Do you ever chase RFI problems for listeners/viewers?

[kenglish]

Does anyone still do anything about interference problems, any more? Would an average viewer or listener even know who to contact if your station was obliterated by noise?
I did some tests in my part of town last night, and found that everything below 30 Mhz was basically unlistenable.
The FCC says they are still (as of a few weeks ago) under lockdown.
I'm still dealing with problems that have been ongoing for years, and too many new ones to count.
Should we just give up on over-the-air?

 

[kevtronics]

If you suspect the interference is coming from the power lines, contact the local electric utility company. Remind them that an arcing power line not only annoys radio listeners, it's also a loss of efficiency in their system, and a potential fire hazard if they let it get bad enough.

 

[kenglish]

That's what I've always done in the past. Those were the easy ones (especially the RFI issues that affect Cable TV headends and Translator sites).
I always had contacts at the power company in past years. Now, those guys have all retired. The phone centers don't seem to know what I'm talking about. So, I've had to make new contacts. The current guys say they only get a complaint or two a month. That's for a whole state.
The bigger issue is the big screen TV sets, computers, neon signs, outdoor lighting, traffic signals, etc. Stuff that belongs to businesses and consumers, most of whom look at you like a lunatic.
I'm not sure how much the power company guy can do, if the problem is on the customer side of the meter.
The FCC is overwhelmed with other issues. The cell-phone folks have RFI engineers of their own, plus backing from the FCC and their own lawyers. Hams have help from the ARRL, and then can escalate to an FCC Citation. But, what happens when it's between individual listeners and neighbors who just want to be nasty?
What kinds of help do people get from the stations, or State Broadcaster groups?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

But, what happens when it's between individual listeners and neighbors who just want to be nasty?

Nothing. Individuals have no right to tell their neighbors what televisions or lightbulbs or neon transformers they may or may not own.

 

[kenglish]

Nothing. You have no right to tell your neighbors what televisions or lightbulbs or neon transformers they may or may not own.

Bullshit. You have a right to not be interfered with, and they have no right to cause interference.

 

[kenglish]

Just called the clothing store across the street, wondering if they were moving. They have a new store opening a few blocks away, so I was thinking they might be leaving, and abandoning their bad signs. No luck. I was hoping that they were just holding off a few more weeks, to avoid having to repair the sign. I asked them to mention something to their manager about getting it repaired. I hope they will. So far, it's been three or four years since its been bad.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

The FCC rule sections on required remediation of blanketing interference are still in effect (73.88 for AM, 73.318 for FM).

Having said that: It ends up better all around if you’re a good neighbor.

 

[kenglish]

There are numerous really bad RFI sources in our neighborhood.
I think my neighbor across the hall has a huge big screen. Sometimes it looks like he is doing video editing. This starts in the afternoons, continuing until night. That wipes out the entire spectrum, up in to VHF.
There are dozens of hpsv ("streetlight") bulbs in the complex that are bad. They are 40 years old, and cycle on and off from mid-afternoon until late morning. I have reported the problem (nicely) for years, but nothing happens unless somebody else complains.The last manager blew smoke up my ass numerous times.
There's another huge noise source that starts underground in the next block, and crosses the road, a commercial strip mall, and continues on the overhead for several blocks.
Newer replacement LED traffic lights are really noisy, installed a few years ago, about 150 feet away. Did you know that yellow signals are extremely noisy?
Back to the clothing store, the sign guy told them (and me) that it was in danger of falling on people. Don't know if they gave him any chicken wire and tape to fix it, or even did it right.
Always had problems with that mall after it was rebuilt about 30 years ago. They did cheap work on the signage, and it kept burning up transformers. When the exposed tubing got damaged, they bypassed it with bell wire (HV wires lying on metal surfaces). When they finally gave up on the outline tubing, they cut the wires and conduits with a chop saw. Every night, the photocell turned the current back on, and they arced all night. Eventually, the heat would set the surrounding wall on fire, burning the building down. Six or seven fires that I know of.

 

[Kelly A]

Does anyone still do anything about interference problems, any more?

A few years ago I was helping a station out in Portland, OR after a massive malware attack. Mostly elderly listeners to the station used to call in and complain about being able to hear the station fine during the day, but not at night. 99% of the time, it's because they were using either florescent or LED replacement light bulbs near their receiver. Especially the LED's spray noise all over the VHF band. Over the years I've visited some homes or businesses to help the listener out. Many times it's a problem with their radio, which I won't touch, or some other interfering device. Usually I just recommend they move the noisy device away from the receiver, or other way around. Can't count how many times some listener has said that it couldn't be an issue with their expensive Denon or Bose system, and that it must be a problem with the radio station. Usually I find their expensive Denon receiver is connected to an antenna in the attic.

Would an average viewer or listener even know who to contact if your station was obliterated by noise?

99% of the time they call the radio station. Sometimes, it isn't even the same station they're complaining about.

I did some tests in my part of town last night, and found that everything below 30 Mhz was basically unlistenable.

The Commission sent out a survey a couple years ago inquiring about the level of terrestrial interference. What came back was kind of a 'duh' moment, aligned with what the ITU found ten years ago: That most of the MW and SW bands are awash with terrestrial noise.

Should we just give up on over-the-air?

If you think the FCC or any agency would be able to clamp down on Part 15 noise regulations for consumer devices this late in the game, you're kidding yourself. Consumers buying low cost lighting and electronics made in China has been going on too long to correct. Besides; UHF bands are still pretty clean. That's why all the Cell/PCS companies want those bands.

 

[kenglish]

I sometimes wonder if they could just ban imports of non-compliant switch-mode power supplies, maybe things would be a little better in ten years, when the old ones have all burned out. A couple of ferrites in the proper holes could help some.
I have three phone chargers on my desk right now. One is marked "squeals and oscillates", one says "whines", and one says "Fred MacMurray"... it sounds like the Flubber Mobile.

 

[kenglish]

Did I tell you about our former news anchor's house? It was wired with "big box store" grade RG-59. When the cables were run, the installer tied a tight granny knot at each end, so the cable would stay in place during sheetrocking. The connectors were crimped completely flat with electrician's pliers. Needless to say, they never untied the knots. The anchor had just come home from the hospital, had no flashlights, and a cheap stepladder. My knees were acting up.
So, I had a good MATV guy go back and look in the attic. He found the antenna was installed vertically between roof joists, and the coax was stripped back and installed with the center wire to one screw, and the shield to the other.
At least they were consistent..... EVERYTHING was done wrong.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

I sometimes wonder if they could just ban imports of non-compliant switch-mode power supplies,

???

Such things are banned. That's why they are non-compliant.

 

[kenglish]

???

Such things are banned. That's why they are non-compliant.

"Ban" probably wasn't the right word. Maybe "confiscate and destroy" was more what I was thinking. 😁
A new requirement that they (actually) have proper filtering and shielding, and that off-the-shelf units be inspected periodically, with penalties for cheating, could go a long way.

 

[bulwnkl]

There are relatively easy things FCC could do to clamp down on sale & distribution of non-compliant items like bulbs. They wouldn't be totally effective, but they'd help significantly and wouldn't take that much time or effort. The inability, or in some instances (not necessarily speaking of FCC here) prohibition, to conduct meaningful enforcement action is a major problem in many areas, IMO. Nevertheless, even just a little (but real) pressure on Amazon may do a lot of good. Flea-bay is much more difficult...