Wyatt,
In all the replies that I read so far I have not seen much help for you. Here are a few tips.
The problem is your neighbor's amplified splitter can't handle a strong nearby signal. Your neighbor has to fix the problem.
The only solution is for your neighbor to remove the powered splitter from the antenna system. All consumer type powered TV splitters are broadband and will amplify everything from 50 mhz to 700 mhz. That is the problem, since your two meter signal is in the middle of the amp's passband. Any strong signal in the range from 50 to 700 mhz will swamp the transistors in the amplified splitter and block TV signals from being received. After he removes the amplified splitter, he can replace it with a passive splitter. Hopefully he is close enough to the TV stations that he doesn't need amplification. If not, he may need to consider a proper high gain antenna outside.
The only other solution (as your local ham friend suggested) would be to get a stopband filter(blocking 144 to 148), and have your neighbor place it in between his antenna and TV amplifier. The problem is that these type of special filters are not cheap. And the neighbor might blame you if something happened to his TV..... ICE has a filter for this application. Not sure if they are still in production. http://www.iceradioproducts.com/filtersrf.html
At my QTH I have to newer HDTVs connected to a high gain directional antenna pointed to stations 30 miles away. They are fed by coax with a PASSIVE type two-way splitter. (No amplified splitters, no special filters.) My two meter or 70 cm radios do not bother reception on either TV.
Your problem is similar to the problem that I run into when camping with my RV. The 'batwing' type antennas that are on most RV units have a built in amplifier in the head outside. ANY signal, even down to 1/2 watt, overloads my amplified TV antenna in the RV and any other RV close to my 2 meter or 70 cm antennas.
To the guys who say he is running too much power... that isn't a fix. There are other uses for his 'power' other than talking to satellites. This problem will prevent him from using his two meter radio any time at his house.
Ernie W8EH
On 12/6/2011 10:17 PM, Wyatt Dirks wrote:
Just recently I have been having troubles with a neighbor while I am working the FM satellites(SO-50 and AO-27). The setup I am currently using is my mobile setup because I am unable to put a base station up for many reasons. I am using a FT8900 with 50 watts out into a 1/4 wave or 1/2 Larson mobile antenna.The 1/4 wave is mounted permanently via a hole in the roof of my truck an the 1/2 wave is mounted on a mount opposite the factory installed FM/AM radio whip. It doesn't seem to matter what antenna I use for the problem to occur. Then I use either the arrow antenna or my cju for the downlink.
The problem occurs while I am transmitting. The neighbor says that his tv receives the interference in that the picture is disturbed and sometimes cuts out completely. He is getting his tv from hdtv over the air. He has an antenna in the attic that goes to a powered splitter which then goes to several tvs. That is about all i know on his setup but I do know that if he cuts the power to the splitter he receives nothing. Also the problem seems to be on every channel.
Today I had another local ham over at the request of the neighbor and his mobile Kenwood radio did the same thing to the neighbors tv when he transmitted on 2 meter with 50 watts out. He also recommended that they get a filter. I did not see the specs on the filter nor do I know what bandwidth it was for.
If anyone has any ideas on what would solve this problem and could share that would be great.
Catch you on the birds
Wyatt AC0RA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb