Got Interference on Your New HDTV? It's a Ham...

[N2NH]

Came across this on the interwebs. A supposed Ham being helpful by telling someone with a new HDTV that his interference is being caused by - another Ham. If it's HDTV, then it's very unlikely that a Ham is causing the TVI. Doesn't stop Einstein though...

[iO] HD Channels flicker on and off

I have new 8300HD. Sometimes the HD channels (all the HD channels, but not the regular channels) flicker- the picture and sound keeps jumping on and off for a couple of minutes, then they become stable. Does this sound like equipment failure or something wrong with signal. Any suggestions?

It could be RF interference. Do you have any Amateur Radio operators nearby?

That looks like typical CW (Morse Code) interference, if it was a hum it could be a grounding issue or SSB (Phone/Voice) RF interference. Just an idea... I know when I key up my transmitters it happened until I installed highpass filters on the TV.

Then Mr Helpful posts the name callsign and address of every ham in this guys zipcode - Edited out here.

What is the inevitable response?

What are those names and addresses you gave, because one is only two townhouses away?

Bingo... Those are licensed Amateur Radio operators in Mount Kisco, NY... They are FCC licensed to operate up to 1500 watts on the HF, VHF and UHF bands (frequencies). I am a AR Operator and I had the same exact problem you are having, so I recommend you get a high pass filter and see if that fixes the problem. If it does, it is likely it might be coming from that radio operator when he uses CW (Morse Code).

Morse code is the opening and closing of a circuit, on and off transmissions. It can mess with TVs in close proximity.

Of course, I don't know if that is the problem, but it doesn't hurt to gather some info. Does this happen 24X7? Or is it on and off for a few minutes then stops ofr a while? Does it happen constantly all day and night? If not, then it could be man made.

Also, a lot of AR Operators who live in Townhouses use "stealth" wire antennas, which often means they have inferior grounding (which leads to issues like you're having).

Mr. Helpful then gives the QRZ web address and the FCC ULS Database Addy

He then advises him to install a high pass filter but a few posts later:

It turns out it is not my neighbor. I just spoke to them. They havne't used the ham radio since they moved here over 5 years ago, it is still in the box unpacked. So I guess it is the DVR or the cable. Unless, the addresses on Foxwood Circle are about 2 blocks or more away, could it be them?

Now this is turning into a witchhunt.

Wonder why you have so many problems? It's guys like Mr. Helpful here.

BTW, Mr. Helpful describes himself as "Proud Libertarian Conservative." With friends like this, who needs enemies.

Wonderful guy.

LINK HERE.

[N2CHX]

Also, a lot of AR Operators who live in Townhouses use "stealth" wire antennas, which often means they have inferior grounding (which leads to issues like you're having).

This was from 2007, but still, what a jackass. Apparently the guy doesn't realize that unless there are spurs or harmonics, the "interference" is due to inferior shielding on cheap consumer equipment and not the ham operator's problem. If it's interference to cable, then the problem is with 99.9999999999% certainty the fault of the equipment at the receiver end. You'd have to be putting out one hell of a spur to leak into a cable system that was shielded to spec.

Reminds me of many TVI/RFI cases I had to deal with in my engineering days. In one case, several homes in a development called "Beacon Hills" got the local newspapers so fired up over interference to everything from computer speakers to furnace thermostats from my 50 kW FM next door, they got some stupid senator to try and force the station, which had been there about 30 years before the development, to move our transmitter site. They lost, of course, but not before making life a living hell for the engineering department for a couple of years -- well, mostly me, because I handled all the interference complaints. People don't like it when you even tactfully try to tell them that their equipment plays your radio station even when it's turned off because it's shit designed and made in China. BTW, remember the name of the development? I'll give you two guesses as to why it was so named...

BTW, here you go, for your amusement: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=five+...gl=us&t=m&z=16

[NQ6U]

You'd have to be putting out one hell of a spur to leak into a cable system that was shielded to spec.

While this is absolutely true, my experience as a cable TV system engineer (my title, but I was really just the chief tech) has shown me that very few CATV systems are shielded to spec, at least not for long after initial construction. Wear and tear on the cables and thousands of connectors—thermal expansion/contraction cycling in particular—eventually allows signal ingress.

Then again, this was back in the days when CATV was completely analog; things may be different now.

[N8YX]

In certain circles this type of person is known as 'Helpy Herper'.

[KG4CGC]

The problem originates from the cable companies satellite feed. Sheesh.

[N8YX]

The problem originates from the cable companies satellite feed. Sheesh.

And was compounded by a clueless dumb-ass.

[KG4CGC]

And was compounded by a clueless dumb-ass.

We get the same issue here from time to time. Like a lost signal for just a moment on OTA digital TV. Looks to me like Helpy Herper was gladly willing to throw another ham under the bus.

[PA5COR]

The Bastid......

[N2NH]

Worse yet, he published every Ham in that zipcode, their name and their address in a public forum. It's not like it's hidden, but then again, he has no trouble hiding behind his 'site name' and doing this does he? And what gives him the right to automatically assume it's a Ham? If I had no trouble finding this, then anyone who looked for HD TV Interference will find it too. And they'll find the QRZ database and the FCC ULS as well.

Thanks for nuthin' numbnuts.

[WØTKX]

I had a neighbor two QTH's ago that called the cops on me when he heard me coming through his TV on 2M SSB.
Presented my FCC license to the cops, and we went next door. I asked if I could inspect the installation.

In less than 10 minutes I found a large splitter installed with three open connections... open, not capped off with 75 Ohm terminators.
I had a bunch, installed them, problem went away. And so did the birdies I had been hearing. Imagine that.

After I fixed it, the officers shared the complaint stating I was a "damn CB'er".
Neighbor was told he should talk to me first, since I had a federal license.

He got a partial refund from his satellite system installer. :monkeydance:

A few weeks later, he bought some cheap computer speakers. He heard me AND his cell phone in these.
Two ferrite toroids installed, and he took me out to Red Lobster. He now looks for CE, not FCC stickers. :rofl: