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#1
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killing cars with RF?
Hi,
What's all this business I hear people talking about blasting people's car stereos or killing cars altogether with high-power RF? I run 2m, 10m, and 11m in my jeep and I'd like to sort out the fact from the legend and find out what kind of power I can use without risking damage to my jeep or cars around me. At what power level is front-end overload to a nearby radio likely? At what power level is damage likely, and to what componets? I am currently using only 50 watts on a 5/8 wave (2m), 25w on a 1/4 wave (10m), legal 4w on a 1/4 wave (11m) Thanks, Nelson KE5MBX |
#2
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killing cars with RF?
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#3
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killing cars with RF?
In article .com,
"KE5MBX" wrote: Hi, What's all this business I hear people talking about blasting people's car stereos or killing cars altogether with high-power RF? I run 2m, 10m, and 11m in my jeep and I'd like to sort out the fact from the legend and find out what kind of power I can use without risking damage to my jeep or cars around me. At what power level is front-end overload to a nearby radio likely? At what power level is damage likely, and to what componets? I am currently using only 50 watts on a 5/8 wave (2m), 25w on a 1/4 wave (10m), legal 4w on a 1/4 wave (11m) Thanks, Nelson KE5MBX A few years ago. while in freeway traffic, my Chrysler minivan suddenly kicked into "limp" mode (no response, low rpm, second gear only), as a CB-er in a large van passed next to me. He had one of those stupid fat antennas with the gigantic "loading coil," and had to have been running a few KW for the Good Buddies. The auto companies are well aware of the havoc RFI/EMI can wreak on a vehicle's microprocessor-based control systems for engine, drivetrain, braking,etc., not to mention the entertainment and navigation systems. I once had the opportunity to see the RF testing lab at the tech center of one of the "Big 3." It was a pretty impressive array of equipment and testing environments, and they try to anticipate and head off "worst case" problems. ARRL has some good info on the subject: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/carproblems.html Chuck WV8A Detroit MI |
#4
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killing cars with RF?
In message , Chuck
Reti writes In article .com, "KE5MBX" wrote: Hi, What's all this business I hear people talking about blasting people's car stereos or killing cars altogether with high-power RF? I run 2m, 10m, and 11m in my jeep and I'd like to sort out the fact from the legend and find out what kind of power I can use without risking damage to my jeep or cars around me. At what power level is front-end overload to a nearby radio likely? At what power level is damage likely, and to what componets? I am currently using only 50 watts on a 5/8 wave (2m), 25w on a 1/4 wave (10m), legal 4w on a 1/4 wave (11m) Thanks, Nelson KE5MBX A few years ago. while in freeway traffic, my Chrysler minivan suddenly kicked into "limp" mode (no response, low rpm, second gear only), as a CB-er in a large van passed next to me. He had one of those stupid fat antennas with the gigantic "loading coil," and had to have been running a few KW for the Good Buddies. The auto companies are well aware of the havoc RFI/EMI can wreak on a vehicle's microprocessor-based control systems for engine, drivetrain, braking,etc., not to mention the entertainment and navigation systems. I once had the opportunity to see the RF testing lab at the tech center of one of the "Big 3." It was a pretty impressive array of equipment and testing environments, and they try to anticipate and head off "worst case" problems. ARRL has some good info on the subject: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/carproblems.html Chuck WV8A Detroit MI I have a Vauxhall (GM) Astra diesel. In the handbook it specifies 10W max for onboard transmitters, at all frequencies. I haven't been /M in it, but would hope to run a bit more than that, say, what I have run in the past (40W on 10m, and 30W on 2m). I suppose I'll find out! Ian. -- |
#5
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killing cars with RF?
