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by vvanders 3150 days ago
There's actually a ton of RF interference out there, just that it doesn't impact enough people on a regular basis for anyone to do anything about it.

The 2 meter radio I have in my car goes crazy with RF(up to S9) when I drive through the local Starbucks. That said bringing it up with anyone will probably get you a couple funny looks and not much else.

(things are even worse on HF and the like)

2 comments

A number of ham radio bands became unusuable due to interference over the years.
Notably, powerline ethernet destroys nearly the entire HF range, from 3 to 30MHz. This isn't just bad for radio hams, it ruins shortwave and some AM radio too.
The hell? (just checked youtube and you're right.)

How did that ever make it past FCC certification? I understand unintentional QRM from cheap things but that is something that's spec'd out.

HAM operators don't have money. Networking equipment makers do have money.
Oh they do, we just spend it all on our radios ;).
FWIW, I use powerline Ethernet and I can pick up HF just fine.
The issue is that as you and others use powerline ethernet, you leak electromagnetic interference patterns back into the powerlines. This buildup of interference from multiple homes creates problems around your area, even if you don't notice it yourself.
So if users had a small low-pass filter installed at their fuse box it wouldn't be a problem?
A low pass filter that can pass 50 kW isn't exactly a trivial device or small in any sense of the word.
Maybe stop driving your car through coffee shops? Sounds expensive and cumbersome even without the RF interference.