[RFI] ARRL to FCC...

Tom Thompson tlthompson at qwest.net
Wed Mar 26 20:44:19 EDT 2014


Hi Don,

Thanks for the information.  Those common mode chokes certainly are 
effective.  Your experience would suggest that it is not just radiation 
emitting from the front of the screen that causes the RFI.  Since common 
mode choking is a function of both the source and the load impedance, it 
would be interesting to isolate the TV from the house wiring completely 
by running the TV on a battery/inverter in order to completely isolate 
it electrically from the house wiring.

Your average tracking time of 10 minutes illustrates that with a little 
practice finding the RFI source is the lesser problem. Fixing it is 
another matter.  Your youtube video certainly shows this.

Good documentation!

73,      Tom   W0IVJ

On 3/26/2014 6:00 PM, Don Kirk wrote:
> Hi Tom,
>
> I'm the one that reported the 3 Samsung Plasma TV cases to Ed and the 
> ARRL, and in all cases the common mode chokes were the same (14 turns 
> of a power cord on a 2.4" OD Fair-Rite #31 mix toroid core), and you 
> can see my most successful case on youtube at 
> http://sites.google.com/site/televisionrfi/
>
> My average time for tracking down a Plasma TV generating RFI is about 
> 10 minutes, but my most recent case has also been the most difficult.
>
> Here is the info I sent to Ed that he just mentioned which provides 
> more details :
> ------------------------------------------------
> I worked on 3 Plasma TVs generating RFI within the last year, and the 
> results have covered the entire spectrum so to speak. In one case 14 
> turns of the TV power cord thru #31 toroid core did a great job, in 
> the second case 14 turns of the TV power cord reduced the signal 
> somewhat, and in the 3rd case the toroid core on the power cord, as 
> well as a Delta EMI line filter (10DRCG5) had no impact (and 
> disconnecting all other cables from the TV had no impact).
>
> All 3 Plasma TVs have been Samsung.  The 3rd case mentioned above (the 
> one in which nothing worked) is 930 feet from my house and it's 
> located below grade (in a basement below ground).  I have discussed 
> this specific case with the ARRL.
>
> The model number of the 3rd case mentioned above is is as follows :
> Model : PN58B650S1FXZA
> Serial : AUQ53CE5400478F
> Version : K301
>
> I personally am concerned that radiation from the screen (or other 
> parts of the TV) may be coupling back into house wiring, etc. and that 
> filtering at the TV (line cord, etc.) may not totally mitigate the RFI.
> ------------------------------------
> 73,
> Don (wd8dsb)
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 5:24 PM, Tom Thompson <tlthompson at qwest.net 
> <mailto:tlthompson at qwest.net>> wrote:
>
>     Ed,
>
>     As you well know, all common mode chokes are not created equally.
>     Do you have any details on the chokes that did and did not work?
>
>     Tom   W0IVJ
>
>
>     On 3/26/2014 1:29 PM, Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:
>
>         One report I received back indicated that one plasma TV was
>         cured with common-mode chokes, but two other models were not.
>         All were Samsung products.
>
>         -----Original Message-----
>         From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com
>         <mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com>] On Behalf Of Dale J.
>         Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2014 2:44 PM
>         To: Tom Thompson
>         Cc: rfi at contesting.com <mailto:rfi at contesting.com> Reflector
>         Subject: Re: [RFI] ARRL to FCC...
>
>         Tom,
>
>         I'd love to do a lot of stuff with their tv, but it's not my
>         house and I hate to impose on them.  I have to catch the
>         neighbor outside on a weekend and chat with him a little and
>         maybe something might get going.  As you can see I'm a little
>         squeamish about imposing on other people's home and property.
>          I guess I wouldn't like it much and therein lies my problem,
>         hi.  But I'll work on it.  Maybe by the time I finally can do
>         some real investigation the TV will die.
>
>         Dale, k9vuj
>
>
>
>         On 26, Mar 2014, at 13:18, Tom Thompson <tlthompson at qwest.net
>         <mailto:tlthompson at qwest.net>> wrote:
>
>             Dale,
>
>             I checked with Costco and they only carry LED back lit TV
>             sets now. In thinking about it further, I don't think
>             making a measurement on the power cord with an RF current
>             probe would be too definitive anyway because of the RFI
>             coming from the other sets connected on the same circuit.
>              It would be instructive if you could conduct some tests
>             on your neighbor's set.  Would it be possible to use a
>             battery and quiet inverter to power the set with all other
>             wires disconnected?  You might have to connect the cable
>             to get the screen to light.  If you could do that and it
>             eliminated the RFI then the line filters Ed suggested
>             might work for you.
>
>             Just some thoughts.
>
>             Tom   W0IVJ
>
>             On 3/26/2014 2:23 AM, Dale J. wrote:
>
>                 My next door plasma is broadband hash with various
>                 bumps along the way.  I have one of those bumps
>                 especially bad at 3.857, it's 20 db over 9 and sounds
>                 like a motor running but changing speed and sometimes
>                 stopping and starting.  The broadband hash is all over
>                 the 80 meter band and 40 too.  The upper bands are
>                 less affected. I suspect part of the noise is from a
>                 switching power supply in the plasma tv, that might be
>                 what that motor sounding noise is not sure though.  I
>                 wish it were my TV, I could then find out more how
>                 these things tick before permanently disabling it.
>                  Makes it difficult on my USAF MARS net too.
>
>                 Dale, k9vuj
>
>
>
>                 On 25, Mar 2014, at 21:16, David Cole <dave at nk7z.net
>                 <mailto:dave at nk7z.net>> wrote:
>
