TV Reception

[adsm08 3,379]

I know this is the engine section, and I know this is titled "TV Reception", just bear with me a minute.

 

So the Commando 8 (K181S) I picked up at the show has had a little hitch in it's giddy-up since I owned it. Today I was using it to move some shop equipment around to the shed behind the garage and it has turned into more of a misfire.

 

While I was loading the neighbor from across the street, who does small engines, asked me if I could put a resistor plug in it because every time I drive it through the front his TV reception goes wonky (he's still on an antenna). I said that was no problem as I have not history on it and haven't done a tune-up yet, so I'll be replacing the plug soon anyway. But I got to thinking, and I'm wondering if the whole issue is the condensor is dying.

[lynnmor 7,884]

1 hour ago, adsm08 said:

I know this is the engine section, and I know this is titled "TV Reception", just bear with me a minute.

 

So the Commando 8 (K181S) I picked up at the show has had a little hitch in it's giddy-up since I owned it. Today I was using it to move some shop equipment around to the shed behind the garage and it has turned into more of a misfire.

 

While I was loading the neighbor from across the street, who does small engines, asked me if I could put a resistor plug in it because every time I drive it through the front his TV reception goes wonky (he's still on an antenna). I said that was no problem as I have not history on it and haven't done a tune-up yet, so I'll be replacing the plug soon anyway. But I got to thinking, and I'm wondering if the whole issue is the condensor is dying.

Since your neighbor is wise to get numerous free channels off an antenna he may decide to forgo the expensive options.  Antennas are more useful now than ever before and so few have a clue about it.  Likely the problem can be fixed with a resistor plug.  Look at how your points are burning, if both sides are wearing about the same don't change the condenser, if there is a considerable difference then change it.

[8ntruck 7,929]

My neighbor is telling me that my 14-8 makes his TV go nuts.  I'll have to check things over sometime.

[rmaynard 16,398]

I know that this has been a long standing problem between engines and televisions/radios. When we were kids (50's & 60's) we'd know when certain people came in the drive because of the static. At the wheel horse show this year, the P.A. system kept going crazy due to the same problem, but with all the engines running there, you had no way to pinpoint the problem. 

I'd start with the plug, plug wire, then condenser. Between those items you may find the source of your neighbor's issue.

[adsm08 3,379]

33 minutes ago, rmaynard said:

I know that this has been a long standing problem between engines and televisions/radios. When we were kids (50's & 60's) we'd know when certain people came in the drive because of the static. At the wheel horse show this year, the P.A. system kept going crazy due to the same problem, but with all the engines running there, you had no way to pinpoint the problem. 

I'd start with the plug, plug wire, then condenser. Between those items you may find the source of your neighbor's issue.

 

 

I remember in college I would know I was about to get a call before the phone rang. My TV, or the headset for my Xbox would make this tapping/clicking sound in a particular rhythm. About 5 to 10 seconds later my phone would start ringing.

 

As for diag on the issue, I was going to stop and get a plug after church, then borrow parts from the 855 as needed to test with known good components.

[Treepep 698]

 

 

 

I will add to electrical weirdness I do not understand.  

 

Dad had a pill sized device placed just under the thoracic skin to monitor heart electricity.  (Loooong story there not worth typing).  I went to visit and the device reader was spiking intermittently and hadn't ever.  We were in the house.  My nephew was in the detached garage operating a 110 flux core, positive ground welder.  When he was angle grinding or welding it would cause the device to spike.  Nobody felt any certain positive or negative way.  The thing was certain stuff was happening?

 

Sorry off topic

[adsm08 3,379]

41 minutes ago, Treepep said:

 

 

 

I will add to electrical weirdness I do not understand.  

 

Dad had a pill sized device placed just under the thoracic skin to monitor heart electricity.  (Loooong story there not worth typing).  I went to visit and the device reader was spiking intermittently and hadn't ever.  We were in the house.  My nephew was in the detached garage operating a 110 flux core, positive ground welder.  When he was angle grinding or welding it would cause the device to spike.  Nobody felt any certain positive or negative way.  The thing was certain stuff was happening?

 

Sorry off topic

 

1) Off-topic is par for the course around here. At least it is related.

 

2) Yes, welders and other "heavy" electical appliances like grinders, microwaves, inductive heaters, and such can throw a lot of EMF/RFI, and since the little monitor devices that are used to monitor the heart have to be very sensitive to do their jobs well they can pick up on other stuff like that.

[Lagersolut 743]

I cut the cord about 15-18 years ago - started with an indoor antenna for a few years after determining we were done with cable/satellite went permanent with an outdoor installation ( we've now come full circle ) - both my old K's either run the H10C or Autolite 216 - can't recall ever having bleed over into my antenna - could it be the difference between old analog and digital ( my antenna is digital ) 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 28,710]

 

I have a digital antenna in the attic. No issues... 

[lynnmor 7,884]

There is no such thing as a digital TV antenna, only the receiver is analog or digital.  While our engines can cause the interference, the antenna system should also be checked for properly shielded cables and good grounds.

[8ntruck 7,929]

Current digital TV is broadcasting at UHF bands.  The old school analog was generally VHF bands.

 

 

[Rick3478 442]

7 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Current digital TV is broadcasting at UHF bands.  The old school analog was generally VHF bands.

 

 

TV still uses channels 2 thru 69.  FCC rearranged channel assignments some when it went digital, and 70 thru 83 were re-farmed to other services.  We used to get scads of UHF channels here, now it's more balanced.

[lynnmor 7,884]

2 hours ago, Rick3478 said:

TV still uses channels 2 thru 69.  FCC rearranged channel assignments some when it went digital, and 70 thru 83 were re-farmed to other services.  We used to get scads of UHF channels here, now it's more balanced.

There are real and virtual channels.  If you go to tvfool and plug in your address you will see what channels may be available to you and the channel they are actually operating on.  Getting back to the original post, it would be i interesting to see which channels are hardest hit by the ignition interference.

[Handy Don 14,189]

Hmmm. Interesting thread here!

[Rick3478 442]

On 8/3/2025 at 9:10 PM, lynnmor said:

There are real and virtual channels.  If you go to tvfool and plug in your address you will see what channels may be available to you and the channel they are actually operating on.  Getting back to the original post, it would be i interesting to see which channels are hardest hit by the ignition interference.

 

Interesting site, thanks for the link.  Some of the information may be a bit dated, and be forewarned that some of the links may pop up ads or take you to other sites, but I didn't see anything that looked malicious.