Laptop troubles

Thought I'd seen it all, but this one floored me.

I regularly use a Realtek based USB adapter on my Preasario laptop (XP)
to allow the use of high gain antennas.

I switch off the inbuilt IntelPro board and all is well.

Then recently when I switched the Intel back on I got the blue screen
of death.

Didn't think much about it at the time, and today decided to check out
the problem.

The PC workroom has been totally clutterd for quite a while so I did
the job on the kitchen table.

Reloaded drivers and did all the usual stuff for half a day and just
when it seemed OK, up comes the blue screen again, randomly, as soon as
I turn on the Intel board.

I'm ready to concede defeat and assume that the Realtek and Intel WiFi
managers are conflicting. Then the penny dropped.

The auto defrost fridge six feet from the table was going through it's
cycle, as it regularly does.

I wonder........? Took the laptop into another room, and yep, you
guessed it, no problem.

The damn fridge must be spewing out EMF all over the place and crashing
the Intel board.

Thinking back on it, where did the problem first appear? Yep, on that
same damn kitchen table.

Rob.

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> On 27 Sep 2009 22:32:14 +1100, "me here" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> > Thought I'd seen it all, but this one floored me.
>
> Keep your fingers out of the 117VAC connections and you won't end up
> on the floor.
>
> <snip>


Hi Jeff,

I wouldn't have believed that EMF could crash a PC but it looks that
way to me.

Here's the details.

The laptop is a Compaq 2267AP.

Inbuilt IntellPro 2200BG - hardware 6.0.3 - driver 9.0.4.39

This is the current driver.

The USB adapter is Realtek RTL8187 - driver 5.1293.518.2007

The USB adapter and the Intel are both disabled via device manager.

I don't use Windows zero config.

The laptop has never been apart and there's nothing loose in it..

I've used this setup for over two years without a hitch. The problem
can only be repeated in the kitchen near the fridge, and only when the
fridge is going through the auto defrost cycle. It's a very large
Kelvinator.

It only bluscreens at the point when the Intel is enabled/initialising.

Move out of the kitchen and it can't be replicated.

I was dumbfounded by this.

I've seen EMF in action at work where part of the IT area I worked in
was directly above the main plant room, and some of the monitors were
affected to the point that we got the OH&S guys in to check it out.

Of course nothing happened - as usual - lots of talk and a bit of chair
shuffling. Maybe I'm irradiated :-)

That was coming through several feet of reinforced concrete from one of
the main powerline conduits.

Cheers

Rob

By the way, your table is definitely more cluttered than mine.


By the way, your table is definitely more cluttered than mine.

berk wrote:

> On Sep 27, 2:23*pm, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com> wrote:
> > On 27 Sep 2009 22:32:14 +1100, "me here"
> > <gloaming_ag...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> <snip>
> > > Then the penny dropped.
> >
> > > The auto defrost fridge six feet from the table was going through
> > > it's cycle, as it regularly does.
> >
> > > I wonder........? *Took the laptop into another room, and yep, you
> > > guessed it, no problem.
> >
> > Ummm.... I don't think so. *However, moving the computah may have
> > moved the screws, staples, and metal scrap you have floating around
> > inside. *Shake well and see what falls out.
> >
> > > The damn fridge must be spewing out EMF all over the place and
> > > crashing the Intel board.
> >
> > Yeah, the beer is hard on Intel products.
> >
> > > Thinking back on it, where did the problem first appear? *Yep, on
> > > that same damn kitchen table.
> >
> > Ummm.... I don't think so. *
> >
> > > Rob.
> > --
> > Jeff Liebermann
>
>
> Well, I find it unlikely the HARDWARE was effected to cause a blue
> screen crash, but it could well be likely the SOFTWARE can't deal with
> it and crashed.
>
>
> berk

I think it's a software problem.

Maybe when the Intel manager kicks in it gets confused by some hash
signal from the fridge it doesn't know how to handle.

It must be a pretty strong spurious signal because the fridge is NOT
between the laptop and the access point, but it is close to the table
and probably sending pretty omnidirectional rubbish out.

