Are plasma TVs killing radio?
Radio Society appeals for evidence
The Radio Society of Great Britain is asking anyone with a plasma TV to let it know if they‘ve had trouble getting Radio 4 lately.
The Radio Society of Great Britain represents the radio ham community, though it sees itself as having a wider remit. When not organising competitions to see who has the biggest beard can transmit a 10MHz signal furthest, the RSGB tries to protect the interests of radio users of all kinds by tracking possible causes of interference, which prompts its latest appeal.
Recently the interference effort has been focused on mains networking kit - people running Ethernet signals over in-home electrical wires - but the Society reckons that plasma TVs are another source of interference worthy of greater attention.
Anecdotal stories abound of plasmas putting out interference below 30MHz, and even extending into the higher frequencies where commercial radio can be found, but the Society is trying to cast a wider net to see if it's a genuine problem.
The plan is to make a presentation to CISPR (the International Special Committee on Radio Interference) in the next few weeks if enough complaints can be accumulated - so if you‘ve got a plasma and you think it's plotting against your radio, drop the RSGB a line at plasma.tv@rsgb.org.uk. ®
COMMENTS
That's three questions
Can't help you with (2) or (3) but if you want to hear broadcast science journalism that won't have you screaming obscenities at the ill-informed nitwits who substitute for experts on other media, then Radio 4 is the place to go. Leading Edge and Material World are excellent. Give 'em a try.
Haven't noticed
Haven't noticed anything from the plasma to interfere with the radio, but my microwave is plotting with the dishwasher, and i have believe the toaster is involved somehow.
Radio 4 has over a million regular listeners.
Including me. They carry a lot of intelligent and thought-provoking programmes, and some excellent comedy and drama, too. And the Archers, but I can forgive them that particular long-running aberation in light of the other programmes.
GJC
Beard licence
"...I also happen to have a beard although I'll admit that I got my licence before I grew my beard."
You need a licence for a beard? Good thing I got rid of mine then.
Well....
....I'm a radio amateur, and I also happen to have a beard although I'll admit that I got my licence before I grew my beard.
Excellent devices beards, for some reason some people don't like them so I can be annoying without any effort at all!
