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#1
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
Hi all,
I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? ---pete--- |
#2
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
A guess - maybe it's mechanical interference - neighbor is causing
some component in TV to shake/vibrate. Can you lift TV off floor/ stand/furniture and cause interference to stop? ---Pete--- wrote: Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? ---pete--- |
#3
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"---Pete---" wrote in message ... Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? ---pete--- If your neighbour's signal source is FM radio, build a powerful 10.7MHz FM transmitter to jam all FM reception. Years ago I did something similar for the UK TV 6MHz sound intercarrier using an LS629 TTL VCO. The purpose was to broadcast the racket made by the mental case in the flat above to every TV in the street! For the 6MHz system the TTL VCO was run at 12MHz and divided by a 74F flip-flop to produce 6MHz with equal M/S ratio, further 74F gates were used as buffers to drive the bases of a push-pull pair of power transistors and an RF toroid, the secondary was wired across the neutral & earth to induce the RF in the mains wiring - it worked rather well, but mains spikes killed the transistors quite often! |
#4
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"Bennett Price" wrote in message . com... A guess - maybe it's mechanical interference - neighbor is causing some component in TV to shake/vibrate. Can you lift TV off floor/ stand/furniture and cause interference to stop? ---Pete--- wrote: Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? ---pete--- Some modern integrated stereos - notably Sonys, and most home cinema systems, employ a switch mode power supply. Loaded very hard, with huge bass, it's quite conceivable that such a supply might radiate excessive crap, at a frequency which is closeby your TV channel. Surely there's some department you can complain to on the noise grounds alone, let alone the RFI ? Arfa |
#5
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:27:31 GMT, "Arfa Daily"
wrote: Some modern integrated stereos - notably Sonys, and most home cinema systems, employ a switch mode power supply. Loaded very hard, with huge bass, it's quite conceivable that such a supply might radiate excessive crap, at a frequency which is closeby your TV channel. ------ Your explanation makes the most sense. We are in separate homes so I know it's not vibrating my TV set. I figured it has to be something in his home radiating RF and the switching power supply makes good sense because, when it gets to that level where it interferes with my TV, I can hear the distortion in the music. This guy has no ear for music and seems to just like the loud thumping, even though it's all distorted. I'm dealing with an large adult male who I suspect has the mentality of a 12 year old. Add some alcohol, and you can imagine what I have to contend with. Surely there's some department you can complain to on the noise grounds alone, let alone the RFI ------ Noise problems are very difficult to solve when the perpetrator refuses to respect their neighbors and the authorities. I already had the state police out here and the problem continues. I'm now gathering info and data because it will most likely go to court to get any meaningful action or fines imposed. If I can prove damages, I might be able to get some monetary compensation too. It's horrible to live next to such such rude and inconsiderate people. ---pete--- |
#6
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 15:10:24 GMT, "ian field"
wrote: If your neighbour's signal source is FM radio, build a powerful 10.7MHz FM transmitter to jam all FM reception. ---- I think he's playing CDs. So jamming is not possible. ---pete-- |
#7
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"---Pete---" wrote in message ... On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 15:10:24 GMT, "ian field" wrote: If your neighbour's signal source is FM radio, build a powerful 10.7MHz FM transmitter to jam all FM reception. ---- I think he's playing CDs. So jamming is not possible. ---pete-- That may not be exactly true - I remember some months ago my CD player started going silent intermittently, I happened to look out my flat to find the fuzz were raiding the bloke on the other side of the corridor, every time they used their radio my CD muted! |
#8