I rarely use the laptop in the kitchen and didn't pick up on this
problem until recently.

Rob

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> On 28 Sep 2009 10:04:26 +1100, "me here" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> > I wouldn't have believed that EMF could crash a PC but it looks that
> > way to me.
>
> I still don't believe it. I thought you were joking.
>
> Any chance your laptop is sensitive to power glitches when plugged
> into the wall plug somewhere near the giant fridge?
>
> > The laptop is a Compaq 2267AP.
>
> I'll assume Windoze XP Home 32 bit.
> See any drivers worth updating?
> <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...lc=en&dlc=pt&c
> c=br&product=443423&lang=pt>
>
> > Inbuilt IntellPro 2200BG - hardware 6.0.3 - driver 9.0.4.39
>
> Latest Proset version is 12.4.3.9.
> Latest driver version is 9.0.4.39 so that's correct.
> <http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...eng&ProductFam
> ily=Wireless+Networking&ProductLine=Intel%C2%AE+Wi Fi+Products&ProductP
> roduct=Intel%C2%AE+PRO%2fWireless+2200BG+Network+C onnection> Looks
> like you're current on the drivers. However, I'm not so sure about
> the firmware version. Somewhere in the Proset diagnostics or adapter
> details, it shows the firmware version. I don't have a suitable
> laptop with a 2200BG handy to check.
>
> Incidentally, if you want to live dangerously, try using the lastest
> version 3.1 firmware intended for Linux:
> <http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php>
>
> > The USB adapter is Realtek RTL8187 - driver 5.1293.518.2007
>
> RTL8187B or RTL8187L or RTL8187SE ??? I can't really tell if you have
> the current version as different chip vendors have different drivers.
> Here, it pays to experiment. Be sure to uninstall one before
> installing the next.
> <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...Langid=1&PNid=
> 24&PFid=1&Level=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fals e&Downloads=true>
> <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...Langid=1&PNid=
> 21&PFid=40&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fal se&Downloads=true>
>
> > The USB adapter and the Intel are both disabled via device manager.
>
> Have you ever considered just removing the unspecified maker and model
> USB device and trying the Intel 2200BG? Also try uninstalling the
> Realtek driver. That will effectively put things back to where you
> were before you started this exercise.
>
> > I don't use Windows zero config.
> >
> > The laptop has never been apart and there's nothing loose in it..
>
> Ok. Just a minor note. Every, and I do mean every, laptop I've ever
> taken apart has loose hinge screws in both the base and the LCD
> display section. Sometimes, they fall out. I recently took apart a
> Dell Inspiron 1100, where I think there were 3 screws floating around
> loose in the LCD section.
>
> > I've used this setup for over two years without a hitch. The
> > problem can only be repeated in the kitchen near the fridge, and
> > only when the fridge is going through the auto defrost cycle. It's
> > a very large Kelvinator.
>
> Magnetic field induction? Dunno. If you borrow a power line EMF
> tester such as:
> <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/prod...754&products_i
> d=5280> <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=754>
> you might see something around the fridge. Sorry, but I'm still
> skeptical.
>
> > It only bluscreens at the point when the Intel is
> > enabled/initialising.
>
> Look at the blue screen. Notice that it says "module" in there
> somewhere. What's the module or DLL that's crashing and at what
> memory location? That will tell which driver is complaining.
>
> > Move out of the kitchen and it can't be replicated.
>
> I'm still skeptical. However, I've been wrong enough times to remain
> open to such things.
>
> > I was dumbfounded by this.
> >
> > I've seen EMF in action at work where part of the IT area I worked
> > in was directly above the main plant room, and some of the monitors
> > were affected to the point that we got the OH&S guys in to check it
> > out.
> >
> > Of course nothing happened - as usual - lots of talk and a bit of
> > chair shuffling. Maybe I'm irradiated :-)
> >
> > That was coming through several feet of reinforced concrete from
> > one of the main powerline conduits.
>
> I once installed a server on the wall opposite a big xray machine. The
> server would crash, hang, or go insane every time the xray machine was
> used. However, that was obvious as the room vibrated a bit when the
> xray machine was running.
>
> > By the way, your table is definitely more cluttered than mine.
>
> That was the result of my fabulous carpentry skills. 4 shelves full
> of heavy junk peeled themselves off the wall. It took me about 2
> weeks to clean up the mess.

