AM radio interference from neighbouring boat in marina

[Mark Cusack]

Sage and worthwhile advice from many of you, particularly the ferrite, mechanical twisting wires and encasing of componetry in aluminium. I believe from all of this, a solution whether political or pragmatic is available.
And yes Benz, there is plenty of listening on am radio. Call it ageist, but even though I can podcast or listen on the web, for convenience because it’s there, Radio National Australia is unmissable, particularly the great Phillip Adams and his daily programme dose of Late Night Live!
Thank you all.

[n5ama]

Amidon Associates used to offer toroid cores in a ferrite mix that was really effective on reducing RFI. I don’t know if they are still in business. If not, contact me and I’ll see if I still have a few laying around collecting dust.

You simply wind several turns of the wires thru the core. This would be one each for both AC and DC wires. The closer the core is to the unit the better.

There is a whole bunch of different ferrite mixes for different frequencies. It sounds like you need the lower end mix to stop AM broadcast noise. These are color coded to frequency and the number was the size. A fairly large diameter core is necessary to wind several turns of a power cord. You will probably have to cut the plug off, wind the wire through the core and install another plug.

Torroids are really effective because that design reduces the noise field around the core. I’ve done the same thing with ferrite rods but not found them as effective as cores.

[RaymondR]

I don't mind Phillip but there are folks who would opine that a good dose of RFI during his show is an improvement.

Tell your neighbor to get one of those HPM inline timers from Bunnings and set his battery charger to off during your listening time.

The one in the image has a bug zapper plugged into it to kill the itchy bites when they come out in the morning at daylight, I'm anchored in a river in the near tropics.

[Wotname]

I do hope you get is sorted Mark.

And FWIW, I have yet to hear anything worthwhile on broadcast FM to say nothing of the range (distance) available when using broadcast AM.

[Gypsy23]

I know the problem is not your fault, but you can get clear reception of AM stations which are duplicated on Digital Radio (DAB) - usually in the cities only. So if the suppression ideas don't work or your neighbour objects to buying a 'proper' battery charger, see if he will buy you a Digital Radio.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Benz

Is there anything worth listening to on AM radio?

Static!
I used to use a cheap portable as an RFI detector.
Ferrite cores/beads work best for common-mode Conducted RFI. (however, cables can pick up radiated EMI, then conduct it).
Shielding works best for Radiated RFI.

[Benz]

Originally Posted by Mark Cusack

Sage and worthwhile advice from many of you, particularly the ferrite, mechanical twisting wires and encasing of componetry in aluminium. I believe from all of this, a solution whether political or pragmatic is available.
And yes Benz, there is plenty of listening on am radio. Call it ageist, but even though I can podcast or listen on the web, for convenience because it’s there, Radio National Australia is unmissable, particularly the great Phillip Adams and his daily programme dose of Late Night Live!
Thank you all.

You must be in a better part of the world. Hereabouts the AM dial only gets political shows so far to the right that it makes the shows from the left, on the FM dial, seem mild in their extremity.
I remember listening to many good programs on my portable Grundig shortwave radio 20 years ago in the Caribbean--Voice of America was still broadcasting, and Radio Netherlands usually came in clearly. Once or twice I got so bored I listened to the time tick from Canada just to...pass the time.
Wonder if shortwave is still a thing?

[AA3JY]

This may be a warning but I’d be more vigilant of my sacrificial zincs....

[oleman]

Originally Posted by Benz

Is there anything worth listening to on AM radio?

Yes anything you want to listen to over 50 KM away, for the coasties short distance radio is fine.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Wotname

I do hope you get is sorted Mark.

And FWIW, I have yet to hear anything worthwhile on broadcast FM to say nothing of the range (distance) available when using broadcast AM.

OOhhh, bite your tongue, Wottie! ABC FM classical (24 hour classical music available throughout Australia) is one of the things that endears Australia to us... a CLASSical act for sure!.

Jim

[RaymondR]

Phillip's politics is somewhere well to the left of Chairman Mao, which is a bit of a tragedy, since he is one of the more intelligent commentators around and has some very interesting guests on his show.

FM is designed for the urban and AM for country folks. Many country towns have FM stations but they only broadcast with microwatts hence an ongoing need for AM.

There are very large parts of Australia where only AM is available. Anywhere north of Cairns and west around the continent of Australia to South Australia or about 3/4 of the coast line.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

OOhhh, bite your tongue, Wottie! ABC FM classical (24 hour classical music available throughout Australia) is one of the things that endears Australia to us... a CLASSical act for sure!.

Jim

I stand corrected - how did I forget ABC FM classical

Thanks for the reminder Jim, now if I could only move closer to the big smoke yet stay in the bush

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

OOhhh, bite your tongue, Wottie! ABC FM classical (24 hour classical music available throughout Australia) is one of the things that endears Australia to us... a CLASSical act for sure!.



Jim

But Jim, ABC Classical is available on the digital spectrum. Why would you settle for FM?

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by hamburking

This is trouble...for him.

An automotive battery charger....aka "cheap"...presents a load when not powered on. This will actually drain his batteries if still in the charge circuit, which it likely is, when away from the dock.

Also, automotive chargers are not spark protected, and can possibly ignite the hydrogen gas emitted from FLA batteries while charging.

This .......
and these cheap automotive types do not have the AC and DC sides isolated and can introduce AC into the DC system. Not safe !
Insist that the get a marine grade charger UL Certified for marine use.

PS. Lets hope it's not also connected with alligator clips !

[Jim Cate]

PS. Lets hope it's not also connected with alligator clips !

I dunno, Poker, that would make it easier to get rid of!

Jim