[RFI] How far does RFI travel?

[Roger (K8RI)]

All good points: I'd add Computers and wired networks.  Today's 
inexpensive computers with plastic cabinets, and "cheap", switching 
power supplies can be really nasty, when for a little more money they 
could be RF quiet.  Wired networks can make great RFI antennas, yet the 
good ones can be silent.

Wired networks have been much faster than wireless, but wireless is 
catching up.  Unfortunately the manufacturers tend to total the speeds 
of the carriers, rather than what you can do on a single transfer, 
making them sound a lot faster than reality. Still my CAT5 is about 5 
times faster than my new wireless.

73

Roger (K8RI)


On 5/9/2016 Monday 12:14 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> As always, great advice. I'll expand on it only to help 
> understanding.  RFI is like any other radio transmitter connected to 
> an antenna -- make RF current flow on a piece of wire and it will 
> radiate. The more power and the better the antenna, the greater the 
> strength of the radiated RF.  The antennas can be anything conductive 
> connected to the source -- power supply conductors, audio cables, 
> video cables, etc. Wires running down a wooden pole to "ground" power 
> wiring are ANTENNAS, and will radiate any RF current that they carry, 
> including arcing on the power system. Coax carrying video and/or 
> internet signals are antennas, and will radiate RF trash generated by 
> the equipment to which they are connected. Virtually everything 
> connected to a power source (battery or AC power system) is a 
> potential noise source, every piece of electronics, including 
> microprocessors built into products like refrigerators, washing 
> machines, dryers, etc.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
> On Mon,5/9/2016 8:50 AM, Frank N. Haas KB4T wrote:
>> There is no definitive answer to this question. In just a few 
>> replies, you
>> can see that RFI can travel great distances. There are an infinite 
>> number
>> of combinations all of which result in a widely varying range.
>>
>> There is no way to predict if the new subdivision will raise your noise
>> floor. It's likely but impossible to predict. The suggestion made to 
>> begin
>> measuring and recording your current noise floor is a good one. As the
>> subdivision grows you may see your noise floor come up.
>>
>> Check to see if the electrical utilities planned for the new subdivision
>> will be overhead or underground. If underground, less noise is likely.
>>
>> Frank N. Haas KB4T
>> Utility RFI Investigator
>
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