[UK-CONTEST] set top box

Fri May 25 10:52:55 EDT 2007

Hi Colin,

Hmmm...things must have changed in the last 6 months or so (?)

I have an HF beam in the back and noticed late last year that about 
5.30pm I was receiving +6 interference especially on 20m, it was like 
the wife's hair dryer! At 9.30pm, it disappeared!

I spent ages looking for the culprit and then thanks to friend of mine 
with a portable HF set, we found the problem - a set of garden lights in 
my neighbours garden that were on a timer system. I hadn't noticed it 
until the nights started to draw in and the clocks went forward.

Spoke to RSGB EMC Committee - that's another story, most of them are 
either dead or retired, eventually got absolutely no-where so spoke to 
Ofcom!

Quote from Ofcom - "tough, you are unprotected"

Charming!

So what to do? Go round to the neighbours and complain and risk them 
asking questions in return about the antennas (whilst also knowing that 
I don't have a legal leg to stand on!) or lump it!

Luckily as the nights are shorter, its not so much of an issue at the 
moment.

I believe that the CE mark should be equivalent to FCC Part 15 inasmuch 
as products should be able to resist RF interference and in turn, not be 
able to produce interference! Unfortunately it doesn't, my 
investigations lead me to believe that few if any products are properly 
tested and as we are an unprotected service, we are really buggered!

I had it out with the Chairman of the RSGB EMC Committee and his 
attitude was very much "there's nothing we can really do", and when I 
really pressed him he hid behind the "I'm only a volunteer" excuse 
although he did ask me to join the EMC Committee but I declined as I 
would probably lose my temper with them!

One of my friends not 7 miles away, started interfering with a mast 
mounted TV pre-amp when on 50mhz - he followed exactly the same course 
of action and got no-where - in fact the EMC Committee didn't even offer 
to send someone round to see if the problem could be resolved at his end 
which should th every least they could do!

Over to you :)

David
M0ZLB/KG4ZLB

Colin wrote:
> David,
>
> A somewhat outdated and incorrect opinion I'm afraid!
>
> The RSGB in association with our sister IARU Societies in Region 1 
> managed to have the the then European Directive 89/336/EEC amended.   
> This through the good offices of MEP EA8AK who works closely with the 
> Region 1 Eurocomm Committee.   Incidentally RSGB General Manager Peter 
> Kirby is Vice-Chairman of this committee.
>
> The relevant extract of the now Directive 2004/108/EC dated 15th 
> December 2004 states -
>   
>> (2) Member States are responsible for ensuring that radiocommunications,
>> including radio broadcast reception
>> and the amateur radio service operating in accordance
>> with International Telecommunication Union (ITU) radio
>> regulations, electrical supply networks and telecommunications
>> networks, as well as equipment connected
>> thereto, are protected against electromagnetic disturbance.
>>     
> The UK Government has signed up to this agreement and Ofcom are now 
> responsible to uphold this Directive.   Recent meetings between the RSGB 
> and Ofcom have served to reinforce this position and the EMC Committee 
> would be interested to receive reports of recent instances where this 
> position has not been followed.
>
> In brief Peter, if Virgin Media don't do anything about it contact the 
> EMC and seek their advice.
>
> By the way I apparently cause problems to my Virgin Media/NTL Samsung 
> DTB but only when running 400W to my long wire.   Really asking for trouble!
>
> 73
>
> Colin, G3PSM
>
>  David - M0ZLB wrote:
>   
>> Peter,
>>
>> Unfortunately, due to the abysmal lack of protections that we have in 
>> this country, its unlikely Virgin will waste any time on your neighbours 
>> equipment as the ball lies fairly and squarely in your court - now in 
>> the US, the set top box would be classed as unable to prevent the 
>> intrusion of spurious interference and the responsibility would lie with 
>> the neighbours equipment.
>>
>> Fair? Course not!
>>
>> Anything we can do about it? Course not!
>>
>> Reason for the problem? - many years of negligent management by our 
>> National Society and their failure to secure us "protected status" like 
>> our US friends.
>>
>> And don't bother with Ofcom - as we meekly accepted a free licence for 
>> life the concept of contract law went straight out of the window! We 
>> don't pay any "consideration" for our licence and that therefore negates 
>> any supposed contract - they don't legally have to provide, supply or 
>> protect us in any way!
>>
>> Another example of piss poor administration of our hobby!
>>
>> Try a good low pass filter though!
>>
>> David
>> M0ZLB/KG4ZLB
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> peter Jackson wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> I know this isn't contest info but don't know where to send it. I have a tvi problem with a neighbour when I am on 80M, not sure about other bands yet. I come through on his Virgin Media set top box. I feel sure Virgin will have to come and sort it out but I wondered if there is a filter made for this purpose. I don't kown what frequencies the signals come in at. Any help would be appriciated.
>>> 73 Pete G3KNU
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