Hi jeff,

I tried it with the Realtek software uninstalled. I know that these
can cause problems, so that was the first thing I did.

The PC still blue screened in exactly the same fashion with the Realtek
stuff removed and nothing in the USB port.


Your power adapter suggestion may WELL be a winner - I was running it
off the same AC line at the time.

I recon that's a very good bet, because when I moved away from the
kitchen I was running on the battery pack.

I'm not going to waste any more time on this, but I did find it
peculiar and wondered if anyone else has had a similar happen.

I have seen wake on LAN triggered by spurious signals down ethernet, so
I suppose anything's possible.

Lucky the beer was in the fridge when those shelves came down - could
have been serious.

Rob

John Navas wrote:

> On 28 Sep 2009 11:55:04 +1100, "me here" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in <4ac01778$(E-Mail Removed)>:
>
> > I think it's a software problem.
> >
> > Maybe when the Intel manager kicks in it gets confused by some hash
> > signal from the fridge it doesn't know how to handle.
>
> Software doesn't pick up signals. Hardware does.

I know, but if the software can't process the signal, it can crash the
program and take down the operating system as well.

Rob

me here wrote:

> Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>
> > On 28 Sep 2009 10:04:26 +1100, "me here"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > > I wouldn't have believed that EMF could crash a PC but it looks
> > > that way to me.
> >
> > I still don't believe it. I thought you were joking.
> >
> > Any chance your laptop is sensitive to power glitches when plugged
> > into the wall plug somewhere near the giant fridge?
> >
> > > The laptop is a Compaq 2267AP.
> >
> > I'll assume Windoze XP Home 32 bit.
> > See any drivers worth updating?
> > <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...8&lc=en&dlc=pt
> > &c c=br&product=443423&lang=pt>
> >
> > > Inbuilt IntellPro 2200BG - hardware 6.0.3 - driver 9.0.4.39
> >
> > Latest Proset version is 12.4.3.9.
> > Latest driver version is 9.0.4.39 so that's correct.
> > <http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...g=eng&ProductF
> > am
> > ily=Wireless+Networking&ProductLine=Intel%C2%AE+Wi Fi+Products&Produc
> > tP roduct=Intel%C2%AE+PRO%2fWireless+2200BG+Network+C onnection>
> > Looks like you're current on the drivers. However, I'm not so sure
> > about the firmware version. Somewhere in the Proset diagnostics or
> > adapter details, it shows the firmware version. I don't have a
> > suitable laptop with a 2200BG handy to check.
> >
> > Incidentally, if you want to live dangerously, try using the lastest
> > version 3.1 firmware intended for Linux:
> > <http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php>
> >
> > > The USB adapter is Realtek RTL8187 - driver 5.1293.518.2007
> >
> > RTL8187B or RTL8187L or RTL8187SE ??? I can't really tell if you
> > have the current version as different chip vendors have different
> > drivers. Here, it pays to experiment. Be sure to uninstall one
> > before installing the next.
> > <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...x?Langid=1&PNi
> > d=
> > 24&PFid=1&Level=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fals e&Downloads=true>
> > <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...x?Langid=1&PNi
> > d=
> > 21&PFid=40&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fal se&Downloads=true>
> >
> > > The USB adapter and the Intel are both disabled via device
> > > manager.
> >
> > Have you ever considered just removing the unspecified maker and
> > model USB device and trying the Intel 2200BG? Also try
> > uninstalling the Realtek driver. That will effectively put things
> > back to where you were before you started this exercise.
> >
> > > I don't use Windows zero config.
> > >
> > > The laptop has never been apart and there's nothing loose in it..
> >
> > Ok. Just a minor note. Every, and I do mean every, laptop I've
> > ever taken apart has loose hinge screws in both the base and the LCD
> > display section. Sometimes, they fall out. I recently took apart a
> > Dell Inspiron 1100, where I think there were 3 screws floating
> > around loose in the LCD section.
> >
> > > I've used this setup for over two years without a hitch. The
> > > problem can only be repeated in the kitchen near the fridge, and
> > > only when the fridge is going through the auto defrost cycle.
> > > It's a very large Kelvinator.
> >
> > Magnetic field induction? Dunno. If you borrow a power line EMF
> > tester such as:
> > <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/prod...h=754&products
> > _i d=5280> <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=754>
> > you might see something around the fridge. Sorry, but I'm still
> > skeptical.
> >
> > > It only bluscreens at the point when the Intel is
> > > enabled/initialising.
> >
> > Look at the blue screen. Notice that it says "module" in there
> > somewhere. What's the module or DLL that's crashing and at what
> > memory location? That will tell which driver is complaining.
> >
> > > Move out of the kitchen and it can't be replicated.
> >
> > I'm still skeptical. However, I've been wrong enough times to
> > remain open to such things.
> >
> > > I was dumbfounded by this.
> > >
> > > I've seen EMF in action at work where part of the IT area I worked
> > > in was directly above the main plant room, and some of the
> > > monitors were affected to the point that we got the OH&S guys in
> > > to check it out.
> > >
> > > Of course nothing happened - as usual - lots of talk and a bit of
> > > chair shuffling. Maybe I'm irradiated :-)
> > >
> > > That was coming through several feet of reinforced concrete from
> > > one of the main powerline conduits.
> >
> > I once installed a server on the wall opposite a big xray machine.
> > The server would crash, hang, or go insane every time the xray
> > machine was used. However, that was obvious as the room vibrated a
> > bit when the xray machine was running.
> >
> > > By the way, your table is definitely more cluttered than mine.
> >
> > That was the result of my fabulous carpentry skills. 4 shelves full
> > of heavy junk peeled themselves off the wall. It took me about 2
> > weeks to clean up the mess.
>
> Hi jeff,
>
> I tried it with the Realtek software uninstalled. I know that these
> can cause problems, so that was the first thing I did.
>
> The PC still blue screened in exactly the same fashion with the
> Realtek stuff removed and nothing in the USB port.
>
>
> Your power adapter suggestion may WELL be a winner - I was running it
> off the same AC line at the time.
>
> I recon that's a very good bet, because when I moved away from the
> kitchen I was running on the battery pack.
>
> I'm not going to waste any more time on this, but I did find it
> peculiar and wondered if anyone else has had a similar happen.
>
> I have seen wake on LAN triggered by spurious signals down ethernet,
> so I suppose anything's possible.
>
> Lucky the beer was in the fridge when those shelves came down - could
> have been serious.
>
> Rob


