| ADVANCED LESSON 62 | |
| LEARNING OBJECTIVES and NOTES | |
| EMC - Social issues | |
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7f.1 Recall the correct procedures for dealing with EMC complaints,
whilst understanding that although new electronic equipment should meet
the EMC standards, some existing equipment may not. A typical scenario is to find a neighbour on your doorstep complaining about interference to their TV, radio, HiFi etc. As a starting point tell them that you are willing to help them find the source of the problem. Ask them for details of the type of interference and ask them to keep a record of when they receive the interference, on what equipment and the type of interference. Explain that you keep a log of when you are transmitting, the power used, the band used, the type of transmission etc. Also explain that modern electronic equipment should be built to prevent the reception of out of band transmissions, but that older equipment may not have been built to these standards. If the neighbour agrees, compare your log with theirs to see if there is any correlation. If there is, and with the help of another radio amateur, if the neighbour agrees, transmit on the frequency using the same power, mode etc and get the other amateur to report on the effect. First of all transmit into a dummy load to check if the interference is coming through the air or along the mains. Try reducing the power, this may solve the problem. Try transmitting across the band to see if the problem is on a single frequency or a band of frequencies. Have a look at the setup. It may be that a TV installation has old coax and the wrong type of antenna for the new digital transmissions. Find out when the neighbour watches TV and avoid transmitting at these times. Try to keep on good terms with your neighbour. Show them that your TV, HiFi, etc is not affected by your transmissions. You will have already checked this and kept a record! If the interference is being picked up through the mains, you could suggest wrapping part of the mains lead around a ferrite ring. Do not open up electrical equipment. If you are unable to sort out the problem or the neighbour is totally un-cooperative refer him / her to OfCOM who will carry out an investigation of your equipment and your neighbour's equipment. |
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