dave wrote:
Bill Baka wrote:
The sun is going through a weird sunspot cycle right now and skip
should be pretty good even during the day. 20 years ago I had a big
outside whip and managed to talk to a guy in Jamaica who was really
surprised to be talking to someone from California. If 2x5 watt ERP
radios can do that the stations still on the air should come in strong.
I give this about 2 posts before someone goes off topic.

Second, I have to mention that those el-cheapo CFL's that Wal-mart is
selling have one hell of an RFI output. I thought my radio had gone
down when I thought to turn off all the CFL's in my house and it got
listen-able. I have an oscilloscope monitoring the audio and the noise
spikes are at 60 Hz and very consistent.

I think that if someone wanted to get into their radio it would be a
small matter to put a line synced blank pulse when needed.

Anyone?
No politics.
Bill Baka
CFLs do not operate at 60 Hz.

No ****!!!
They do not have PFC front ends so there are spikes at 120 Hz if you
want to get picky. Go to Wal-mart or any other store and you will see
the $1 generic and the $5 GE branded ones are identical.
I scoped it with my trigger set to line and...duh...there were noise
spikes every time the charging diodes conducted.
Those spikes contain some switching noise from the lamp controller.
What do you want from a country that owns our asses right about now?

Bill Baka