AM radio interference from Netgear g

I just installed my new Netgear wgr614 and when it has power I can't listen
to my AM Radio. This interference is on my Boise radio two rooms away, my
battery operated head phones and my car radio in my garage.
Netgear support says all wireless routers do this and it can't be fixed.
This answer doesn't sound right to me. Is everyone else using 802.11g having
this problem?
If not what do you suggest to fix it?
Thanks for your comments.

Henry Bergdolt wrote:

> I just installed my new Netgear wgr614 and when it has power I can't
> listen to my AM Radio. This interference is on my Boise radio two rooms
> away, my battery operated head phones and my car radio in my garage.
> Netgear support says all wireless routers do this and it can't be fixed.
> This answer doesn't sound right to me. Is everyone else using 802.11g
> having this problem?
> If not what do you suggest to fix it?
> Thanks for your comments.

I'd suspect it's not the wireless part, as the frequencies used are far
above what an AM radio can receive. However, computer equipment in
general, can cause interference to AM radios, if not shielded properly.
You should remind Netgear that under the Part 15 rules, their equipment is
not supposed to interfere with any radio service. In my computer room,
I've got 3 or 4 computers running, along with a wireless router and cable
modem. While there may be some interference on an AM radio, right next to
all that, it sure isn't enough for me to notice. I'd say there's a problem
within that box.


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>Netgear support says all wireless routers do this and it can't be fixed.

Perhaps he/she meant all Netgear wifi routers ? That wouldn't be that
surprising.
Send it back. Buy something else, Draytek is probably the best for home use.
Regards,
Martin

James Knott <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Henry Bergdolt wrote:
>
>> I just installed my new Netgear wgr614 and when it has power I can't
>> listen to my AM Radio. This interference is on my Boise radio two rooms
>> away, my battery operated head phones and my car radio in my garage.
>> Netgear support says all wireless routers do this and it can't be fixed.
>> This answer doesn't sound right to me. Is everyone else using 802.11g
>> having this problem?
>> If not what do you suggest to fix it?
>> Thanks for your comments.
>
> I'd suspect it's not the wireless part, as the frequencies used are far
> above what an AM radio can receive. However, computer equipment in
> general, can cause interference to AM radios, if not shielded properly.
> You should remind Netgear that under the Part 15 rules, their equipment is
> not supposed to interfere with any radio service. In my computer room,

However, some radios are poorly shielded, and the parasitic diodes in
the chips rectify the 2.4Ghz signal, and convert it to an audible signal,
when there is no emission from the WLAN equipment at AM frequencies.

This may just be the case with all of the radios Henry has.

Ian Stirling wrote:

> However, some radios are poorly shielded, and the parasitic diodes in
> the chips rectify the 2.4Ghz signal, and convert it to an audible signal,
> when there is no emission from the WLAN equipment at AM frequencies.
>
> This may just be the case with all of the radios Henry has.
>

That may be, but 2.4 GHz is a long way for the AM band for that to happen,
particularly since it also happens to other radios, one being a fair
distance away. The best thing, would be to run an A/B test with other
devices.

FWIW, in my computer room, I've got 3 computers running all the time, a
notebook that's on occasionally, a monitor & KVM switch, keyboard, wireless
router and cable modem all within a few feet of my radio. Also, when I use
my notebook in this room, it's usually via wireless. If I can have all
that, in close proximity with the radio with little, if any interference,
that would tend to indicate the OP's problem is with his wireless router.

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James Knott wrote:
> Ian Stirling wrote:
>> However, some radios are poorly shielded, and the parasitic diodes in
>> the chips rectify the 2.4Ghz signal, and convert it to an audible signal,
>> when there is no emission from the WLAN equipment at AM frequencies.
>
> That may be, but 2.4 GHz is a long way for the AM band for that to happen,
> particularly since it also happens to other radios, one being a fair
> distance away. The best thing, would be to run an A/B test with other
> devices.

You're both right; keep in mind that even though the carrier is at 2.4 GHz,
there may be switching transients occurring at a (KHz) frequency within the
AM radio's passband.

