Computer interfering with radio

[Brute]

I have an unusual problem. My #2 computer doesn't seem to like my radio. It's an amp, part of my stereo system, with an antenna. As long as the computer is off, things are fine. Once that computer goes on a whistling, white noise comes shrieking from the speakers. The white noise will change in frequency as the computer changes from the blank boot screen to the Windows 2000 desktop. Then, if Genome@Home is running, the sound changes again. If I stop G@H, the noise sounds different.

This only happens with computer #2. Comp #1, which is I am using to type this, is on and there is no noise from the radio.

Any ideas?

 

[WarCon]

Only thing you will be able to do is to shield that box better somehow. Is it an Aluminum or plastic case BTW?

 

[ScottMac]

If it happens on AM, somewhere around 890 (WLS in CHicago), then it's you power supply, and there's nothing you can do about it other than buy a new, better power supply. Hope your neighbors don't listen to that station, this kind of interference is actionable (they can file a complaint, you can't use your computer while it's emitting).

If it only happens when the monitor is turned on, you probably have a bad shield on the monitor cable, or the power supply (or high voltage section) on the monitor is about to go high-order (that would be "smoke emitting mode").

If it's a bad shield, you'd have to replace the monitor's cable. If the shield is intact (you can check it with an ohm meter), then perhaps adding some ferrite cores (available at Rat Shack or any decent electronics shop) may suppress the emissions enough to get by.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[dkozloski]

There used to be a ham radio operator in my neighborhood that everytime he got on the air, TV viewing was over for the evening. Anyone that approached him about it was met with a barrage of profanity. A couple of cases of beer to the guys down at the pool hall and the next morning his tower was laying across the road. If your neighbors complain, it is best to heed them.

 

[RossGr]

<< There used to be a ham radio operator in my neighborhood that everytime he got on the air, TV viewing was over for the evening. Anyone that approached him about it was met with a barrage of profanity. A couple of cases of beer to the guys down at the pool hall and the next morning his tower was laying across the road. If your neighbors complain, it is best to heed them. >>



Seems to me that a few complaints to the FCC would have been even more effective and completly leagal to boot!

 

[GEC]

 

[GEC]

The problem is with the computer power supply. Many manufactures will leave out the LOW Pass filter as a way to save money. This I have seen on many PS'S that people swear are great. As a HAM radio operator, I have had PS put out so much noise that the radio was useless. When the PS is opened up you can see on the circuit board where the line filters are left out. As for messing with a HAM'S tower or antennas, dont do it, it would be breaking a federal law with fines big time. The FCC has to take care of interference problems to TV"s.

GEC

 

[nihil]

<<

<< There used to be a ham radio operator in my neighborhood that everytime he got on the air, TV viewing was over for the evening. Anyone that approached him about it was met with a barrage of profanity. A couple of cases of beer to the guys down at the pool hall and the next morning his tower was laying across the road. If your neighbors complain, it is best to heed them. >>



Seems to me that a few complaints to the FCC would have been even more effective and completly leagal to boot! >>



lol. but that's still funny. i hope they trashed it after drinking the beer. that would be some sight to see. even though ruining other peoples stuff is wrong. :frown:

 

[dkozloski]

The required response from the FCC is for the ham to come over to your place and put appropriate filters on your stuff. How would you like that?

 

[Tiger]

<< There used to be a ham radio operator in my neighborhood that everytime he got on the air, TV viewing was over for the evening. Anyone that approached him about it was met with a barrage of profanity. A couple of cases of beer to the guys down at the pool hall and the next morning his tower was laying across the road. >>


#1. The Amateur service is a federally licensed service which means if you can't get any satisfaction from the Ham you take it up with the FCC. The morons down at the pool hall broke a couple of federal laws, and are lucky to be alive, when they vandalized the station.

#2. If the FCC engineers come out and check his or her station and find it clean from a harmonic point of view there's not a thing you can do about it. He/She is running the station in accordance with federal law. The problem lies with the cheap TV's, Stereo's, etc... that are mass marketed these days. They have receivers you could drive a truck through when it comes to rejecting out of band signals.

#3. If the TV's in question were on the local cable system it's more than likely their fault. Leaky traps will cause fundamental and harmonic overload.