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"---Pete---" wrote in message ... On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:27:31 GMT, "Arfa Daily" wrote: Some modern integrated stereos - notably Sonys, and most home cinema systems, employ a switch mode power supply. Loaded very hard, with huge bass, it's quite conceivable that such a supply might radiate excessive crap, at a frequency which is closeby your TV channel. ------ Your explanation makes the most sense. We are in separate homes so I know it's not vibrating my TV set. I figured it has to be something in his home radiating RF and the switching power supply makes good sense because, when it gets to that level where it interferes with my TV, I can hear the distortion in the music. This guy has no ear for music and seems to just like the loud thumping, even though it's all distorted. I'm dealing with an large adult male who I suspect has the mentality of a 12 year old. Add some alcohol, and you can imagine what I have to contend with. Surely there's some department you can complain to on the noise grounds alone, let alone the RFI ------ Noise problems are very difficult to solve when the perpetrator refuses to respect their neighbors and the authorities. I already had the state police out here and the problem continues. I'm now gathering info and data because it will most likely go to court to get any meaningful action or fines imposed. If I can prove damages, I might be able to get some monetary compensation too. It's horrible to live next to such such rude and inconsiderate people. ---pete--- I see your dilemma. We have such people here too, and it's getting worse. Have you thought about playing the RFI angle with someone like the FCC ? Over here, interfering signals are taken very seriously. Imagine if such a signal popped up on an aircraft comms channel ... Arfa |
#9
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
If your'e Reeeealy lucky, some of your neighbors friends will come over
to his house for a party; the guns will come out, and PoP, PoP, PoP- no more neighbor or rap music. JR ---Pete--- wrote: Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? ---pete--- -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth |
#11
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
Jim Land (NO SPAM) wrote: (---Pete---) wrote in news:448eb552.31404968 @news.verizon.net: Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? First figure out where the interference is entering your tv. If you short out the antenna terminals, does it go away? If not, try putting a line-filter between the wall receptacle and your TV's power cord. If so, it's entering either at the antenna or the downlead. You might consider moving the antenna to the area of your roof that's farthest from the neighbor, and/or changing from twin-lead to shielded downlead from your antenna. The whole field of radio-frequency interference (RFI) of TVs is an interesting one and books have been written about it. See, for example, The ARRL RFI Book, http://www.arrl.org/catalog/6834/ It's for radio amateurs, but the underlying principles apply to your case, and are completely understandable by a technician like yourself. (For example, your neighbor might be radiating at a much lower frequency than channel 2, but with a harmonic which is close to channel 2; this can be cured by putting a low-frequency filter on your tv's antenna input.) I think building a high-power transmitter and aiming it at your neighbor's stereo in the hope of overloading the input stages of the amplifier is the best thing to do, even if it is illegal. If the streo dies every time he turns the volume up, he just might figure out to keep the volume lower. OTOH, some people just don't get it no matter what - hence the Darwin Awards. H. R.,(Bob) Hofmann |
#12
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"Jim Land" wrote in message . 3.44... (---Pete---) wrote in news:448eb552.31404968 @news.verizon.net: Hi all, I have a background as an electronic technician and this issue has me puzzled. My neighbor lives in a house about 25 feet from my home. He plays his stereo so loud with RAP music that the windows on his home rattle. The bass comes thumping into my home at a level of -4db on a sound level meter range of 70db. That's just to give you a general idea how loud he plays it. Here's the part that puzzles me.. When he really cranks it up I'm getting interference on my TV on Ch2 only. It looks 2 or 3 wide white horizontal bars that pulse with the bass. I have an antenna on my roof and no cable TV. How can an audo system interfere with a TV signal when the frequency ranges are so far apart? First figure out where the interference is entering your tv. If you short out the antenna terminals, does it go away? If not, try putting a line-filter between the wall receptacle and your TV's power cord. If so, it's entering either at the antenna or the downlead. You might consider moving the antenna to the area of your roof that's farthest from the neighbor, and/or changing from twin-lead to shielded downlead from your antenna. The whole field of radio-frequency interference (RFI) of TVs is an interesting one and books have been written about it. See, for example, The ARRL RFI Book, http://www.arrl.org/catalog/6834/ It's for radio amateurs, but the underlying principles apply to your case, and are completely understandable by a technician like yourself. (For example, your neighbor might be radiating at a much lower frequency than channel 2, but