I can hear noise from my digital cell phone (TDMA, 800 MHz) on the AM radio
whenever it's communicating.

--
John Miller, N4VU
My email address: domain, n4vu.com; username, jsm

You have an ambitious nature and may make a name for yourself.

James Knott <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Ian Stirling wrote:
>
>> However, some radios are poorly shielded, and the parasitic diodes in
>> the chips rectify the 2.4Ghz signal, and convert it to an audible signal,
>> when there is no emission from the WLAN equipment at AM frequencies.
>>
>> This may just be the case with all of the radios Henry has.
>>
>
> That may be, but 2.4 GHz is a long way for the AM band for that to happen,
> particularly since it also happens to other radios, one being a fair
> distance away. The best thing, would be to run an A/B test with other
> devices.

It's not a tuning thing.
It's for example the input stage of the audio amplifier picking up the
2.4Ghz signal in the wiring to the volume control, and rectifying it
into a signal.

Ian Stirling wrote:

>> That may be, but 2.4 GHz is a long way for the AM band for that to
>> happen, particularly since it also happens to other radios, one being a
>> fair distance away. The best thing, would be to run an A/B test with
>> other devices.
>
> It's not a tuning thing.
> It's for example the input stage of the audio amplifier picking up the
> 2.4Ghz signal in the wiring to the volume control, and rectifying it
> into a signal.
>

I guess you're missing the point. The frequencies used in wireless lans are
far removed from the frequencies that sort of equipment tends to be
sensitive to. I'm not saying recification is not possible, I'm saying it's
not likely given the frequencies and power levels involved. I have
experienced interference to my car radio, when driving near the airport
radar, but those power levels are *MUCH* higher. Also, if the problem is
caused by the RF side of the router, it should only occur when it's
transmitting. The impression I got, was that it was continuous.

A simple test, would be to turn off wireless, to see if the problem goes
away.


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John Miller wrote:

> You're both right; keep in mind that even though the carrier is at 2.4
> GHz, there may be switching transients occurring at a (KHz) frequency
> within the AM radio's passband.
>
> I can hear noise from my digital cell phone (TDMA, 800 MHz) on the AM
> radio whenever it's communicating.
>

The impression I got, was that the OPs problem occurs as soon as power is
applied. If he hasn't enabled wireless, it shouldn't be RF on the WiFi
frequencies causing the problem. As always, this sort of problem requires
some investigation, beyond "it causes interference". When does it occur?
When operating wireless or not? Is it continuous or pulsed? etc.

You may recall many years ago, people programming calculators or computers,
to play tones or music into a nearby radio. This is because all compter
based gear generates noise across a wide portion of the spectrum. For that
reason, there are regulations about how much power they're allowed to
radiate and on what frequencies. This requires the manufacture to use
shielding and filters, to minimize possible interference. If the router is
generating that much noice and other devices don't, I'd suggest a call to
the FCC (in US) may be in order, as that equipment is sold subject to part
15 regs. Whether the problem is in the router or the radio, that "tech's"
response is wrong, as it's the manufacture's responsibility to ensure such
interference doesn't occur. Once it's been determined whether the router
or radio is responsible, appropriate steps can be taken.

Incidentally, there are some amateur radio books available, that will assist
in resolving interference problems.


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james.knott.

Many thanks for all your comments. The interference, is constant as long as
power is applied to the router, notebook is off. It is the same sound on all
my AM radios Boise 30' away, Sony head set and car radio, not quite as
strong but still a problem at 50' .

Some of my friends who have routers have since told me they do not have the
problem, but they have the slower b routers.
Come Monday I'll go back to Netgear for more help. I'll post their response.
Thanks again.
Henry
"Martin²" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:SMILb.12679$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >Netgear support says all wireless routers do this and it can't be fixed.
>
> Perhaps he/she meant all Netgear wifi routers ? That wouldn't be that
> surprising.
> Send it back. Buy something else, Draytek is probably the best for home
use.
> Regards,
> Martin
>
>