Friday 15 January 2010

Radio (gone) Ga Ga

The boss says we’ve got interference down the station – of the radio variety. So I did some ‘looking up’ on the internet.

"In physics, interference is the addition (superposition) of two or more waves that results in a new wave pattern. Interference usually refers to the interaction of waves that are correlated or coherent with each other, either because they come from the same source or because they have the same or nearly the same frequency. Interference in physics correponds to what in wireless communications is called multi-path propagation and fading, while the term interference has a different meaning in wireless communications.
Two non-monochromatic waves are only fully coherent with each other if they both have exactly the same range of wavelengths and the same phase differences at each of the constituent wavelengths.The total phase difference is derived from the sum of both the path difference and the initial phase difference (if the waves are generated from two or more different sources). It can then be concluded whether the waves reaching a point are in phase (constructive interference) or out of phase (destructive interference)." Wikipedia


Um ok, that’s nice and clear then; I'm glad I looked- its probably destructive interference then.


Basically the radio makes a funny noise every 10 minutes. I’ll have a look tomorrow and see what’s occurring.


I'll also check to see if there has been any 'interference' with the biscuit tin.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hiya,

I'm a physics student, and that doesn't sound like the right explanation for your problem. ("Interference" has a fairly specific definition in wave physics, completely separate from the definition in radio comms). If nothing else, for constructive or destructive interference to happen, you need two signals at the same frequency, which you're unlikely to have in this situation. (If you have two radios transmitting at once, you generally can't hear what either person is saying can you? That's basically constructive/destructive interference.)

From what you've described, I reckon what you've got on your hands is some other source of radio waves on your frequency. No idea what though, sorry! If its persisting, you'd be well within your rights to badger OfCom (I imagine you're paying pretty heavily for your use of radio spectrum), they've got kit with very directional antennae and stuff that can track down nuisances like this...