Re: [IRCA] [Shortwave-SWL-Antenna] Noisy Cable TV

["W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I probably mislead by noting two occurrences of increased noise at 4pm, 
that was not meant to imply it happens every day at 4pm, but was intended 
as an example that the noise does vary in intensity.  Today the noise began 
just before 3pm and I watched the noise level ramp up, gradually, step by 
step, not as if something were just turned on.

On my receiver signal level meter labeled 0-10, the noise had been just 
above 0 earlier in the day, then stepped up to 1, a moment later up to 2, 
and so on, stepping up until it reached full scale a minute or so 
later.  At that point non-local AM stations I had been listening to were 
wiped out, and the noise filled the house wherever I took my portable 
radio, but peaked at the cable coax running from back to front.  I was 
tuned to 252kHz because that is an especially strong point on the dial, but 
the noise can be heard throughout the BCB.

To further narrow things down -- since the cable guy had already removed 
the weather proofing on the cable connector at the grounding block -- I 
disconnected the cable and checked around the area.  The noise was still 
there but it no longer peaked near the cable coax in the front of the 
house, now disconnected from the cable system.

Next I turned off all power to the house, with no change in the noise 
level.  Then I spent a half hour re-floating all my electronic boats.

I walked close to my neighbors on each side and except where I was under 
the cable coax in the back, the level diminished.

I should also mention that today is bright and sunny, whereas the past two 
days were partially overcast, supporting the notion that heating by the sun 
somehow contributes to the problem creating the noise.

On the TV, I do not see the noise bars as were described, but I do see 
graininess in the picture and a mixture of close spaced horizontal and 
diagonal lines, and flickering, faint but there if you look for them, on 
the lower channels.

This just does not act like the product of some appliance; the way the 
noise increases in a step-wise fashion over a period of a minute or 
two.  The noise can be nulled to the cable TV coax.  It may not be a 
product of the cable system, but it almost certainly is arriving carried by 
the cable coax and re-radiating with a vengeance.

Once again let me thank everyone for their ideas and suggestions.

Curt
-------
W. Curt Deegan
Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida


At 07:21 AM 10/6/2006, you wrote:
>Maybe something being turned on via a timer? I am trying to think of the
>kinds of things that would be timed, but drawing a blank. Up north maybe a
>heating system pre-arrival home from work, but am puzzled as to what it
>could be down there.
>
>Hoe you find it.
>
>Chris Black
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <amfone@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <Shortwave-SWL-Antenna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; "IRCA List"
><irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 9:07 PM
>Subject: Re: [IRCA] [Shortwave-SWL-Antenna] Noisy Cable TV
>
>
> > If its coming on right at 4PM ... look around your house, your neighbors
> > homes etc... the pattern indicates someone's TV, DVD or other like device
> > is being turned.. ON..
> > 73 tim
> > wb8uhz
> >  ----- Original Message -----
> >  From: W. Curt Deegan
> >  To: IRCA List ; Shortwave-SWL-Antenna
> >  Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 5:53 PM
> >  Subject: [Shortwave-SWL-Antenna] Noisy Cable TV
> >
> >
> >  After posting the MP3 audio recording of my cable TV noise problem, I was
> >  asked about a spectrum scan of the noise. Below are the links to the
> > audio
> >  recording and to an image of a Spectran scan of the Cable TV noise.
> >
> >  The scan was made directly from the RX-320D receiver during an especially
> >  heavy noise period, not from the audio recording. (Spectran requires a
> > WAV
> >  file input, converting from MP3 was more of a hassle than just recording
> > live.)
> >
> >  http://scooterhound.com/WWWR/radio/CableTVNoise.mp3
> >  http://scooterhound.com/WWWR/radio/CableTVNoise.jpg
> >
> >  You'll not see a more orderly picture of noise!
> >
> >  Today, again right at 4pm just as yesterday, the noise level jumped way
> >  up. Now that I'm watching more closely, I am seeing patterns which
> >  hopefully will help in squashing this beast.
> >
> >  Curt
> >  -------
> >  W. Curt Deegan
> >  Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida
> >  [Ten-Tec RX-320D; LFE H-800]
> >


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