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[RFI] RFI/EMI MAJOR Problems

To: <rfi@contesting.com>
Subject: [RFI] RFI/EMI MAJOR Problems
From: "Bob Gates" <regates@hughes.net>
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:17:20 -0800
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Hi All,

I wish all I had to deal with were little noises in my receiver.  All of my 
little noises are in my head.  I apologize if the problems I'm about to 
describe are not best suited to this forum, but I can't find one that seems 
better suited.  If there is, you certainly won't hurt my feelings if you tell 
me to look elsewhere.

My problems start when I turn on the linear, at anything over about 500w 
output.  At that point I generate major TVI, to the tune of completely blanking 
out the screen.  All cordless phones receive my signal S9, before disconnecting 
the phone altogether.  I start tripping GFCIs in some parts of the house, and 
can even lock up my PC on one band, after listening to audio/cw coming through 
the PC speakers.  I have mix 43 toroids, in various combinations, all through 
the house, to the tune of 48 of them.  

I have 8 of them forming a common mode choke at three points on my single 
antenna feed line.  I have another choke on the power line for my UPS, which 
has my PC hooked through it.  I've got the AC power lines for all the TVs and 
base unit for the phones wrapped w/ 12 turns around a toroid.  And I have an 8 
toroid choke on the amplifier's power line.

Since adding all these chokes, I've gone band by band to see if one is worse 
than the other.  Haven't checked 10M since I don't use it.  On 15M, my PC locks 
up and sound comes through the PC speakers.  TVI is not too bad, and minor 
interference on the phones.  No GFCIs seem to trip.  20M is the only band with 
no problems of any kind.  40 and 80M are the most serious.  Almost ALL of the 
problems I described in the second paragraph.  Major TVI, cuts out the cordless 
phones, trips GFCIs.  But no problem with the PC.

Antenna is Butternut HF6V on the roof of our two story house, and the shack is 
on the lower level.  Antenna ground is about 60' of 2x14 romex.  Don't know 
what the solid wire equivalent of 3 #14 wires is offhand.  But it terminates on 
the opposite side of the house from the station ground, clamped to an 8' ground 
rod driven in 7-1/2'.  My station ground system has all major components 
connected to #2 stranded copper wire, about 30' total length, which terminates 
clamped to a 1/2"x8' electrical ground rod, driven in to within about 4" of the 
surface.  Nothing else is connected to either the antenna or station ground.  
There is a ground wire for the house electrical panel that seems to be #2 
stranded copper, but I can't tell where it's terminated underground since the 
ground here is a tad bit frozen right now.  Everything in the shack connected 
to AC is on a separate circuit run directly to the panel, as is the 220V amp.  
Rig is a FT1000MP Mk 5 and the linear is an Emtron DX-3.

Hope I haven't overwhelmed you with useless information.  I would certainly 
appreciate any advice on the source of this mess, and potential cures.  Thanks 
in advance.

73, Bob W7BJ
dit dit


   
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