at previous locations but it didn't apparently make any difference or bring any benefit. During thunderstorms I disconnect the antenna and 110v power line for protection.

Use shielding and grounding if you need it. Don't need it ?, don't worry about it.

Panty shields will be discussed on another thread.

 

[Declared_Hostile]

I know a couple of my older Uniden scanners are hideous RF spewings monsters. The 210 and 800 series in particular are the worst I've ever seen in terms of spewing stray RF. They can be scanning on one end of the house and lock up a scanner on the entire other side of the house when the other radio is on an external antenna no less. I can see why they saw a need to shield them. Wish they had a picture of the enclosures. I could possibly use a few of those enclosures but I don't want to purchase them without seeing them.

 

[DPD1]

I've experienced the same problem with a couple of the old Uniden handhelds... Throws out a little click pulse that's in time with the scan rate, and locks up certain freqs on other radios.

Getting some brass mesh and making a little box can help.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -

 

[VernM]

Pray you don't get a neighbor who likes Plasma TV screens. And, if you RV, you'll discover enough random RF radiation from the high end motor homes to choke a Clear Channel.

 

[hoser147]

When we first installed computers in our watchroom and would key up any of the radios, there went your computer work blanked out usually gone in space. A trip to the hardware and some screening and tywraps around the wires and an easy couple bucks fix to the problem..............hoser147

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

Re: Mo;
"Years ago several State Troopers got VHS video systems for their vehicles from a grant."
U. S. Grant is dead and W. T. Grant went out of business years ago so I suspect they bought them at Macy. Anyone who remembers the SupreMacy brand got my sick joke.

"When they keyed up using their HT thru a PAC-RT system, they snowed a good 40% of the video right across the center and an completely washed out the audio."
Sounds like a CB key-down.

"The installs had been done per the specs provided by the makers."
Yup, Texas Star and Macy.

Re: Beaver;
"The only RF problem I have in my shack is I have one modern TV set in the house that has a switching power supply with an "always on" mode for soft starting. And this supply spits out a rapid popping noise accross much of the HF spectrum when the set is off. Shielding won't help me with this but I have another easy fix employed."
Yeah, trot on down to the hardware store and buy an in-line switch for the power cord.

"I don't have my ham station RF grounded either."
Mine is grounded to the baseboard heating pipe.

"During thunderstorms I disconnect the antenna and 110v power line for protection."
Protection against mice? If lightning can arc 10 miles through the air what difference will a few more feet make? Your modem is far more suceptable to spikes but you didn't think if unplugging THAT now did you?

Before you give me the snot bagger treatment, my lightning ground is the fire escape. We like living dangerously, right?

"Use shielding and grounding if you need it. Don't need it ?, don't worry about it."
Quoth Alfred E. Neuman, "nevermore".

Re: Declared Hostile;
"I know a couple of my older Uniden scanners are hideous RF spewings monsters. The 210 and 800 series in particular are the worst I've ever seen in terms of spewing stray RF. They can be scanning on one end of the house and lock up a scanner on the entire other side of the house when the other radio is on an external antenna no less."
Now I can see why you chose that screen name, that would make anybody hostile!

Re: DPD;
"Getting some brass mesh and making a little box can help."
Cane metal can be cut on a shear, formed on a brake and tack welded and doesn't need framing unless you're building a very large Faraday shield. Yup, that's what an RF enclosure is called, I have seen entire rooms enclosed with grounded brass mesh. It also makes nice screens for hash pipes but that's another thread.

"Panty shields will be discussed on another thread."
Beaver, I just can't wait!

 

[jparks29]

VXA, learn to

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