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General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: Beerus Maximus on March 12, 2014, 1411 UTC

Title: That Doorbell Looks Innocent, But It May Be a Federal Offender
Post by: Beerus Maximus on March 12, 2014, 1411 UTC
From the Wall Street Journal today:

"FCC Agents Track Rogue Radio Waves To Aquariums, Bulbs, Blankets; $16,000 Fines"

http://tinyurl.com/k95vlpd
Title: Re: That Doorbell Looks Innocent, But It May Be a Federal Offender
Post by: Pigmeat on March 12, 2014, 1443 UTC
My great Aunt and Uncle lived a couple of miles from the National Radio Observatory in Greenbank, WV. The entire valley is about 3000 feet up, with the ridges around it about 1500 - 1800 feet higher. They have hard winters due to the elevation.

The observatory requires a radio/tv dark zone of over 200 square miles. About twenty five years ago they started getting random on and off interference during the winter, usually during the coldest days/nights of winter.

It took the Feds over two years to run down the source. An electric blanket in a dog house with a second rate timer. The folks at the observatory shelled out a few bucks, they bought the lady a heavily insulated dogloo for the pup. No more interference.
Title: Re: That Doorbell Looks Innocent, But It May Be a Federal Offender
Post by: paranoid dxer on March 12, 2014, 1548 UTC
the quality made american products went away   now they compete with china-etc to make cheap crap
maybe they should start getting after the bad noise coming from the power lines  i can hear the substation 10 miles from here
 dirty power makes cheap crap radiate more 
Title: Re: That Doorbell Looks Innocent, But It May Be a Federal Offender
Post by: Beerus Maximus on March 12, 2014, 2220 UTC
Quote from: paranoid dxer on March 12, 2014, 1548 UTC
the quality made american products went away   now they compete with china-etc to make cheap crap
maybe they should start getting after the bad noise coming from the power lines  i can hear the substation 10 miles from here
 dirty power makes cheap crap radiate more 


I have a bunch of these NOCO "Genius" smart battery chargers. The company that produces them designs them here in the USA and of course they are assembled to their specification in China. They are not inexpensive. Despite the designed in USA pedigree and high price, they are satanic RFI produces. I don't think its necessarily fair to say the problem is that they are made in China. They are designed with no protection against incidental radiation.
Title: Re: That Doorbell Looks Innocent, But It May Be a Federal Offender
Post by: paranoid dxer on March 12, 2014, 2316 UTC
Quote from: Beerus Maximus on March 12, 2014, 2220 UTC
Quote from: paranoid dxer on March 12, 2014, 1548 UTC
the quality made american products went away   now they compete with china-etc to make cheap crap
maybe they should start getting after the bad noise coming from the power lines  i can hear the substation 10 miles from here
 dirty power makes cheap crap radiate more 


 They are designed with no protection against incidental radiation.
indeed   to compete or to get it produced cheaper  quality goes out the window