Interference at my neighbors

[muddy_udders]

I am running a stock Uniden PC68xl and a home brew dipole. My neighbor came over today and said I was coming through their computer, Not the external speaker but possibly a built in speaker but they were quite vague. They stated they muted the volume but still heard me.
I built a balun and installed it, grounded everything (to main house ground at panel not separate), and installed a low pass TVI filter at my radio.

It only helped remove static from my RX but they still heard me. I was going to buy a bunch of snap on ferrite things to give to them tomorrow.

I called over to ask exactly where the interference was happening (speakers, monitor, ??) but she couldn't tell me like I was just magically in there room. WTH?
They have been problem neighbors since I moved here 17 years ago so I am not welcome in their house and will have to explain how to install everything. Should be fun, I have no problem buying what I need to fix it.

No one else has had any interference I asked around, only them. Figures

Do you think this will help?
Should I make another separate grounding system?
Am I on the right track?

[Hypo]

Sounds to me like they need to record the interference for you to be able to tell if there really is some occurring at all. If they can't provide a more accurate description or a recording then it isn't happening in my opinion. Psycho neighbors imagine lots of things. Ask them if there has been any interference during a time period when you know you weren't operating and can prove it.
If it is stock and not peaked up then tough news for them, they have a crappy computer or a big imagination.

[721HACKSAW]

Problems with RF in computer speakers and Suround Sound Systems are common. Turn the amp off and/or turn your modulation down. Be a good neighbor, talk to them, don't let it get out of hand.

['Doc]

Oh you are going to have such fun!
There are always two sides to that interference thingy. You have to clean up your end of it, then they have to clean up their end of it. Convincing them that they have an 'end' to clean up is the fun part.
The FCC furnishes an "Interference Handbook". You can still down-load it if I'm not mistaken. I would advise you to furnish your neighbors with a copy! (Considering who wrote the thing, they will be more apt to take the FCC's word for things than yours, right?) Then it's a matter of complying with the recommendations, both of you.
Then there's the 'catch'. You have to be doing things legally to comply with those recommendations of the FCC. ... "Aw sh_ _!". Sorry 'bout that...
- 'Doc

[muddy_udders]

@ HYPO: This was my first thought, I got on and said chicken pot pie about ten times then called them and they answered the phone "chicken pot pie" so they either have my house bugged or I bleed into theirs.

@Hacksaw and Doc: The base set up is 100% legal
If I dialed back the mic gain would that get the modulation down enough?

I have thought about saying tough **Censored** but don't need any more aggrivation from them.
Will the ferrite snap on connectors help?

[drdx]

Is the dipole really low, like under 30-40 feet at the apex? Can you move it to another location to where it is maybe further away from their residence? You mentioned stock on the radio. Has the radio been opened and tuned/peaked/modulation turned up at all? Are you running a power mic? It sounds like they're being truthful, but if in doubt, just key the radio and play a long recording while you're out in the front yard mowing or something. Then when they call or come over, you are out there to say hi. But, if you're really interfering and you have other close neighbors, then there are other victims. You're lucky the ones you know about are telling you so you know that an issue exists. Being legal does help a bunch but even with the mildest of setups, a low antenna in close proximity to consumer electronics is often a recipe for trouble.

-drdx

[muddy_udders]

I do believe they are being truthful, I just sucks it had to be them of all the people around.

I bought the radio from walmart about ten years ago and it has never been opened or touched.
Astatic 636L noise canceling mic, I do not belive these are powered up.

The antenna is lower than 30'. It is tied to a vent pipe and then tied to an antenna mast at about 28 feet. There is rope at both ends so it is lower than that.
I was thinking about changing it to horizontal and going from my chimney with a ten foot mast to the other mast. This would make it higher and away from them, but then closer to another neighbor who currently has not experienced any interference.

Thanks for everyones help!!

Robert

[grandpaclint]

i don't have any neighbors here in the az. outback----heh heh heh

[muddy_udders]

i don't have any neighbors here in the az. outback----heh heh heh

I have 40 acres south west of Redding Ca. No neighbors there either. I will be putting a base up there and since I am on a ridge I am hoping to really get out and touch some people.


I got my interference issue resolved for now. I swung the antenna at an angle away from their house, added the pole on the chimney clamp and was able to get it up higher.


It angles slightly. Will this cause poor performance?
Would it be better closer to horizontal?

['Doc]

Tilting it, or mounting it at an angle will change it's performance. That change can be for the better or it could make it worse, the only thing I'd swear to is 'different', if noticeable at all.
- 'Doc

[drdx]

Good deal. Is the leg you moved the leg connected to the center? If a dipole is close to a certain configration known as a " half sloper", then it is possible that your signal is radiating in the direction that the leg that is connected to the center is pointing. A sloper is most often a slanted dipole that is hung from a tower but can also be a vertical tower with a quarter wave element (in your case, the center connected leg) coming off the tower, using the tower as the shield side and simply having the center element coming off of it, and they can be directional, possibly concentrating enough of your signal to have been causing your problem. Other structures in the area can also come into play but it sounds like you're in the clear. If you run a mobile too, do some testing. You may find that it is really directional, as most antennas are kinda directional to some degree due to proximity stuff, structures, terrain, mountains, etc., whether you notice or not.

-drdx

[muddy_udders]

I had it set up with the center leg pointing up thinking the shield should point at ground (WAG method), so the shield leg is what got moved.


Which brings up another question. Does it matter if the center leg pionts up or down?
I figured the center was the antenna and shield was ground so I just pointed it up.
The antenna was running parellel to the side of my house and the signal must have been bouncing around in my yard between the houses is what I assume was happening. When I talked with the more logical "partner" of the two she was able to describe the issue better and the signal was turning on their computer speaker system and radiating through them.

I have a large oak tree right next to the antenna but other than that there are no large structures or hills within a mile. I am kind of on the South East end of a wide valley.

[drdx]

A dipole will perform differently based on location. A horizontal flat one may radiate in a flat bi-directional pattern perpendicular to the antenna run itself but based on surroundings it may not. A sloped center connected leg will sometimes be directional, and a vertical center connected leg will often radiate in the direction of the shielded leg, as in your case it sounds, if it is more of an L. If you google around and look up "L antenna" you'll see an article on the topic with radiation patterns that may draw a more clear picture.

-drdx

[muddy_udders]

Also a big thank you again for everyones help and ideas.
This place and people are great!!

[420Snowman]

You can try the dipole in the attic, mine works very well there set up as an inverted V, I also had TVI issues with my neighbor, only on the radiating side of my antenna, but I bought a quality ferrite balun/matcher and installed it and all the interference went away without having to move a thing!! I can now crank my modulation up to an ever so annoying 100% + and have no issues. Let us know how it works out, good luck.

Snowman