[Elecraft] RE:TV interference

[Mike Lewis]

Hi,

Our little group of hams has done a few of comparisons on this. As it 
turns out, it is not a simple answer. All my TVs are currently CRT 
based, non-HDTV types, so I cannot speak directly to issues with TVs per 
se, but possibly some part of this set of experinces, hearsay, and 
propaganda might be useful to you.

Plasma displays are NOT the same technology as your typical LCD display 
which are either passive, or nowdays TFT active technology). I have also 
heard that plasma displays can cause significant interference to HF 
receivers, although I personally do not have any experience with this.

As for LCD computer monitors, they are better than their CRT 
counterparts for interference, in general. I have used an older laptop 
for my shack for quite a while for this very reason. The stand alone LCD 
monitors are good too - as long as the power supply used to run them is 
not a culprit. A friend of mine has bought 3 LCD monitors for his shack. 
All 3 had noisy power supplies. The first two were actually powered by a 
12v external switching brick (like used with many laptops), he simply 
canned those and powers them with his Astron station supply. Quiet as a 
mouse. The third one was powered internally, and would have needed 
siginificant surgery to be modified for external power. He ended up 
giving that one to his wife, whose system is at least in another part of 
the house.

I try not to use CRTs in my shack. I will most likely eventually upgrade 
my shack PC to either a better laptop, or an LCD based desktop (after 
paying attention to the power supply issue). Unfortunately, many LCD 
monitors now have the power supplies built in. This does not necessaily 
mean they would be problematic, but I would make sure the return policy 
is to your liking first...


73 de KE0MF/Mike