[Elecraft] Touch lamps

[Jim Wiley]

To start with, visit the neighbor and explain the problem.  They will 
think you are nuts, but it you ask them if they have any 
touch-controlled devices, and the answer is yes, then you may be able to 
get them to unplug or temporarily power-down any such devices to see if 
the interference stops.  If it doesn't them try the next device or look 
elsewhere.   if the interference quits when the device is disconnected, 
you can take the next steps. 


Be the way, it isn't just touch control lamps.  I experiences a similar 
problem with an automatic battery charger that had a semiconductor based 
controller - it put out a "wavery - drifty"  signal at spots all across 
the lower part of the HF spectrum. 


You can point out to him that the part 15 rules REQUIRE him to cease 
using any device that causes interferences to a licensed radio service 
(that's us).  If you don't like that approach, you might take the tack 
that his lamp isn't supposed to be transmitting signals, and maybe it is 
defective, and  defective electrical devices have been known to cause 
fires.   If that doesn't work, send a note to the FCC, and they will in 
turn send the neighbor a more "official" communication that explains the 
part 15 rules in detail and outlines and what he or she needs to do.  
That last can escalate to some pretty powerful language after a few 
iterations or so. That's what that "radio interference" notice on the 
device is all about.   Fines are not unknown in these cases - rarely 
assessed, it's true, but not impossible.

The neighbor may be able to take the lamp or other interfering device 
back to where they got it and get a refund or replacement.  You can 
offer to go with them, taking a portable radio that tunes the 
frequencies of interest,  to make sure any new offerings are "clean" 
before they leave the store.  In any case, NEVER offer to fix the device 
yourself.  If you do, and _anything_ electrical in their house ever 
fails from that day forward, it will be seen as your fault. 


I know everyone likes to be neighborly and all that, but this sort of 
thing won't get fixed until enough complaints are heard to cause action 
on the part of manufacturers.  If the neighbor is mad at the store for 
selling him a product that causes problems, then encourage him to 
complain to the store manager.  One complaint won't do much, but over 
time, enough of them will cause sufficient negative feedback that the 
mess gets  fixed. Of course, if you just want to "roll over" and put up 
with the problem, that's your call.


- Jim, KL7CC



Steve Ellington wrote:
> I suspect my neighbor has one now and I'm trying to figure 
> out how to approach him about it.
> Steve
> N4LQ
>   
>