622 OTA Breakup Caused by CELLPHONE!

[ScooterS]

I've been getting sporadic OTA HD pixelization on my 622.

The signal is great, but then breaks up for a few seconds every few minutes.

I finally tracked the problem back to my Cellphone (Blackberry)!

Whenever the phone is exchanging data (including polling the tower site while on-hook) I get a breakup.


Here are the details:

-The phone is 8-10 feet away from the receiver and the outside antenna.
-I am using a Radio Shack amplified outside antenna.
-This particular phone has always shown typical "cellphone" noise, but nothing more than the usual. Problem occurs both when doing "EDGE" web data and phone calls.
-There is no problem with satellite signals coming over the dish, just OTA.

I'm going to do some more testing with other phones, etc. I will attempt to see if this is a 622, antenna, or phone problem.

Can anyone else confirm/deny this problem?

 

[oljim]

What R/S ant do you have

 

[mike123abc]

Cellular frequencies are just above UHF TV frequencies. I would try to move the amplifer for the antenna first, or try shielding it.

 

[Cyclone]

My blackberry makes noise out of anything with a speaker. Its really annoying. My PC speakers, speakerphones, car radios, baby monitors. These BB's really hit with a strong signal.

 

[bpickell]

If its a nextel, they have huge issues with interfering with anything electronic. Whenever data is transmitted it will interfere (e.g. speakers, radios, telivisions, and computer monitors.)

 

[DishBacker]

I saw someone post a similar issue in a Verizon FIOS thread. a tech mentioned that you need make sure that all of your Coax connections are snug and have good fittings on them to not let any signal interference into the stream with your OTA antenna....

Sounds good to me (I'm no electrical engineer so I can't vouch for the above statement).

 

[ScooterS]

It is a Cingular Blackberry 8700c.

Antenna is a Radio Shack DA-5200. I've been busy and haven't tried with other phones, etc.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...ent++antenna&kw=apartment+antenna&tab=summary

 

[digiblur]

I can make just about anything buzz with a Cingular phone.

 

[ScooterS]

I just gave it a try with my wife's Motorola phone with the same results. I suspect that the amplified antenna is the problem.

 

[mike123abc]

The amplifier is probably picking up the signal from the cell phone and it is overloading or causing noise on the UHF channels. Many UHF amps amp to 1GHZ for cable TV too and would pick up and amplify the cellular phone band.