Well Jeff you were right.

I couldn't stand not knowing, so I tried to repeat the exercise in the
kitchen with the laptop on battery pack only.

Absolutely no problem.

So it was NOT an EMF issue, it was dirty power supply off the AC line.

That's a relief.

I was getting a bit anxious as I have a new Ebay toy comming through
the mail in a few days, which I'm just itching to try out.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....82193555&ru=ht
tp%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com.au%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40% 26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.
l1313%26_nkw%3D170382193555%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rd
c=1

Not worth trying to build one at that price.

Thanks for your help.

Rob

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
<snip>
>
> The MFJ-1800 is also 16 elements, but only claims 15dBi gain. Close
> enough.
> <http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1800>

Isn't 16 dBi about the maximum for 2.4 Mhz with this type of Yagi ?


>
> Here's another that's similar:
> <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280383658149>
> Note the lack of the large gap between the driven element and
> reflector. Only 13 elements and 60 cm length, but still claiming
> 16dBi gain. Probably not. I like the N connectors better than RP-SMA
> (unless you have a supply of RP-SMA extension cables). Also note that
> the specs list it as an "omnidirectional" antenna. Sigh. At least
> the u-bolt includes a backing stiffener
..

Yes, I considered that one, but I just use the RP-SMA connectors and
they work OK.


