How do we deal with a ham operator whose radio screws up tv and phone ?

Question

My mother has a new neighbor who installed a ham radio antennae on his house. Mom's tv gets snow and interference every time he uses his radio. This morning mom called me and I heard loud talking on the line. It turns out his radio was coming through the phone.I could barely hear our conversation over his. I spoke with a friend of mine whose is a ham operator and he told me that the guy was using too high a frequency. I asked the neighbor (very nicely) if there was anyway to turn it down. He got very nasty with me and told me that mom would just have to get cable. Things seemed to get better and a week later I saw him and thanked him for whatever he did. Again, he got nasty with me and told me that I could write to the FCC but nothing would come of it.
What do I do? My mother is 85 (doesn't want cable) and has lived there for 30 years. This guy has been there about 7 months. I don't want to create a neighbor problem but my mother has the right to watch tv and use her phone.

Answer 1

From what I understand, amateur radio operators are exempt from interference complaints. It is the person being interfered with that must correct the problem.





Are you so sure it is a ham radio operator?



It could be a CBer running illegal power. Hams and CBers are totally different. Most hams would offer their assistance in isolating and correcting the problem. Most CBers will be rude and do nothing to help.

Answer 2

Is it a licensed amateur radio operator, a licensed Citizen's Band radio operator or a bootleg operator of some sort?



Does the bleed-through to your systems contain call letters? An Amateau Radio call sign would begin with a W or a K and maybe another letter before a single number and then two or more letters. There may be an associated vanity vehicle license or window stickers.



The FCC was sloppy in assigning frequencies. The early "color" frequency for TV was actually *inside* a band assigned to amateur radio CW (dah-di-dah-dit stuff) operation. CW schedules where shuffled to avoid the times of the few color TV shows then aired.



The signals may be "splashing" or your TV may have inadequate RF (radio frequency) shielding. A bit or mylar or statigically-placed aluminum foil might do wonders.



If it's the house next door you might get snow problems every time a welder or even a poorly-designed blender was used.



If it's bootleg broadcasting, whether it's interfering or not, if the FCC comes calling the FCC might leave with the bootleg equipment.



Document the time and variety of interference. If you have a VCR, tape it for proof.



Relative to the telephone, the specific method of the telephone installation may be related to the problems. I was once picking up conversation from a law-enforcement safehouse on a hard-wired extention telephone. The length of the wire "tuned" to the portable telephone used at the safehouse. This was mutual fault. Eek! a cel-phone where anyone could snoop the call? They stopped using the cel-phone there.



Back to your mom. If there is no fault in her phone system, there's another reason to complain to the FCC. If she's legally disabled they will be especially concerned.

Answer 3

I believe your "HAM" radio operator is doing what they call Over modulating - he is splashing. Since he seems to think his world is the only one and he walks on water; he is not going to get a filter for this or power down since you have already approached him. See if you can find out his call letters when he first starts his transmissions. He is also required to repeat these call letters which designates him from others on the air. See if you can get in touch with the F.C.C. - Article 15 c -states(c) The operator of a radio frequency device shall be required to cease operating the device upon notification by a Commission representative that the device is causing harmful interference. Operation shall not resume until the condition causing the harmful interference has been corrected- this is from the ARRL - (American Radio Relay League) which most amateurs(ham and single side banders' belong to and obide by their strict rules.) This neighbor might even be operating without a license or call letters and this might be the reason for these damaging interferences all the time. You see guys like him think they know it all when actually he doesn't know a think about the legal operation of the equipment he has. It is a Federal offense and if he doesn't correct same they can take all of the equipment away and even put him in a Federal lock-up. You have a computer; use your Google slot on top right of your screen and put in ARRL and find the address/telephone # and call-ask if they will come see you at home or if they have a mobile testing unit in the area. They'll pick up his signal,estimate it's output and strength of signal, then come and talk to him and tell him he is breaking the law-he either straightens it out or away he will go. Your in the right and don't let him scare or abuse you. Stand up for your rights - your a community tax payer too and have equal rights to a life in your own house without outside harrassments. Good luck and do it.

Answer 4

This I am sorry to say sounds like a rude amateur radio operator, a good ham would offer to fix the problem, now I ask you is you mothers TV on rabbit ears or outside antenna?

if on rabbit ears sitting on top of tv then you need to get a outside antenna. Rabbit ears are the worst tv antenna you could use or have, the outside antenna will cut most of this interference out how ever there might be one or two channels still effected like channel 5. there is also RFI filters you can get from Radio Shack, Best Buy stores, and others contact me and I will try to help you out more. I have three Yahoo groups and a My Space website, also a Yahoo 360.

My Name is Allan and my call sign is KB5DOH

Answer 5

Ham/CB radios do not operate on the same frequency as cordless phones and can not receive their transmission. Most Ham/CB operators own scanners which do have the capability to pick up cordless phones. They would have to be within 500 feet or so because that is about as far as a cordless phone can transmit. Ouside of the transmit range, it would not be possible to "zero" in on someone. Scanners or cb equipment do not have the capability to pick up landline conversations unless the the line was tapped and broadcasted the conversation over a frequency that could be picked up by the scanner or CB. A spectrum analizer would be able to pick up almost any radio transmission and would need to be within the transmitted range of the cordless phone. No conversation over cell/landline/cordless will ever be private. As far as combating this - keep in mind someone somewhere has the capability to listen in on your conversations no matter what you do.

Answer 6

Its possible that His equipment is operating properly or installed properly.



However, its also possible that your moms equipment is overly sensitive. It is supposed to be immunine to properly operated Amateur radio equipment.



As far as what you can do about it...well....you can report the insidents to the FCC....but they don't have much of a budget for this sort of thing..What can I do about the barking dogs next door.....shrug...



There are filters and things you might add to moms tv antenna and power wires and phone wires...clearly phones aren't supposed to pick up radio signals.....maybe the phone company can do something.



The first thing to do is to check if everything is properly grounded. Its amazing how much that helps.

Answer 7

I would call the FCC and then the DEA to shut down the meth lab that your neighbor is running. No seriously though I would let the cops or someone else deal with it then at least you will have documentation that you tried to resolve it peacefully in the event you have to judo chop the dudes head off.

Answer 8

Sometimes it is not how you asked but the tone. I fly rc airplanes and at our field we had same issue. We had a signal checker to find where he lived and asked to talk to him. Sit down with him and talk to him not AT him. Sit down not at the door..changes mood. Ask him when he usually uses it most and state you would like to work with him. Hate to say this but you may have to go back to a land line phone and loose the portable phone. He does have every bit of right to use his radio and it is legal to have high boost usage..Hope this helps

Answer 9

you could fight back and overwrite his frequency :P whats the use of a ham radio if he is being interfered too ?