Anyone else's lock up their neighbours' Sky boxes?
Discussion
Got a bollocking today from next door... apparently their Sky box freezes whenever I start the car. Today, their lad was recording a load of old Dr Who repeats and had about 20mins to go when...
Although I'm tempted to leave it in the interests of saving the boy from a life of couch-potatodom, any ideas what the culprit is likely to be. I'm guessing an earth somewhere?? Strangely, it doesn't interfere with normal tv
Although I'm tempted to leave it in the interests of saving the boy from a life of couch-potatodom, any ideas what the culprit is likely to be. I'm guessing an earth somewhere?? Strangely, it doesn't interfere with normal tv
It's more than likely plug-lead suppression, or lack of it that's causing this problem. If you're using standard plug leads with a carbon core (not a wire one) and suppression caps (plug extenders) and a normal coil there should be no problem. nb. there are two schools of thought on whether the plug extenders have suppressors fitted: I've a feeling the OEM Vauxhall part does, but that some of the replacements, whilst being identical in appearance, do not. I've also a feeling that it's an offence for the ignition system not to be suppressed, for exactly the reason you've stated, but I've no idea under which law or regulation that might be.
Cider Andy said:
It's more than likely plug-lead suppression, or lack of it that's causing this problem. If you're using standard plug leads with a carbon core (not a wire one) and suppression caps (plug extenders) and a normal coil there should be no problem. nb. there are two schools of thought on whether the plug extenders have suppressors fitted: I've a feeling the OEM Vauxhall part does, but that some of the replacements, whilst being identical in appearance, do not. I've also a feeling that it's an offence for the ignition system not to be suppressed, for exactly the reason you've stated, but I've no idea under which law or regulation that might be.
Normal (Bosch) coil, Magnecor leads and extenders from ACT. Would have expected general TV interference if traditional suppression was the issue? Pupp,
I suspect that it is more likely to be your alarm causing the problem rather than the noise from the ignition system.
As with most Chims the interior is protected using a microwave transmitter. This runs at around 10 or 11 Ghz which is pretty close to the Sky broadcast band. (which is a shame)
As a radio amateur I have access to frequencies at 10 Ghz and it used to be quite interesting watching the local "bobbies" a few years ago wondering why there speed traps were giving funny readings while I was transmitting TV picture on 10Ghz. (before the new laser speed traps were used)
It might be worth doing some tests with your neighbour to see what is causing the problem. Then again you could just tell them to **** off.
Cheers
Paul.
I suspect that it is more likely to be your alarm causing the problem rather than the noise from the ignition system.
As with most Chims the interior is protected using a microwave transmitter. This runs at around 10 or 11 Ghz which is pretty close to the Sky broadcast band. (which is a shame)
As a radio amateur I have access to frequencies at 10 Ghz and it used to be quite interesting watching the local "bobbies" a few years ago wondering why there speed traps were giving funny readings while I was transmitting TV picture on 10Ghz. (before the new laser speed traps were used)
It might be worth doing some tests with your neighbour to see what is causing the problem. Then again you could just tell them to **** off.
Cheers
Paul.
paulathome said:
I suspect that it is more likely to be your alarm causing the problem rather than the noise from the ignition system.
As with most Chims the interior is protected using a microwave transmitter. This runs at around 10 or 11 Ghz which is pretty close to the Sky broadcast band.
I can see the sense in that, except that it only happens when the car's started. Presumably that's also the time the alarm is inactive?As with most Chims the interior is protected using a microwave transmitter. This runs at around 10 or 11 Ghz which is pretty close to the Sky broadcast band.
Low resistance HT leads cause more high frequency radio interferance due to the very rapid discharge of the coil through the spark gap. The magnacor leads are sheilded in some way to reduce the power radiated from the core of the leads, but the rest of the system would still be causing radio frequency glitches with the rapid discharge. I dont know why people fit these leads- decent carbon core leads work just as well to ignite the mixture without acting as radio transmitters. If you want to keep the magnacors, try fitting resistive plugs to calm things down.
Bensonv8 said:
I have heard that some sat nav systems & speed camera detectors can block sky systems if the car is parked pointing towards a sky dish with the sat nav system or speed camera detectors left switched on.
Hmmm... it does have both a GPS camera locator and another sort of device aboard. Neither emit any signal however...?Pupp said:
Bensonv8 said:
I have heard that some sat nav systems & speed camera detectors can block sky systems if the car is parked pointing towards a sky dish with the sat nav system or speed camera detectors left switched on.
Hmmm... it does have both a GPS camera locator and another sort of device aboard. Neither emit any signal however...?
Bensonv8 said:
Yep, Just had it confirmed, It was a radar detector.
When the car was pointing towards the house on quite a steep drive and the radar detector was left on the sky signal kept freezing. when the radar detector was switched off (or not pointing at the house) the sky was fine ???
Ok... I'll switch mine off and see whether that makes any difference. Did assume they were passive though When the car was pointing towards the house on quite a steep drive and the radar detector was left on the sky signal kept freezing. when the radar detector was switched off (or not pointing at the house) the sky was fine ???
The radar detector (receiver) may be passive but most commonly used receiver designs do radiate to some degree. They use a low power local oscillator to define what frequency they are tuned to. You can reproduce this effect by using two radio receivers close together and then tuning one of them. At some point they will interfere with each other.
The symptom you describe is really a matter of signal to noise ratio. That is the ratio of Sky signal to the unwanted signal, usually with a satellite application the signal would be so strong as to overcome weak local signals. My guess is that the dish is not correctly aligned or the feeder has a poor connection.
What do you think paulathome
The symptom you describe is really a matter of signal to noise ratio. That is the ratio of Sky signal to the unwanted signal, usually with a satellite application the signal would be so strong as to overcome weak local signals. My guess is that the dish is not correctly aligned or the feeder has a poor connection.
What do you think paulathome
Edited by steve-V8s on Wednesday 12th September 20:59
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