Whew after nearly a year of interference to my uhf amateur radio
repeater I found the problem. Turned out to be a Uniden scanner more
than a mile away from repeater site! The local oscillator for
channel 7 in the scanner was right on frequency for the repeaters
input and was tripping the repeaters squelch every time it scanned by
about once a second. The interference could not be heard from a
mobile radio tuned to the repeaters input but could be heard well
from a hand held hooked to the repeater antenna (db420). Many
attempts had been made to find the trouble by driving around
listening for the clicking sound generated by the scanner with no
luck. By this time I had figured out it was a scanner causing the
trouble because the problem would go away when there was activity on
virtually any of the local police or fire channels, the scanner
would stop scanning by channel 7 and the repeater would quit
kirchunking. Completely fed up (can't take no more) I decided to
take a different approach. I found by transmitting on one of the
public service channels the scanner could be made to stop on that
frequency, Yes I realize this not exactly legal but remember I can't
take no more. Anyway after a few short transmissions away from the
repeater site I found the general area. Now in that area I am able
to switch on my service monitor and transmit a weak signal and
attenuate it as I get closer the whole time listening to the repeater
kirchunk. Finally I must be close I can hear the interference on my
ht tuned to the repeaters input. Bad news it is an apartment complex
with about 100 units crammed in a small area. Time to walk around
complex with ht and listen. Wow now I have narrowed it down to 4
apartments! Let's talk to some of the neighbors standing outside.
One person said "it's got to be that mean old lady across the street
she's got a scanner but you don't want to knock on her door she is
just plain mean". Walked over there with ht, no problem not there
thank goodness. Talked to someone else she said "I know everyone
here except apartment 4 and I can tell you no one has a scanner". I
thanked her and knocked on apartment 4 door not knowing what to
expect would they be nice would they be mean would they be
understanding would they be home? The door opened one glance into the
living room revealed a Uniden scanner. I explained the situation to
the gentleman at the door who turned out to be one of the nicest
people I have ever met. He allowed me access to his scanner and the
channel causing interference to my repeater was one he doesn't even
listen to nothing even in the area on that frequency. We programmed
another frequency into channel 7 he's happy I'm ecstatic and the
problem is cured. Thank you I said and drove home. Can you believe
this? It's true.
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