[Elecraft] OT--RFI Issue

[Don Wilhelm]

David,

This is reminiscent of the old days of TVI.
One of the guidelines back then was - avoid making any changes to that 
neighbor's system by yourself.  If you do, you may be "responsible" for 
any future strange "happenings".
Your position should be to offer to assist a qualified technician in 
isolating and correcting any deficiencies by providing periods of 
operating to test the results of any repairs.

Exceptions may be OK if you are on really good and friendly terms with 
your neighbor, but it does not sound to me like that is the case.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/18/2013 10:30 PM, Dyarnes wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am in need of some informed counseling.  Hopefully I won't start a 
> thread of "war stories".
>
> Some time back, my neighbor complained that I was getting into his TV 
> system.  He has Dish Network, by the way, which is the same thing I 
> have. Anyway, I immediately tried to be responsive, went to his house 
> to hear the problem for myself, with the aide of another local op who 
> operated my rig while I listened.  I was getting into his system all 
> right, but it was an anomoly.  I don't have any problem with my own 
> systems here.  Anyway, I tried a few toroidal filters, but it didn't 
> seem to help.  Fortunately, I got some assistance from the local ARRL 
> RFI committee, and it was determined that it was his sub-woofer leads 
> that were the culprit, and I had not filtered that particular lead 
> previously.  He has a serious "rats nest" wiring system running all 
> through his house. Anyway, A filter seemed to solve the issue.
>
> Fast forward to the present--now I'm told he thinks I am getting into 
> his phone system and his internet!  I can believe the phone 
> thing--that's not uncommon, but also not necessarily indicative of a 
> dirty signal.  On the other hand,  I've never heard of a problem with 
> someone's internet connection.  We both use the same internet system 
> also--Cox Cable internet, and I don't have any problem whatsoever here 
> at my own house.  He is not far away, but obviously farther away than 
> my own systems!
>
> I suspect he may be a bit paranoid, and is assuming "any problem" is 
> being caused by me.  However, I want to be proactive!  I do, however, 
> want to try and be logical about the whole thing. Intuitively, I 
> assume that if I was transmitting a "dirty" signal, it would probably 
> affect my phone system (also wireless like he has, but probably a 
> different brand) and internet service.  Also, I have now added a low 
> pass filter, but haven't checked to see if that made any difference, 
> but I will.  For one thing, I'm going to try and talk to the guy "on 
> the phone" to see If I can hear anything when I key up.  I've also 
> been reviewing my connections. In any event, I don't want to make the 
> mistake of assuming that, just because I don't have a problem with my 
> systems, it must be faulty equipment at his end--or something entirely 
> unassociated with my operating.
>