[UK-CONTEST] set top box

[Colin]

David,

In view of the veiled personal attack in your last reply I will respond 
off-line.

73

Colin, G3PSM

David - M0ZLB wrote:
> Actually, thinking about it a bit further, if my opinion is "outdated 
> and incorrect" then can someone show me where the legislation is that 
> a) ensures that the amateur service is protected, b) all "CE" (crappy 
> European") stuff is equivalent to or better than FCC part 15 to 
> further protect the service!
>
> If this isn't enshrined in legislation somewhere (and lets face it, it 
> isn't) then this is the very bare minimum that RSGB and associated 
> interested parties should be striving for instead of the two highest 
> officers of the RSGB swanning off on a Dayton jolly recently!
>
>
>
>
>
> David - M0ZLB wrote:
>> 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:
>>>