Although it is rare for interference to occur on television sets, there can be occasions when ham radio can interfere with TV reception.
The most common scenario is when a signal from a ham radio transmitter (transmitting on the same frequency as a local TV station) causes “ghosting” or other distortion to appear on the TV screen such as pixelating of pictures or sound breaking through the TV speakers.
This may be because of an inadvertent blunder where the ham and TV set are in close proximity, but it does not automatically follow that such interference is always confined to the ham’s immediate locality.
The possibility of interference from a nearby ham radio station can be checked by speaking with the TV receiver’s owner.
How to check if the ham radio is causing interference
If they hear any unusual noise, or if their set has a signal strength meter which shows a sudden increase in signal level when a nearby ham transmitter goes on the air, it may be necessary for the TV owner to maintain a log of times and dates of interference and, at the same time for the ham operator to record times and dates of transmissions.
The two logs can them be compared and should indicate whether the interference is being caused by radio ham transmissions.
Why can ham radio cause interference?
There are two main reasons why a ham may cause tv interference:
Firstly, there is “splatter” – normally where a signal spreads out as it leaves its antenna and this can result in spurious emissions being radiated over a wide area.
Secondly, if the ham is transmitting with high RF power then it may be possible for the signal to bounce off objects and interfere with TV reception in another location.
Ham radio interference is rare, but it can be unpleasant for viewers.
How to prevent interference
If the ham radio is causing the interference then often a change in the position of the ham antenna and a rerouting of the connecting coaxial cables can be enough to remove the interference.
It is also possible to use RF filters, which connect to the power lines and antenna feeds of the TV set.
These provide a means of filtering out and blocking the radio signals that are being picked up by the TV’s wires removing the interference.
Ham radio operators are generally aware of the need to ensure that their station does not cause undue interference with TV sets and other apparatus and, in the majority of cases, will do everything that they can to avoid any problems caused by their use of radio equipment.
Final Words
It is very rare for ham radio transmissions to cause interference but it can happen.
Ham radio operators are often bound by terms within their licence conditions to avoid causing interference and will do everything within their power to prevent any problems from arising.
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