[RFI] 30 M Shuts Down Internet Cable Modem

[Dan Butler]

Jim,

Thanks for your very through email.  Let me address a few of the items.

I am currently using the matchbox for an end fed dipole made by one of the Hawaii clubs:

http://www.earchi.org/proj_homebrew.html

I have also used the end fed 20/40 M matchbox:

http://www.parelectronics.com/end-fedz.php

These hang vertically downward outside my 15th floor window about 5 feet from the building (see picture on qrz.com).

In reference to Item 1.  I put a heavy metal pot around the modem and also wrapped it in foil.  Neither helped, so I presumed that RFI is not going into the box via air.

In reference to Item 2.  I completely disconnected the cable and the router to the modem.  With these disconnected and only the power hooked up, it still shut down.

So, item 3 looks like it is the most likely suspect and once I get the ferrite rings I’ll give that a try.  In the meantime, I may do as Wes suggests and wire in a different wall wart.

73, Dan

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jim Brown 
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 12:26 PM 
To: rfi at contesting.com 
Subject: Re: [RFI] 30 M Shuts Down Internet Cable Modem 

Hi Dan,

First, forget about "ground" -- a connection to the earth is NOT part of 
a cure for any form of RFI, nor does it make antennas work any better.

Second, I can't even begin to imagine what an "end fed multiband dipole" 
is. What DOES matter is how close the antenna you are using on 30M is to 
that cable modem, AND to the cables connected to the cable modem.

Now, getting to your cable modem. it helps to think about how your TX RF 
is getting into that cable modem.  There are several possible ways.

1) The cable modem itself is badly shielded, so wiring inside the modem 
is picking up the signal. The cure -- throw it away and get one that 
does not have that problem.  If it belongs to the cable company, tell 
them it is defective (and HOW it is defective) and tell them to either 
fix it or replace it with one that works.

2) The RF is getting INSIDE the cable itself because somewhere in the 
cable system there is a bad shield connection. This is a VERY common 
problem, and can happen when the cable installer does a bad job 
installing one or more connectors on the cable. It can also happen when 
a CUSTOMER makes his/her own connection (because he/she doesn't want to 
pay the cable company) and does it badly. This is the most common way RF 
gets onto the cable, and ALSO how their TV and computer signals leak out 
of the cable to cause us interference.  This is also the cable company's 
problem, and THEY must fix it.

3) The other most common way RF gets into equipment is by the cables 
connected to the equipment acting as receiving antennas, and coupling 
the signal it receives into equipment by a manufacturing defect called 
"The Pin One Problem."  There's no easy fix for Pin One Problems in most 
equipment, BUT it's easy to kill the antenna action by adding the RIGHT 
ferrite choke to the cable(s).

The most likely antennas are the coax, the CAT5 cable that connects the 
cable modem to your Ethernet switch or wi-fi base station, and the power 
supply cable (between the power supply and the modem).

You MUST wind multiple turns through ferrite cores to make a dent in RFI 
on 30M. Just clamping a core on a wire won't do anything useful.  For 
detailed advice on how to wind them, study

http://audiosystemsgroup.com/RFI-Ham.pdf

A good start for 30M would be 4-5 turns through a 1-inch long #31 or a 
#43 core, or 7-10 turns through a #31 or #43 toroid.  If you're lucky 
and the problem is not #1 or #2, this ought to fix it. It's the cable 
company's problem, and you'll have to get them to fix it.

73, Jim K9YC

  On 3/25/2013 7:43 PM, Dan Butler wrote:
> I live on the 15th floor of a 17 story apartment so "proper" grounding is not possible. I use an end fed multiband dipole which theoretically does not require RF grounding. However, I do have a multiple wire counterpoise hooked to the tuner. I recently converted from a 20/40 end fed dipole to the 6-80 end fed dipole, so have just started using the other bands. Now when I TX on 30 M (and occasionally 17 M) the internet cable modem which is in an adjacent room about 20 feet away, cuts off - all the lights go out, then it starts once the TX is finished. I placed a steel bowl over it and wrapped it in foil but it still cuts off. I disconnected the router cable and the cable input and it still cuts off. I presume I have some sort of power supply issue but not sure how to address that.
>
> Thanks in advance for any useful suggestions.
>
> 73, Dan 9V1DB
> _______________________________________________
> RFI mailing list
> RFI at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>

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