RF in the shack!

[KA9MOT]

I posted this over on the Zed so I thought I'd copy and paste it here too.

I have a homebrew OCF dipole at 40 feet and a Butternut HF-9V vertical out in the yard. When I key my rig at any power (5W to 100W) it knocks out my internet (DSL with WiFi), but bothers nothing else. I've installed 10 Ferrite beads as well as Ugly Chokes at the antenna end (Both antennas) and at the switch in my shack (both antennas and both radios). That is a total of 60 Ferrite beads (I purchased a bag at a hamfest 1 time and this is the first time I've needed them. They are supposed to be Type 31 material but are not marked). Still, it kills the internet.

I'm thinking my problem might not be with my station and I am out of Ferrite beads, so I ran about 10 turns of the phone line feeding the DSL Modem through a T130-2 Torroid on both ends. My problem still persists.

I'm using RG-213 from the antenna switch to antennas (Both of them) and RG-8X from rigs to switch. Both switches are connected together with one of those double pl-259 adapter thingies (Sorry to get so technical).

Also, this happens when transmitting into antennas or dummy load. No beads on Dummy load. I relocated my DSL Modem to the opposite end of the house away from shack and antennas.

Does anybody have any other ideas? I'm about to pull my hair out.

[NA4BH]

Try it without all the connections between rig and antennas. Hook up antennas direct.

[KA9MOT]

I forgot to mention that I did exactly that. Even just rig to dummy load with a 3 foot jumper. And it still knocked the internet out.

[NA4BH]

Did it start all of a sudden (have you been using it without any problems prior)?

[NQ6U]

Of course you have RF in the shack—it's full of transmitters. Just get rid of them and your problems will be solved.

Seriously, I'm guessing it's a bad engineering job on the DSL modem. Poor RF shielding is the usual suspect when it comes to RFI with consumer electronic equipment.

[KA9MOT]

Did it start all of a sudden (have you been using it without any problems prior)?

Only with this modem and the Heathkit. Previously I had cable. Same antennas. No problem with cable.

[NA4BH]

What modem are you using? Westell by chance?

[KA9MOT]

Seriously, I'm guessing it's a bad engineering job on the DSL modem. Poor RF shielding is the usual suspect when it comes to RFI with consumer electronic equipment.

I think you are correct. I just can't get my head around how RF is getting to it. That dummy load might be radiating a little, but not much.

[KA9MOT]

What modem are you using? Westell by chance?

Yes, Westell! Should I hook my WiFi router up to it and then wrap it in Tin Foil?

[KA9MOT]

Dad gum! Pushed the wrong button!