AM reception

[hypwr]

Yesterday I was listening to "Handel on the Law" (my fav) on KDKA. However, reception was wiped out on Poplar Street in Green Tree from Noblestown Road to the Parkway West. There seems to be some issues with the HV power lines along this road. The entire band was full of noise. Last week it was fine. This is just another stumbling block in the way of AM.

 

[Savage]

hyp, have you complained to Duquense Light? Whenever I encounter a noisy power line or substation up here, I call the utility and usually they correct it.

 

[hypwr]

Thanx, I Shall do that. I guess they really don't know unless someone points the prob out to them.

 

[FreddyE1977]

Usually my AM gets blitzed right around the corner while driving past that Open MRI place.

 

[secondchoice]

Many years ago I was talking with an electric power Co-op supervisor getting his OK for a couple of prerecorded "bad weather" commercials (ice storm was predicted). He said the electric companies do care about "AM" interference. Not because of the interference, but if a power line is seriously messing up AM reception, there is a "leak" and it is costing the Co-op $$$. I assume the for profit electric companies are the same.

 

[cingram]

Don't start me on compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).

C.

 

[dB]

I've heard that Plasma TVs are also very RF-noisy.

 

[secondchoice]

There is a rumor that LED lighting are hard on FM signals. I question that. Diodes (or their function on a big chip) are in every AC to DC power supply I have seen. I haven't noticed any issues with LED traffic lights and I live in the RF fringe of several FM stations I regularly listen to. Maybe some one has an explanation.

 

[FreddyE1977]

I've heard that Plasma TVs are also very RF-noisy.

Fortunately they are becoming obsolete technology. LED sets have improved dramatically
in quality, and they won't send your power bill into the stratosphere the way the Plasma units do.

 

[Parttimer]

I've heard that Plasma TVs are also very RF-noisy.

Fortunately they are becoming obsolete technology. LED sets have improved dramatically
in quality, and they won't send your power bill into the stratosphere the way the Plasma units do.

As someone who works for a maker of plasma TVs, both of you are incorrect.

Plasmas are not obsolete, look at CNET'S lists of the best TVs. They have better motion response, black level, color accuracy, viewing angle and 3D performance than LED sets. You can operate a good 50" plasma for less than $2/month (go to a store. and look at the energy star stickers).

Older commercial plasmas sometimes had higher RF emissions than their consumer counterparts, but never enough that they would interfere with AM reception in a passing car. About the only issue you would have is maybe a problem trying to mount an IR sensor on the wall next to one.

Stick to radio, guys.....

 

[dB]

As someone who works for a maker of plasma TVs, both of you are incorrect.

Plasmas are not obsolete, look at CNET'S lists of the best TVs. They have better motion response, black level, color accuracy, viewing angle and 3D performance than LED sets. You can operate a good 50" plasma for less than $2/month (go to a store. and look at the energy star stickers).

Older commercial plasmas sometimes had higher RF emissions than their consumer counterparts, but never enough that they would interfere with AM reception in a passing car. About the only issue you would have is maybe a problem trying to mount an IR sensor on the wall next to one.

Stick to radio, guys.....

Well, "they" said Betamax was a "better" system than VHS, too.

Try Googling RFI "Plasma TV" if you think Plasma TV's don't produce RFI.

In your passing car example, the RFI is being attenuated by distance, not by any improvement in the TV. A next door neighbor doesn't have that option.

 

[Parttimer]

Well, "they" said Betamax was a "better" system than VHS, too.

It was. VHS won because Sony made some bad marketing decisions.