>
> Here's another, exactly like the one you bought, but with a u-bolt
> backing stiffener:
> <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320419072495>


I'm not too worried about the mounting bracket as I intend to make one
up to allow tripod mounting and vertical axis rotation.

>
> I still prefer panel/patch/planar antennas over a yagi. However,
> they're more expensive than these yagi antenna.

I am a big fan of corner reflectors. I have also tried the salad bowl
conversion, and built a biquad.

I never actually got any figures on the salad bowl (which could be a
cousin of yours - by looking at it) but it did perform quite decently
for what it was. But not a patch on a biquad.

From my tests with Netstumbler the corner reflector with 2 dBi rubber
ducky is only marginally behind my homemade 150 x 150 mm biquad -
supposedly 11 -12 dBi.

However the corner reflector works better at shielding out unwanted
transmissions from behind it than the biquad.

My next door neighbour sprays quite a bit of signal at me and the
corner reflector is much better at shielding out this stuff.

So I'm keen to see how this little yagi performs for $25 AUS.

The corner reflectors are so simple and look almost agricultural, so
this comparatively awesome looking yagi must be much better, eh :-)

As for the laptop, it seems to be behaving itself, and as it's a bit
old now I suspect there may be more to this than is evident - maybe
power supply issues?

Cheers

Rob

me here wrote:

Hi again Jeff,


>
> > Here's another that's similar:
> > <http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280383658149>

Just one more thing on these cheap yagis, I notice that the one above
is rated at 50 W maximum power, where as the one I'm getting is
supposedly 100 W.

What do you recon and is that much of an issue?

