something is messing up 40m locally

[N2RJ]

And I don't know what it is.

Take a listen:

SSB (http://www.n2rj.com/audio/n2rj_40m_qrm_ssb.mp3)
AM (http://www.n2rj.com/audio/n2rj_40m_qrm_AM.mp3)

If you can identify what it is, I would be most grateful!

[K1OU]

Check all of your appliances by turning them off one at a time. Also, do you have an old portable AM radio you can walk around the house to see if the noise increases or decreases?

[ad4mg]

Check all of your appliances by turning them off one at a time. Also, do you have an old portable AM radio you can walk around the house to see if the noise increase or decreases?

It was drowning out my 5 kw signal, Jerry. That's just wrong! Did I make the recording?

[K1OU]

Sounds like nice, raw fresh AC to me. I could be wrong.

[ad4mg]

Sounds like video noise I used to get from a crummy video cable hooked up to a computer sitting near my radio.

That's awful !

If you do find its from a computer monitor, try changing the vertical refresh rate on the video card. I have to run my computer next to the rig at 60 hz ... 70, 72, & 85 hz killed my receive, and I still get spurs all over the bands. Gotta get some torroids and put them on the video cables.

[N2RJ]

Video noise... you may be on to something.

I turned OFF my home theater rack and the QRM went away.

Oddly enough I turned it back on and it's not come back.

After dinner I'll do some further troubleshooting.

Jerry, as for the AM radio, why do you hate America so much? :P Seriously though, I'll have to use my shortwave radio as this noise is only present on 40m, from about 6900 to about 7200.

[ad4mg]

Video noise... you may be on to something.

I turned OFF my home theater rack and the QRM went away.

Voila! And a few other of them foreign exclamations!

I knew I'd heard that racket before ...

BTW - you probably already know this, but turning off those types of devices might not stop the noise if it is coming from the power supply ... you have to actually unplug them.

I think most video circuits (no expert here) oscillate in the upper part of 14 mhz. That would be a perfect spot on the dial to create a mess on 40 meter SSB with the spurs!

Is 14.386 the popular crystal on a video card? And I'm confident there would be a multiplier involved ... half of 14.386 is ~ 7.19 ... very close to where we were! We were on 7.188? The math works, assuming video in your home theatre monitor is similar in its configuration.

[N2RJ]

Okay so I think I figured it out, at least based on the evidence.

I have reason to believe that the switching power supply for my Nintendo Wii turned itself off due to a voltage spike, and that's when it started to interfere.

I am not quite sure WHY it would do that, but that's the only variable.

Reason is that it was in an off state when the QRM was there, and now I notice the little red light glowing on the Wii and the QRM is gone.

So no load, interference. WIth a load, no interference.

Weird.

But at least now I know what to do to have an interference free night on 40.

Hopefully we can QSO again Luke.

And the rest of you misfits, why do you hate 40 meters so much? Get off the keyboard and get on the air!!!

[ad4mg]

Okay so I think I figured it out, at least based on the evidence.

I have reason to believe that the switching power supply for my Nintendo Wii turned itself off due to a voltage spike, and that's when it started to interfere.

I am not quite sure WHY it would do that, but that's the only variable.

Reason is that it was in an off state when the QRM was there, and now I notice the little red light glowing on the Wii and the QRM is gone.

So no load, interference. WIth a load, no interference.

Weird.

But at least now I know what to do to have an interference free night on 40.

Hopefully we can QSO again Luke.

And the rest of you misfits, why do you hate 40 meters so much? Get off the keyboard and get on the air!!!

I'd wager that the Nintendo has a 14.386 crystal on one of the boards in there, although I've heard similar noises from dirty swithing power supplies in cheap personal computers!

The good news is that the problem is solved! Ans yes, we will most certainly QSO again! Tomorrow & Thursday nights don't look too good, but I plan on some radio time this weekend. We could, optionally use the mode that causes so much grief, CW!

73 es GN,
Luke

[N2RJ]

Well, whenever you're available, Luke.

Tomorrow is unlikely for me too as I have to take my kitties for a follow up visit at the vet.

[W7XF]

And the rest of you misfits, why do you hate 40 meters so much? Get off the keyboard and get on the air!!!

You can find me lurking around on 40 most every night after say 0500Z. My favourite keep-me-awake-at-the-wheel band.

K7KWH

[N9FE]

sorry rj - luke, been so g-dam busy i don't even have time to spit, we have our 3.913 get together saturday, some are coming friday, just got done with the rock fest crowd,, summer time ya know, we only have three months of it here, so you have to do it while you can,,, catch up soon though,,,,,, hey ,,, oh right the sprint cars are in town sunday night, so that will be a hoot,, 1500 horsepower in a 800 pound car aaaaaaarrrrrr let er rip

[AK7V]

Hmmm..

I had the same type of noise when my Sony Trinitron TV was plugged in. If I unplugged it, it went away. Or, if I turned the TV on, most of the noise went away (what was left changed character). I don't know why. I know the TV has some active circuitry to detect the remote control, but I don't know why it wouldn't always cause RFI, or why it would at all. ??

So I just made it a habit of unplugging the TV before operating. Kind of a PITA, but not so bad in my situation.

Hope you've got it solved!

[N2RJ]

So I finally think I have it figured out.

It wasn't my poor Wii. It was the subwoofer.

Disconnect subwoofer from the power, noise goes away. COnnect subwoofer, noise comes back.

I put a snap on mix 43 ferrite split bead on the power cord and presto - no more RF noise!

If it doesn't come back, I think I'll send this one to Ed Hare to add to his notes.

BTW, the subwoofer is a kenwood...

That is a very annoying sound and would drive me batty on CW. My HF antenna is down now so I don't know if this is just your area or all around. RJ, I'm in Middlesex County so were not terribly far away.

[N2RJ]

The worst part of it is that it sweeps up and down the band.

Probably a badly designed SPS.

My xyl was hinting that we need to get a new system today... I don't agree with her. I love this kenwood. The sound is really nice... I just can't have it on when I play radio!