with a harmonic which is close to channel 2; this can be cured by putting a low-frequency filter on your tv's antenna input.) If the offending equipment is actually radiating the harmonic ( or indeed a fundamental ) on a frequency which is affecting the specific channel, then no amount of filtering at the antenna, will remove it, without removing the wanted TV channel as well. On the other hand, if the interference is being generated by a mix product in the front end of the TV, as a result of a high field strength of interfering signal at a lower frequency, then the filtering suggestion may produce a positive result. The only way to know really is to jam a spectrum analyser on the feeder, and have a look just what's coming in near the affected channel, when the problem is present. Arfa |
#13
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Tue, 13 Jun 2006 22:32:57 GMT, "Arfa Daily"
wrote: Have you thought about playing the RFI angle with someone like the FCC ? ------ First I need to gather my evidence and understand what's happening. Then I can persue the legal angles. --pete-- |
#14
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 01:42:51 -0000, Jim Land
wrote: First figure out where the interference is entering your tv. If you short out the antenna terminals, does it go away? ---- Good suggestion! All your suggestions were good. Thanks. I can try a high pass filter to see it that helps. I already have power line conditioning. ---pete-- |
#15
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 10:14:21 GMT, "Arfa Daily"
wrote: If the offending equipment is actually radiating the harmonic ( or indeed a fundamental ) on a frequency which is affecting the specific channel, then no amount of filtering at the antenna, will remove it, without removing the wanted TV channel as well. ----- Yeah, I see what you are saying. I'm not too concerned about solving the RF interference problem. I just needed to understand it. When the noise level reaches that level, I get bass audio levels coming through my walls at 66db. My normal TV audio listening level is in the 60 to 66db level, so I really can't watch any TV channel in comfort. I'm hoping that if I do all the needed research and gather all my evidence and facts, I'll be successful at using the proper authorites and the courts to put an end to this. Thanks for all the info and suggestions. I guess what I need now is some authoritive source or article that can explain how switching power supplies can radiate RF when oveloaded. ---pete--- |
#16
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"JR North" wrote in message ... If your'e Reeeealy lucky, some of your neighbors friends will come over to his house for a party; the guns will come out, and PoP, PoP, PoP- no more neighbor or rap music. JR Why not help it along a bit? Rap music seems to have heavily armed factions, so find out which faction your neighbour is and post party flyers to his house for a rival faction. |
#17
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
snip I think building a high-power transmitter and aiming it at your neighbor's stereo in the hope of overloading the input stages of the amplifier is the best thing to do, even if it is illegal. If the streo dies every time he turns the volume up, he just might figure out to keep the volume lower. OTOH, some people just don't get it no matter what - hence the Darwin Awards. H. R.,(Bob) Hofmann One of the easiest ways of obtaining a high power RF source is to saw the oven compartment off a microwave oven leaving the end of the waveguide open to air - it could overload the amplifiers input stages even when the amp is switched off! (hint - use a very long extension cord!) |
#18
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
snip I think building a high-power transmitter and aiming it at your neighbour's stereo in the hope of overloading the input stages of the amplifier is the best thing to do, even if it is illegal. If the streo dies every time he turns the volume up, he just might figure out to keep the volume lower. OTOH, some people just don't get it no matter what - hence the Darwin Awards. H. R.,(Bob) Hofmann One of the easiest ways of obtaining a high power RF source is to saw the oven compartment off a microwave oven leaving the end of the waveguide open to air - it could overload the amplifiers input stages even when the amp is switched off! (hint - use a very long extension cord!) |
#19
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:46:58 GMT, ian field wrote:
snip I think building a high-power transmitter and aiming it at your neighbour's stereo in the hope of overloading the input stages of the amplifier is the best thing to do, even if it is illegal. If the streo dies every time he turns the volume up, he just might figure out to keep the volume lower. OTOH, some people just don't get it no matter what - hence the Darwin Awards. H. R.,(Bob) Hofmann One of the easiest ways of obtaining a high power RF source is to saw the oven compartment off a microwave oven leaving the end of the waveguide open to air - it could overload the amplifiers input stages even when the amp is switched off! (hint - use a very long extension cord!) And, of course, you've tried this, right? |
