[UK-CONTEST] set top box

Fri May 25 11:24:26 EDT 2007

Disgusting

Chris G3SJJ


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 Actually, thinking about it a bit further, if my opinion is "outdated 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:
>>>   
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> 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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>>>>>     
>>>>>       
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
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>>>>     
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>>>>         
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>>>       
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>>     
>
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