>                     Imagine thousands of little lightening bolts...
>                      Thats Plasma TV.
>                     --
>                     Thanks and 73's,
>                     For equipment, and software setups and reviews see:
>                     www.nk7z.net <http://www.nk7z.net>
>                     for MixW support see;
>                     http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mixw/info
>                     for Dopplergram information see:
>                     http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/dopplergram/info
>                     for MM-SSTV see:
>                     http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MM-SSTV/info
>
>
>                     On Tue, 2014-03-25 at 18:28 -0600, Tom Thompson wrote:
>
>                         Ed,
>
>                         I checked out a few plasma tv sets a couple of
>                         years ago with a
>                         portable shortwave receiver.  The RFI was
>                         coming right out of the
>                         front of the set which made sense since that
>                         was where the discharge was occurring.
>
>                         Tom   W0IVJ
>
>                         On 3/25/2014 12:31 PM, Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:
>
>                             Thanks, Dale.
>
>                             We can then see if the TV is still in
>                             production.  If it is no longer
>                             manufacturered, it may be a harmful
>                             interference complaint, not a possible
>                             emissions-limit violation.
>
>                             The ARRL Lab would also be willing to
>                             provide a few filters to try, if your
>                             neighbor is willing to work with you.
>                              Some have speculated that the noise comes
>                             directly from the TV, and this could be
>                             true, but I still tend to think in terms
>                             of noise coming out the AC mains and
>                             possibly also being radiated by the shield
>                             of the incoming coaxial feed line.
>
>                             -----Original Message-----
>                             From: Dale J. [mailto:dj2001x at comcast.net
>                             <mailto:dj2001x at comcast.net>]
>                             Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 2:29 PM
>                             To: Hare, Ed W1RFI
>                             Cc: rfi at contesting.com
>                             <mailto:rfi at contesting.com>
>                             Subject: Re: [RFI] ARRL to FCC...
>
>                             Ed
>
>                             I'll see if I can get that information
>                             from my neighbor, but it will take a
>                             while.  I have to actually get in the
>                             house and look at the back of the TV and
>                             get the model number because I don't think
>                             they know for sure.  As soon as I get it
>                             I'll send you a email.
>
>                             Tnx
>                             73
>                             Dale, K9VUJ
>
>
>                             On 25, Mar 2014, at 13:04, "Hare, Ed
>                              W1RFI" <w1rfi at arrl.org
>                             <mailto:w1rfi at arrl.org>> wrote:
>
>                                 If the ARRL Lab can get some reports
>                                 involving specific model numbers, we
>                                 can do some testing and find out where
>                                 these plasma sets stand.  I had a
>                                 report in MD that involved two Samsung
>                                 plasma TVs. One made very loud
>                                 radiated noise, while the 2nd model,
>                                 also a plasma TV, was quiet.
>
>                                 I need reports that involve a plasma
>                                 TV operating in a neighbor's home
>                                 causing harmful interference.  So far,
>                                 most of the reports have been about
>                                 the QRZ.com and RFI list discussions,
>                                 not a specific report.
>
>                                 The ARRL Lab can measure conducted
>                                 noise and radiated noise from devices,
>                                 but we really need to start with
>                                 actual, non-general reports.
>
>                                 Ed Hare, W1RFI
>                                 ARRL Lab
>
>                                 -----Original Message-----
>                                 From: RFI
>                                 [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com
>                                 <mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com>]
>                                 On Behalf Of KD7JYK
>                                 DM09
>                                 Sent: Friday, March 21, 2014 12:23 AM
>                                 To: rfi at contesting.com
>                                 <mailto:rfi at contesting.com>
>                                 Subject: Re: [RFI] ARRL to FCC...
>
>                                 : Now if they would recall all the
>                                 damn plasma TV's out there
>                                 doing the same
>                                 : thing it would really tickle my butt
>                                 cheeks...but, any such
>                                 action is
>                                 : goodness!
>
>                                 How mant times have you contacted the
>                                 FCC regarding the interference to your
>                                 licensed service?
>
>                                 Kurt
>
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