RF interference in PC

[CorruptHawkeyez]

OK, this is kind of backwards from what everybody usually experiences from a PC. Usually it's PC is interfering with the receive in a radio. In my issue the radio is interfering with the USB in my PC. I have a backlit keyboard and whenever I xmit on SSB the lights go out on my keyboard and I can't type at all with the keyboard. The only way to get the keyboard back working is to unplug it and plug it back in. What can I do to stop this interference into the PC?

<edit> The radio is an Anytone 6666 connected to a Shockwave with a 1.03 swr and running LMR-400 coax. 60ft to the tip of the antenna.

 

[secret squirrel]

If you look at your monitor cables you can see the ferrite chokes on one or both ends to keep them from acting as antennas and carrying stray RF.. Your keyboard cable is acting as an antenna.
You may have to try that with your keyboard on both ends of the cable- keyboard side and USB side.

 

[cralt]

Ya try getting some #31 mix ferrites and putting them on the USB cable and the coax coming down from the antenna before it gets in the room. The RF could be running down the coax.

https://palomar-engineers.com/ferrite-products/Mix-31-c24443738

 

[groundwire]

Get the rf out of the shack.

 

[nomadradio]

If the outside surface of the coax shield is radiating that much RF energy into the room, this means the coax has become part of the antenna. RF current should flow only on the INSIDE surface of the shield.

Best way to stop this RF current from flowing on the outside of the shield would be a few snap-on chokes on the coax AT THE FEEDPOINT of the antenna. The farther down the coax you place them, the more of the coax will radiate.

Does the coax come straight down from the antenna to ground level before entering the building?

Stringing coax horizontally through the air below the antenna may reduce the total length of coax needed, but this will make an antenna out of the shield's outer surface. Running it straight down from the antenna to ground level helps to minimize this.

73

 

[Jay Mojave]

All good advice. You may want to add some mix 31 snap on ferrites on the AC Power line right at the computer. Again EMI/RFI problems aren't the easiest thing to fix, one must keep working on the problem.

Jay in the Great Mojave Desert

 

[MadVeteran]

I thought coiling the coax before the antenna also helped prevent this ??

 

[Slowmover]

PALOMAR ENGINEER sells RFI kits

 

[nomadradio]

I thought coiling the coax before the antenna also helped prevent this ??

It will.

How much?

Only way to find out is to try it. But only if you have enough slack in the coax to do this.

73