[grc] A bit of trouble...

[Jeff Shaw]

Hi Lanny- hopefully some actual engineers will chime in, but we would
pick up our radio station (antenna on the roof) on our studio intercom
system (we are also a public access tv station) until I bought a bunch
of ferrite beads and put them on the lil' intercom cables:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_bead

I've also had many annoying buzzes in our poorly grounded studio when
we've hosted bands.   Make sure the amps are plugged into the same
circuit as the PA system (if you have a PA system).    I have to run
long extension cords to get everything on the same circuit.    For the
most part, this eliminated buzz. 

And yes, I've never really solved the amps picking up the radio station
problem.  It has happened to us, though maybe it was dim enough perhaps
we forget about it after they turn up a bit.   Plus I remember giving
the musicians a replacement cable I believed at the time to be better
shielded, so maybe the power of belief blinded our ears from the
interference.    Honestly can't remember if that worked, but worth a
shot.   Like I said, I hope some actual engineers chime in here.

Jeff


On 10/30/16 8:56 PM, Frieda Werden via grc wrote:
> A bad ground may indeed have something to do with it, but a looped wire can
> definitely turn into an antenna.  You could have tried straightening out
> the cords of the guitar amps so wires did not cross themselves or each
> other, to see if that solved it.
>
> On Sunday, 30 October 2016, Lanny Cotler via grc <grc at maillist.peak.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Greetings Brothers and Sisters of the Greater GRC,
>>
>> As some of you know, we’re a brand new LPFM broadcasting on 97.9 out of
>> Willits, CA (in the heart of the NorCal Redwoods. I’m hoping a couple of
>> you might have some troubleshooting suggestions for us.
>>
>> Here’s a note from our Chief Engineer, Roger Wilson,
>>
>> We have a problem at the KLLG station and need experienced, professional
>> audio engineer ideas.
>>
>> Two different Bands played at the Grange main room.  Each time, when their
>> guitar amps were plugged in on the stage; they picked up our station.
>>
>> 1. I heard it.  soft voices and music (I clearly understood the voices,
>> recognized them.) And a loud (louder than the voices) buzz. (it did not
>> sound like just AC hum.)
>> 2. when I placed my hand near (a couple of inches) the Amp power cord; the
>> buzz changed.
>> 3. The only remedy I had was to turn off our transmitter.
>>       a. that reduced the buzz to almost not noticeable, and
>>      b. no KLLG signal was heard at all.
>> 4. Later, after the transmitter was off, their sound guy was cleaning up
>> the stage (before the musicians appeared.)  When he bundled all the power
>> cords together, the buzz disappeared.
>>
>> This sounds (to me & the sound guy) like a bad ground.
>>
>> help!  any suggestions would be appreciated.
>>
>> Your thoughts? We’re just starting out. Better now than later.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> KLLG ~ 97.9 FM
>> Lanny Cotler, General Manager
>> A Project of Little Lake Grange #670
>> Willits Hometown Radio—Low Power, High Energy
>> P.O Box 820, Willits, CA 95490
>> 707-367-1812
>> LANNY at KLLG.ORG <javascript:;> <mailto:LANNY at kllg.org <javascript:;>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>


-- 
Production Manager, Davis Media Access
Station Director, KDRT-LP

"There is no future that is not built in the present" - Sanchez Gordillo