Inteferring with Radio Waves

[Wurzel]

Any experts on radio interference on here.?

At home we suffer from very weak mobile (various networks) and DAB (Picks up the nationals but none of the locals) signals. We live in a bit of a dip which could explain it, but searches for my postcode say both should be perfect.

But more strangely I always park in the same place, about 50 yards from my house. Approximately once a fortnight my car alarm key fob simply refuses to work. I have recently changed cars and it still happens. And it has never ever happened at any other location.

From my very limited knowledge of these things Mobiles, DAB and key fobs all work through completely different types of radio waves. Is there anything that could be affecting all 3 ? (I've not ruled out a hidden alien base in the nearby woods)

[saintbletch]

I wouldn't be too quick to rule out the hidden alien base...but that's up to you.

 

I'm no expert, but a few years back I had real problems with my broadband (wired as well as wireless) and it turned out that all of my immediate neighbours were suffering from the same thing. We all had out various ISPs out to look at the situation but none of them could find anything 'wrong' with their installations.

 

At the time I was doing a lot of bike riding whilst listening to the radio on headphones (AM). Luckily I happened to notice that when I went past a specific neighbour's house the radio disappeared and all I got was static. As I passed 20m-30m on both sides from his house all was fine again.

 

Anyway, long story short, the neighour's NTL TV decoder had a dodgy power supply unit and it was broadcasting electrical interference. He got that fixed and we all lived happily ever after.

 

What was surprising is that wired broadband - the signal coming from the pole in the street, was affected in this way.

 

My advice would be to walk around the local area with an AM radio and see if you can locate the source of interference - if any.

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

Have you noticed any very quiet black helicopters overhead?

[scotty]

Have you had any roofing work done recently? Ive noticed a massive drop in signal to both mobile and DAB since we had our place re-roofed last year, this is apparently because of the foil backed insulation they now fit as standard. Quite often I have to take the mobile outside the house to get a clear signal, never was a problem before.

 

Its possible that you lock and unlock your car far more often at your own place than anywhere else, so that may explain the car problem.

[bridge too far]

Mr TF had a similar problem with the remote locking for his Subaru in one of the car parks in our town.

 

Eventually, he found out that there was an emergency services transmitter nearby that interfered with his remote. Strangely, it didn't affect the remote for my car so I guess it was down to the frequency of his remote.

[Whitey Grandad]

It sounds like interference from something. You really need a spectrum analyser and a search loop aerial.

[Deppo]

I have the same problem when viewing this forum between 3pm and 4:45pm on a Saturday afternoon.

[scotty]

I have the same problem when viewing this forum between 3pm and 4:45pm on a Saturday afternoon.

 

Cut out the middleman and go to the game