#20
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"AZ Nomad" wrote in message ... On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 14:46:58 GMT, ian field wrote: snip I think building a high-power transmitter and aiming it at your neighbour's stereo in the hope of overloading the input stages of the amplifier is the best thing to do, even if it is illegal. If the streo dies every time he turns the volume up, he just might figure out to keep the volume lower. OTOH, some people just don't get it no matter what - hence the Darwin Awards. H. R.,(Bob) Hofmann One of the easiest ways of obtaining a high power RF source is to saw the oven compartment off a microwave oven leaving the end of the waveguide open to air - it could overload the amplifiers input stages even when the amp is switched off! (hint - use a very long extension cord!) And, of course, you've tried this, right? Only with a very long extension cord! |
#21
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
Since this person is causing interference in the VHF band, you can not
only call your local police about the noise ordinance, you can consult with the FCC and file a complaint there if you have to. You are in most cases obligated to complain to them directly first, so that they cannot claim being "unaware" of the situation. I know just the type you are dealing with, and I empathise. If authorities won't respond to this, petition your neighbors and his for a formal complaint to the mayor's office if you have to. Be sure to include the TV interference in the complaint, and send a copy to the FCC. Keep making consistent complaints relentlessly, even have the officer see you first so they can hear what you hear. Tell them about how many times you have complained about this and how there has been no compliance. If police simply will not acknowledge the public nuisance, go to the mayor, go to the FCC. The more people complain about it, the more they have to do to stop it. Look ion your phone book's white-pages government section for possible hotlines that can act most directly toward this problem. If worst comes to worst, document the noise level on camera along with the TV interference, and possibly a hidden camera as you inform them of the problem (calmly and non-confrontationally). Then you can document their failure to comply after a reasonable request. Getting that noise-level reading on tape is golden. Then once you have gained irrefuteable evidence of them being a public nuisance, consult a lawyer with what evidence you have gathered, including statements from any neighbors, or at least a signed petition (easier to get signatures than statements, yet statements are more powerful because those willing to make a statement are usually irate enough). Build your case and you just might get damages for it, but don't base your case on that. The idea of legal action on this is to stop the nuisance, not to gain reparations from it.... Willful negligence is still a crime, and at this rate, that's what it looks like you have. Gather any evidence you can and seek legal advice after the third complaint to police and after at least one complaint to them directly. If you should casually run into an officer with a moment, consult them for a possible course of action pertinent to your state/county/jurisdicton. If they fail to comply after such a case has been tried against them, it's not only proven willful harassment, but also contemptuous of a court-order, which carries heavy fines. At that point you might be able to recover punitive damages.. Just be the jaggernaut advocate for everyone around him and do what you can. As hard as it is, get the law on your side and your noisy neighbor will have no choice but to buy a set of headphones instead. |
#22
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
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#23
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
I tuned in late, but I recommend *not* involving the local police.
Technically, they do not have jurisdiction over radio emissions, but they may not realize it, and the situation could get ugly. |
#24
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
"mc" wrote in message
... I tuned in late, but I recommend *not* involving the local police. Technically, they do not have jurisdiction over radio emissions, but they may not realize it, and the situation could get ugly. (Having read a little more...) On audible noise in your home *do* call the local police (noise ordinance). The RFI is a separate problem probably caused by oscillation in the neighbor's heavily overdriven amplifier. |
#25
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Neighbor's Stereo System Interferes With CH2 TV Reception
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