TV Interference

On 13/02/2008 17:36, Dave H said,

You don't say what you've tried already or what sort of age your stock is, but clean wheels and tracks are the first step. Then make sure the interference suppression components are still fitted to the motors. That should get rid of most, if not all interference, but there are other steps to take if necessary.

OK, clearly I am a non-techie model railwayer!

I haven't tried anything, as I don't know what - that's why I posted.

I have Hornby/Bachman OO guage engines from 2 to 45 years old. We get horizontal dotted lines on all TV's when the trains are running - I don't think it is engine specific. The trains are in a shed in the garden.

Does this help?

Aitch

There was quite a lot of comments about this on mremag not so long back, worth reading those. But basically its a case of sort out your tv arial and cabling - they are most likely the problem.

Cheers, Simon

Yes I agree with Simon ....... how old is your aerial installation ( and for that matter your TV ) ?

Poor shielding can cause problems.

PECO do a set of "Shows You How Booklets - Series 2" which includes '10 Curing TV Interference'

Contrary to what that article states, a balun reduces neither noise nor interference. It removes *standing waves* which is critical for good digital reception but not so important for analogue. One aerial brand in particular (Televes) has a _combined balun and masthead amplifier_ which is possibly where the confusion originated.

(kim)

"Dave H" wrote

Yup - turn the telly off - there's nowt worth watching these days.

John.

This topic was discussed at great length and in some detail on

BVM

simon said the following on 13/02/2008 23:11:

These were the other solutions I was referring to, but I feel it's better to try to eliminate or reduce the problem at source first of all. Besides, it may not be Dave H's TV that's picking up the interference!

Actually, John Turner replied with what was my first instinctive response :-)

I agree with Paul, sort it out at source rather than trying to shield the TV.

I absolutely agree with this, cable quality is absolutely paramount, particularly with regards to Digital Television. You should also run your wiring in CT100 grade cable.

I have no affiliation to this guy but I trust him implicitly.

Regards,

Rob.

I've not suffered from any TV interference for years.

(at least if we exclude letters saying "you are a criminal who will be locked up for ever", which need to go in the recycling every now and then)

Arthur Figgis said the following on 14/02/2008 17:32:

We used to have that when I was a kid. "Can I see your TV license please?". "We haven't got one". "Do you know that it's a criminal offence blah-jail-blah". "No, we haven't got a television."

Cue look of stunned amazement as if we'd just stepped off a different planet. Even now I watch maybe just 3 or 4 programs a month. (Which I guess is 3 or 4 more than you!!)

We had a letter at work the other month threatening to throw us all in jail if we didn't send their silly form back. We didn't send the form back...

Many thanks to all of you - especially pointing me in the direction of mremag which I didn't know about.

Aitch

Depends on one's location, aerial and performance of the freeview box, I get 100% rock solid Freeview via a nine quid Screwfix aerial and yards of 30 year old brown co-ax, I'm not on top of the transmitter either: CT100 isn't absolutely paramount in all circumstances. Fixing the problem at source is likely to be a LOT cheaper and quicker than replacing the co-ax with CT100 or similar double screened cable.

Yes but the source of the problem could be the cable/arial is too sensitive. Today its the OP's own trains, tomorrow the vacuum cleaner and next week a neighbours appliance.

Cheers, Simon

wow you are missing out, nearly every morning its Noddy, the flower something or other followed by a (to me) annoying teacher on big school. Highlight is sat and sun with jane and the Dragon.

Cheers, Simon

We get those now and again. Apparently civil servants have time to watch TV at work........

Cheers Richard

Or equally, today it could be the OP's TV, tomorrow the neighhbour's TV, next week half the neighbourhood when he starts double heading ;-). I just think ( with 20 odd years experience in RF design / EMC issues) that trying to cure the problem at source is a better first step than improving the immunity of the Freeview(? assuming it is Freeview) box & downlead. I do, however, agree that some Freeview boxes seem particularly sensitive to impulsive interference, and in some situations a decent quality double screened downlead will help / cure matters. I just don't think it should be the first step in this particular case, particularly as the OP states " all our TVs" rather than just one, and thsi might good old analogue TV anyway..

Oh yes, I do like Bill Wright's site, spent many a happy our browsing the dodgy aerial installations part :-)