On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:24:38 -0500, Chuck Reti
wrote: In article .com, "KE5MBX" wrote: Hi, What's all this business I hear people talking about blasting people's car stereos or killing cars altogether with high-power RF? I run 2m, 10m, and 11m in my jeep and I'd like to sort out the fact from the legend and find out what kind of power I can use without risking damage to my jeep or cars around me. At what power level is front-end overload to a nearby radio likely? At what power level is damage likely, and to what componets? I am currently using only 50 watts on a 5/8 wave (2m), 25w on a 1/4 wave (10m), legal 4w on a 1/4 wave (11m) Thanks, Nelson KE5MBX A few years ago. while in freeway traffic, my Chrysler minivan suddenly kicked into "limp" mode (no response, low rpm, second gear only), as a CB-er in a large van passed next to me. He had one of those stupid fat antennas with the gigantic "loading coil," and had to have been running You are not describing a CB antenna. a few KW for the Good Buddies. The auto companies are well aware of the havoc RFI/EMI can wreak on a vehicle's microprocessor-based control systems for engine, drivetrain, braking,etc., not to mention the entertainment and navigation systems. And Chrysler had a V-6 (I was going to purchase one) that ran the computer on 147.00. One of those would drowned out the local repeater that was only 2 miles away from a distance of nearly 3/4 of a city block. I worked with the local dealer for several weeks, but we could not get Chrysler to even admit to a problem. I once had the opportunity to see the RF testing lab at the tech center of one of the "Big 3." It was a pretty impressive array of equipment and testing environments, and they try to anticipate and head off "worst case" problems. ARRL has some good info on the subject: http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/carproblems.html Actually, due to Chrysler's refusal to even talk about the matter I ended up with a Toyota 4-Runner and I run one whale of a lot more than 100 watts even on 2-meters. To top it off the Toyota mechanics ran the wiring for me, so all I had to do was plug in the radios, stick on the antennas and go. Currently I just have the 50 watt TM-D700 (35 watts on 440) and a 160 watt out Mirage amp on 144. It runs closer to 180 watts on the Bird watt meter. I also have the Yaesu FT-897D, but I'm presently using it in my shop as a back up rig. When back in the car that will be capable of running about 600 watts out. Chuck WV8A Detroit MI Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com |
#6
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killing cars with RF?
Roger wrote:
CB-er in a large van passed next to me. He had one of those stupid fat antennas with the gigantic "loading coil," and had to have been running You are not describing a CB antenna. Actually, he might well be. Perhaps you're lucky enough not to have any of these people where you live, but in my neck of the woods, in some lower-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods, there was a wave of enormous CB antennas with HUGE open-wire loading coils at the base, ones that appeared to be made of 3/8" copper tubing or something along those lines. No telling if the coils did anything or were just for show; some of the CBers used high power and others poured their 4 watts into these enormous whips .. I'm seeing fewer of them on the roads these days but they're still around. :-/ _______________________________________________ Ken Kuzenski AC4RD ken . kuzenski at duke .edu _______________________________________________ All disclaimers apply, see? www.duke.edu/~kuzen001 |
#7
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killing cars with RF?
In article ,
Roger wrote: You are not describing a CB antenna. Um, Yes, I am. In article , wrote: Actually, he might well be. Perhaps you're lucky enough not to have any of these people where you live, but in my neck of the woods, in some lower-socioeconomic-status neighborhoods, there was a wave of enormous CB antennas with HUGE open-wire loading coils at the base, ones that appeared to be made of 3/8" copper tubing or something along those lines. No telling if the coils did anything or were just for show; some of the CBers used high power and others poured their 4 watts into these enormous whips .. I'm seeing fewer of them on the roads these days but they're still around. :-/ I don't see many of them anymore, but they're most fun to see on top of a subcompact. Chuck WV8A Detroit |
#8
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killing cars with RF?
neighborhoods, there was a wave of enormous CB antennas
with HUGE open-wire loading coils at the base, ones that appeared to be made of 3/8" copper tubing or something I don't see many of them anymore, but they're most fun to see on top of a subcompact. I still see them occasionally, often on the top of big old Suburbans for some reason. Not exactly a practical thing--I imagine they're constantly raking trees and overhangs and such. But I often get a grin when I see the things. :-) I got into mobile HF about a half-dozen years ago; I had just bought a white 2000 Chevy Impala, mounted a 706 in the glove compartment--or, as my wife pointed out with real pain in her voice, where the glove compartment used to be. :-) I had a trunk-lip-mounted Hamstick for 20 or 15, an MFJ mag-mount 6-meter quarter-wave, and a little 2meter mag mount on that car. For a while I was puzzled at how many people in front of me would abruptly slow down when I got behind them. Then I realized some of the local police departments had bought white Impalas, and seeing one festooned with antennas (more and bigger antennas than actual police cars) apparently made people think I might have been "The Law." I left the 706 in that car for several years--it was easier than un-shoehorning it out of the dash--but took the antennas off as soon as I quit using HF from the car, to quit scaring people. :-) _______________________________________________ Ken Kuzenski AC4RD ken . kuzenski at duke .edu _______________________________________________ All disclaimers apply, see? www.duke.edu/~kuzen001 |
#9
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killing cars with RF?
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#10
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killing cars with RF?
Kenneth P. Stox wrote:
I ran into one of those guys last summer, not just one but two antenna's as described. I chatted with him a bit and found out he was running a 10KW CB rig. I was incredulous until he popped open the hood to show me the 5 alternators running off the engine to power it. The engine was Dear sweet heavens. astonished whistle Wonder what sort of gas mileage he got. :-) I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the FCC has completely given up enforcement on the CB bands. I think that happened many years ago. :-( _______________________________________________ Ken Kuzenski AC4RD ken . kuzenski at duke .edu _______________________________________________ All disclaimers apply, see? www.duke.edu/~kuzen001 |
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