[RFI] RFI/EMI MAJOR Problems

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

one other thing--ur conductors to all ur rods are too long and too small.  
Get rid of anything stranded and or braided.   Use flat copper strap, at 
least 1 inch diameter but 2 or 3 inches is much much better.   I'd try 
running the vertical without any line to a ground rod after you install 
enough radials.  The shack ground run should be no more than 8 feet long.  
If there is no way to have a shack ground run that short (for example the 
minumum has to be 20 feet) then I'd think about operating without a shack 
ground.  There's usually a way to do it however, such as moving your station 
to be near your service panel so everything, feedlines, cable tv etc. can 
enter through a grounded plate that's bonded to rods outside that are also 
used for telephone and AC service ground.   Wherever your shack ground comes 
in, strap all your gear directly to it with discreet lines, one for each 
piece of active equipment (feedline tuner included), and don't use any thin 
lines--use at least 1" copper strap.

73

rob / k5uj


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

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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