| Author |
Message |
    
Barracuda
| | Posted on Friday, April 18, 2003 - 9:12 pm: | 
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Hey All,
My question for you today is:
Have any of you been bothered by RFI from pedestrian crosswalk signals when in mobile units?
In NYC over the passed year or two the traffic control dept. changed all of the pedestrian control signals from incandecent bulbs to LED based signs. I have noticed that most of these new signals put out significant RFI. In some parts of Brooklyn where I drive, the streets are short and the amount of interference so great that I can drive for many blocks before I get out of the interfeerence. There are some intersections that are just horrible with noise from these signals. If you're ever in Brooklyn and want to hear one, drive over to Flatbush & U and put your radio on, say, 27.385LSB. You'll get an earfull
Does anyone else have this problem?
Any suggestions on how I might suppress this kind of noise? Techs, anyone?
Thanks in advance
Barracuda
BTW, it is interesting though to see my S meter needle dance to the blinking of the signals though. |
Alsworld
| | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 12:00 am: |
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Hey, I have an idea. Get a ham license then if it still happens, complain to the FCC about the interference. They go after people with electric fences that interfere, why not the city of NY?
Actually Barracuda, I know of no way to stop this. The above initial statement was made somewhat in jest (no slam towards ham operators), however there is fact to back it up. I just don't feel anyone would back us as CB'rs up, but with a ham licenses, heck even the FCC might get involved. There is always hope. Until then ?.....
Alsworld |
Highlander
| | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 8:22 am: |
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We've got some of those new traffic LEDs here in my home town--they are awful. They can cover an S9 signal from just a mile or 2 away. My Lincoln seems more prone to pick it up than my Titan RPSY 485 - don't know why. |
bruce
| | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 8:31 am: |
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Here in Pinellas Park fla we have light controlers thea KILL your radio all the way from cb to 2 meters your right lets get the fcc to turn off the lights! HE HE |
ryan
| | Posted on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 11:04 pm: |
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with my 2 pill i can make a light in my town change. its pretty neat. i only get about 3 pounds off of them around my town |
de
| | Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:06 am: |
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Re Highlander....
Try switching on the noise filter. Sometimes this works to eliminate much of the noise.
As to the LEDs themselves this a a puzzle. Unless the LEDs and their power circuts are controled by a mechanical timer. And in this case the contacts may be arching just before contact. Or they are flat out dirty and not making good solid contact at all. |
Barracuda
| | Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:23 am: |
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Guys,
I think that the noise is from the LED driver circuit. They may use a trick that some LED displays use to conserve power where they cycle through the LEDs turning them on and off at something greater than 30Hz to fool the eye into thinking that the lights are all on simultaneously, yet not having to have them all powered on at the same time. Just a guess, but the noise is continuous when the lights are on. Like I said in my original post, the S Meter needle jumps in time to the LED blinking.
Barracuda |
Insider
| | Posted on Sunday, April 20, 2003 - 12:38 pm: |
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Barracuda is likely right.
I don't know about everywhere, but where I am they do that. Funny, though, I must be the only one around who can actually see the flicker. |
Crafter
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 1:47 pm: |
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Have a ham friend file a complaint with the fcc. |
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