Walmart Plasma Test

[Steve Ellington]

Today I paid a visit to Walmarts TV department. I brought along my portable AM radio. While tuned to a spot on the AM BC band, I walked along the row of dozens of flat screen TVs. There must be at least 50 of them! Suddenly the noise level jumped to a loud roar. I looked at the 42" set next to me and sure enough, it was a plasma. I started checking every set. Every plasma produced the loud QRM while every LCD/LED was quiet.
There are not many plasma sets left but every brand was horrible.
The noise sounds exactly like your typical power line noise but you can hear the pitch change as the video scene changes. When the screen goes totally black, like between commercials, the frequency changes greatly.
I ran the little radio around the screen and really couldn't tell that the QRM was stronger at any given position.
I'm fairly certain now that what I'm hearing on 80m is a plasma tv from my neighbor. Now I just have to figure out a way to approach them about replacing it. I may end up buying them one!
Steve N4LQ
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[Tom McCulloch]

I would think you drew some strange looks from the "Black Friday" gang...hi
tom
wb2qdg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Ellington" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 5:05 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Walmart Plasma Test

> Today I paid a visit to Walmarts TV department. I brought along my
> portable AM radio. While tuned to a spot on the AM BC band, I walked along
> the row of dozens of flat screen TVs. There must be at least 50 of them!
> Suddenly the noise level jumped to a loud roar. I looked at the 42" set
> next to me and sure enough, it was a plasma. I started checking every set.
> Every plasma produced the loud QRM while every LCD/LED was quiet.
> There are not many plasma sets left but every brand was horrible.
> The noise sounds exactly like your typical power line noise but you can
> hear the pitch change as the video scene changes. When the screen goes
> totally black, like between commercials, the frequency changes greatly.
> I ran the little radio around the screen and really couldn't tell that the
> QRM was stronger at any given position.
> I'm fairly certain now that what I'm hearing on 80m is a plasma tv from my
> neighbor. Now I just have to figure out a way to approach them about
> replacing it. I may end up buying them one!
> Steve N4LQ
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 

______________________________________________________________
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