I never noticed this until I began charging my cell phone while driving. I'm using a charger plugged into the cigarette lighter. When the charger is plugged into the cell the sensitivity of the FM receiver in the car drops quite a bit. Having been a DX'r I notice the background signals go away. I swapped cords, moved the cell around the inside of the car and the lack of sensitivity remains. It's the first time I noticed damage to an FM signal caused by this. Anybody else notice this? I wonder how much this damages the average listener's experience and how it can be prevented.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
A new source of interference
- Thread starter Radio Bob
- Start date
I've had it happen to me before in my old Jeep as well. I have to wonder if somehow the battery and the reciever crossea each other.
I don't think the charger affects the actual sensitivity of the FM receiver, but the charger generates wideband noise up to and into the FM band, blocking the lower level FM signals.
Older Subaru had in-window antenna on a back side window. Tool battery charger I had in the back destroyed AM & FM reception. New Subaru shark-fin antenna on the roof seems to be less affected by inside noise from chargers. Wimpy AM reception isn't helped by the aggressive "noise reduction" that muddies the audio on AM and blends FM analog even from the HD.
I guess that would explain it. So much for noise enforcement.
They can chase down all the pirates they want but not give a care about these noise making devices.
Wow! Both at the same time?
^^This. A lot of chargers and consumer products generate noise.
Most of these are made in China and generally not by the manufacturer of the phone or other associated device, probably a way to avoid direct liability. This problem also adds to the incredible amount of noise in the low VHF TV band, which went unused in most areas until the recent repack.I guess that would explain it. So much for noise enforcement.
They can chase down all the pirates they want but not give a care about these noise making devices.
Wow! Both at the same time?
That's because there are a lot more consumers buying consumer products, than there are illegal stations.
It really sounds like Radio, despite being here first, is somehow infringing on such products, instead of the other way around 🤨
Rules against interference from consumer devices have been around for years Part 15: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-15?toc=1
Problem is; the rules have not been well enforced. An early example are the original florescent replacement light bulbs. They sprayed RF noise like crazy, but because they saved energy, the government looked the other way. Then along came computer monitors and other devices that use switching power supplies. What's the government going to do there? Tell consumer electronics manufacturers they can't innovate and sell to consumers because it might interfere with good ol' radio?
I've experienced this, too. Phone or radio? I'll let the phone die so I can keep listening to the radio...
It's definitely an unfortunate phenomenon. I've even noticed that if you leave the lighter part plugged in, that can wreak havoc on certain AM frequencies without even having your phone hooked up to it.
It's definitely an unfortunate phenomenon. I've even noticed that if you leave the lighter part plugged in, that can wreak havoc on certain AM frequencies without even having your phone hooked up to it.
- Status