As the American home gets increasingly ”wired” with more communication and entertainment devices, the chances of interference problems-static, distortion, ghosting-increase as well.
By mixing cordless phones, baby monitors, portable radios, television sets, CBs and video games all in the same household, the result can be distracting: humming or buzzing noises or even cross talk on audio and phone devices; distortion on video monitors.
”As technology improves, the capabilities of these devices get a little more complex and it becomes more possible for interference to occur,” said Jerry Friebus, a spokesman for the Chicago office of the Federal
Communications Commission. ”(Interference) problems can be very frustrating to people.”
But there are ways to help prevent interference problems, and most steps are simple enough for the average do-it-yourselfer to handle.
By tracking down the source of the interference on your own, you can also save the expense of calling a service technician.
Electrical interference can come from just about anything electrical:
personal computers, calculators, even loose fuses or electrical wiring.
Interference usually occurs when more than one electrical device is being operated in your home (or sometimes the home or apartment next door). Hence, it could be a short blast of interference (someone running a microwave or electric can opener) or a constant interference (caused by an electric blanket or aquarium pump). The interference usually appears as distortion.
Sniffing it out
Friebus recommended the following method for tracking down the cause of the interference:
– Unplug electrical devices one at a time (make sure the devices are running at the time) and see if the distortion on the TV, radio or other device stops. If you find the device causing the problem, try plugging it into another outlet. If the distortion continues, it may need repair. (To avoid electrical shock, it`s best to have a professional handle the repair.)
Filtering devices, available at most electronics stores, may also alleviate the interference.
– If that doesn`t work, use a portable AM radio like a tracking device. Go through your home with the radio tuned to an unused channel. As you get close to the device causing the distortion, the interference will get louder. – If both of the above steps don`t alleviate the interference, find your home`s circuit breaker box or main fuse box. Shut off one circuit breaker at a time or remove one fuse at a time. If the interference stops, note what devices are plugged into that line. Then reactivate the line and test each device on that line separately.
– If you cannot trace the interference to a device in your home, check with your neighbors. See if they are experiencing interference problems and ask them to take the above steps.
Also, inspect your television antenna or cable leads. If they are not in good shape, you may be experiencing reception problems instead of interference problems.
Two-way radio transmitter interference can also cause interference to such devices as television sets, radios and even corded phones. Sources of radio transmitter interference include CBs and amateur and police radios.
Radio transmitter interference will appear only when the radio operator-the person working the CB or other device-transmits. The interference may appear as distortion or you may even hear the voice of the radio operator.
One way to prevent radio transmitter interference is with high pass filters available from electronics stores. Sometimes electronics manufacturers will also provide interference filters for their products. Check the store where you bought your TV or audio system.
For corded phones experiencing radio transmitter interference, a modular filter-also found at most electronics stores-is also suggested. The filter simply plugs into a phone jack.
If these devices don`t seem to help, contact your neighbors to see if they are using any radio transmitter devices, such as a CB, Friebus said.
”If there`s a citizen band transmitter located within a few houses of your home, check with the operator and see if he operates the transmitter at the time you`re getting the interference,” said Friebus. ”And try to work with him to resolve it.”
The operator probably can just buy filters to prevent his equipment from causing interference with your television or radio.
If none of your neighbors is operating a radio transmitter, Friebus says, check to see whether there are any radio antennas in your neighborhood. They, too, can be sources of interference.
Bad connections
One of the most distracting types of interference is the static and cross talk that can pop up on cordless phones.
There are some simple steps you can take to help alleviate these problems, said Oriano Pagnucci, a spokesman for AT&T:
– Make sure to extend the phone and base antennas to their maximum length. Bent or broken antennas can be replaced with parts available at many electronics stores.
– If your cordless phone has two- or four-channel reception, try switching to another channel if you experience interference on one channel.
– If you are out of the base unit`s range, move the cordless phone closer to the base and see if the problem clears up.
– Because the layout or construction of your home may also limit the operating range of the phone, try moving the base to another location, preferably on an upper floor.
– Household appliances, particularly those with external power packs, can cause interference if they are plugged into the same circuit as the telephone; so try plugging your answering machine into a different outlet than the one your cordless phone is plugged into.
– Make sure your cordless phone is recharged, especially if it`s brand new (a cordless phone recharges itself simply by sitting in the base cradle). A new phone usually will require a 10-hour charge before it will operate correctly.
– If you are picking up phone conversations other than your own on your cordless phone, try resetting the security switch. Most cordless phones allow you to reset a dip switch setting on the phone and base that will eliminate anyone else with a cordless phone from tapping into your base. Make sure you use the same setting on both the base and phone.
”Keep in mind that a cordless phone is really a radio device,” said Pagnucci. ”From time to time, because of the weather or electrical interference, you might get some static or even receive a radio station over the phone. There`s not much you can do about that.”
But if your cordless phone gives you so much static that it`s not worth using, you`ve got a problem.
Last-ditch efforts
If you run through all of the above steps and still have interference problems, there are a few other options.
For example, if you think the interference problem is being caused by a neighbor, and that neighbor refuses to cooperate, the FCC may be able to help. ”We`ll step in if all (the above) steps have been taken and the problem is not resolved,” Friebus said. ”And if we can determine that the problem is being caused by a radio frequency device, then we will provide assistance in whatever way we can.”
According to FCC regulations, the radio operator is obligated to cooperate in the resolution process. ”First we would send a certified letter to that person,” said Friebus. ”If they decide not to cooperate in the process, then we go through a process where that person could be assessed a monetary forfeiture.”
In other words, your neighbor could face a fine if they refuse to cooperate.
One word of caution: Friebus strongly recommends going through all of the above steps before calling the FCC. The commission has limited resources and investigations into an household`s interference problem could take months to start.
For more information about interference problems, the FCC publishes a series of pamphlets available to the public. Write to FCC, 1550 Northwest Hwy., Suite 306, Park Ridge 60068. Or call the FCC in Chicago at 353-0195.
Many electronics manufacturers will gladly offer help with interference problems. Check your owner`s manual for toll-free numbers that you can call for more information. Or check with the store where you purchased the item.