Rob

me here wrote:
> me here wrote:
>
>> Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>>
>>> On 28 Sep 2009 10:04:26 +1100, "me here"
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I wouldn't have believed that EMF could crash a PC but it looks
>>>> that way to me.
>>> I still don't believe it. I thought you were joking.
>>>
>>> Any chance your laptop is sensitive to power glitches when plugged
>>> into the wall plug somewhere near the giant fridge?
>>>
>>>> The laptop is a Compaq 2267AP.
>>> I'll assume Windoze XP Home 32 bit.
>>> See any drivers worth updating?
>>> <http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...8&lc=en&dlc=pt
>>> &c c=br&product=443423&lang=pt>
>>>
>>>> Inbuilt IntellPro 2200BG - hardware 6.0.3 - driver 9.0.4.39
>>> Latest Proset version is 12.4.3.9.
>>> Latest driver version is 9.0.4.39 so that's correct.
>>> <http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...g=eng&ProductF
>>> am
>>> ily=Wireless+Networking&ProductLine=Intel%C2%AE+Wi Fi+Products&Produc
>>> tP roduct=Intel%C2%AE+PRO%2fWireless+2200BG+Network+C onnection>
>>> Looks like you're current on the drivers. However, I'm not so sure
>>> about the firmware version. Somewhere in the Proset diagnostics or
>>> adapter details, it shows the firmware version. I don't have a
>>> suitable laptop with a 2200BG handy to check.
>>>
>>> Incidentally, if you want to live dangerously, try using the lastest
>>> version 3.1 firmware intended for Linux:
>>> <http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/firmware.php>
>>>
>>>> The USB adapter is Realtek RTL8187 - driver 5.1293.518.2007
>>> RTL8187B or RTL8187L or RTL8187SE ??? I can't really tell if you
>>> have the current version as different chip vendors have different
>>> drivers. Here, it pays to experiment. Be sure to uninstall one
>>> before installing the next.
>>> <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...x?Langid=1&PNi
>>> d=
>>> 24&PFid=1&Level=6&Conn=5&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fals e&Downloads=true>
>>> <http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...x?Langid=1&PNi
>>> d=
>>> 21&PFid=40&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=fal se&Downloads=true>
>>>
>>>> The USB adapter and the Intel are both disabled via device
>>>> manager.
>>> Have you ever considered just removing the unspecified maker and
>>> model USB device and trying the Intel 2200BG? Also try
>>> uninstalling the Realtek driver. That will effectively put things
>>> back to where you were before you started this exercise.
>>>
>>>> I don't use Windows zero config.
>>>>
>>>> The laptop has never been apart and there's nothing loose in it..
>>> Ok. Just a minor note. Every, and I do mean every, laptop I've
>>> ever taken apart has loose hinge screws in both the base and the LCD
>>> display section. Sometimes, they fall out. I recently took apart a
>>> Dell Inspiron 1100, where I think there were 3 screws floating
>>> around loose in the LCD section.
>>>
>>>> I've used this setup for over two years without a hitch. The
>>>> problem can only be repeated in the kitchen near the fridge, and
>>>> only when the fridge is going through the auto defrost cycle.
>>>> It's a very large Kelvinator.
>>> Magnetic field induction? Dunno. If you borrow a power line EMF
>>> tester such as:
>>> <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/prod...h=754&products
>>> _i d=5280> <http://www.blockemf.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=754>
>>> you might see something around the fridge. Sorry, but I'm still
>>> skeptical.
>>>
>>>> It only bluscreens at the point when the Intel is
>>>> enabled/initialising.
>>> Look at the blue screen. Notice that it says "module" in there
>>> somewhere. What's the module or DLL that's crashing and at what
>>> memory location? That will tell which driver is complaining.
>>>
>>>> Move out of the kitchen and it can't be replicated.
>>> I'm still skeptical. However, I've been wrong enough times to
>>> remain open to such things.
>>>
>>>> I was dumbfounded by this.
>>>>
>>>> I've seen EMF in action at work where part of the IT area I worked
>>>> in was directly above the main plant room, and some of the
>>>> monitors were affected to the point that we got the OH&S guys in
>>>> to check it out.
>>>>
>>>> Of course nothing happened - as usual - lots of talk and a bit of
>>>> chair shuffling. Maybe I'm irradiated :-)
>>>>
>>>> That was coming through several feet of reinforced concrete from
>>>> one of the main powerline conduits.
>>> I once installed a server on the wall opposite a big xray machine.
>>> The server would crash, hang, or go insane every time the xray
>>> machine was used. However, that was obvious as the room vibrated a
>>> bit when the xray machine was running.
>>>
>>>> By the way, your table is definitely more cluttered than mine.
>>> That was the result of my fabulous carpentry skills. 4 shelves full
>>> of heavy junk peeled themselves off the wall. It took me about 2
>>> weeks to clean up the mess.
>> Hi jeff,
>>
>> I tried it with the Realtek software uninstalled. I know that these
>> can cause problems, so that was the first thing I did.
>>
>> The PC still blue screened in exactly the same fashion with the
>> Realtek stuff removed and nothing in the USB port.
>>
>>
>> Your power adapter suggestion may WELL be a winner - I was running it
>> off the same AC line at the time.
>>
>> I recon that's a very good bet, because when I moved away from the
>> kitchen I was running on the battery pack.
>>
>> I'm not going to waste any more time on this, but I did find it
>> peculiar and wondered if anyone else has had a similar happen.
>>
>> I have seen wake on LAN triggered by spurious signals down ethernet,
>> so I suppose anything's possible.
>>
>> Lucky the beer was in the fridge when those shelves came down - could
>> have been serious.
>>
>> Rob
>
>
> Well Jeff you were right.
>
> I couldn't stand not knowing, so I tried to repeat the exercise in the
> kitchen with the laptop on battery pack only.
>
> Absolutely no problem.
>
> So it was NOT an EMF issue, it was dirty power supply off the AC line.
>
> That's a relief.
>
> I was getting a bit anxious as I have a new Ebay toy comming through
> the mail in a few days, which I'm just itching to try out.
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....82193555&ru=ht
> tp%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com.au%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40% 26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.
> l1313%26_nkw%3D170382193555%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rd
> c=1
>
> Not worth trying to build one at that price.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Rob
Have a look and see if on the same phase you have another wall wart plug
pack , it's common for two switchers in some circumstances to interfere

me here wrote:

> Just one more thing on these cheap yagis, I notice that the one above
> is rated at 50 W maximum power, where as the one I'm getting is
> supposedly 100 W.
>
> What do you recon and is that much of an issue?

You won't be using anywhere near that much power, so no.

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