[RFI] U-Verse problem update

[Martin Ewing]

Don,

If you've really been using RG-59, that might explain the problem.  The
standard now seems to be RG-6 "triple" or "quad" shielded.  Older, cheaper
coax is much less well shielded and permits both ingress and "outgress" of
signals.  (Old connectors are weak points, too.) There's no reason Cat-5/6
ought to be better than well shielded coax*.  Of course if it works for you,
that's great.

73 Martin AA6E

* That's if the equipment is well designed and handles common mode currents
(carried on the outside of the coax) correctly.

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 9:35 AM, Donald Hill <aa5au at aa5au.com> wrote:

> Just an update on my U-verse RFI problem.  After it was first installed
> using
> the existing RG-59 home runs to each box, running 100 watts on 15, 40 and
> 80
> meters would lock up the boxes connected to coax.  I was able to help the
> situation by grounding the main splitter but could not run over 300 watts.
>
> Saturday I ran CAT6e to the master bedroom through the attic from the modem
> in
> the radio room.   Afterwards,  I ran 700 watts making 300 contacts in the
> ARRL
> DX CW contest on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80 meters with no problems.  After I
> disconnected the RG59 to the master bedroom from main splitter, I installed
> a 75
> ohm termination on the splitter.  The 3-port splitter still feeds the
> kitchen
> and living room.  Previously when testing, I noticed the boxes  in the
> kitchen
> and living room lose the LINK light and would require a power-cycle in
> order to
> start working again after transmitting high power.  After eliminating the
> RG59
> run to the master bedroom, the other two boxes never lost LINK although I
> did
> not check to see if the screens blocked up or not.  I still plan on running
> CAT6e to the kitchen and master living room but RF must have been getting
> into
> the coax run to the master bedroom which incidentally was the shortest coax
> run
> (the splitter is outside on the other side of the master bedroom).  I am
> happy
> that I can operate without worrying about RFI to the TVs, Internet or
> Phone.
> Actually never had a problem with the Internet or incoming U-verse signal.
> Problem was always in house.
>
> 73, Don AA5AU
>
>
>