Why does my TV pick up ham radio on Channel 60?

Question

I took the cable out, attached an antenna so I could look for a local over-the-air channel that I don't get on cable, and I found some ham radio operators talking on channel 60! Later on, I heard more on channel 61. The TV was tuned to "cable" the whole time, and not "air". How is this happening? What MHz is it picking up? What else can a TV pick up!?

Answer 1

It sounds like your TV has a very "wide" ear, and is picking up stuff it isn't really supposed to! That's usually OK, but in this instance, it means that your TV may pick up interference from other people.



There is a guide here:

http://www.jneuhaus.com/fccindex/spectrum.html

that lists all the radio signal types that are used in the US. It doesn't name people specifically, just what you might find there if you have a scanner. TV uses frequencies between 54 and 72 MHz for channels 2-4, 76 through 88 MHz for channels 5 and 6, and 174 through 220 MHz for channels 7-13 (all VHF). UHF channels 14-69 are in the UHF range, from 470 through 806 MHz.



If you look at that site above, you will see that many other things share airspace with TV signals. In the channel 14-19 range, there may be some public safety radio (police/fire), and you see a lot of biomedical stuff going on. Channels 60-69 all have extra users on that bandwidth. VHF channels should not share any signals with other users.



Further reading on this site shows other possibilities - for instance, just below channel 14 (but pretty close) you have the GMRS/FRS walkie-talkies and some maritime traffic, above channel 69 there are mobile radios, normal FM radio is just above channel 6 (which is why you can sometimes pick up TV on your car radio set to low frequencies), and just below channel 2 are more amateur radios.



However, radio signals can be modulated differently. The TV picks up FM signals, but amateurs can use AM signals, and those medical monitors can use odd forms of digital signals, and will sound like garbage. So, even if your TV picks up the signals I mentioned above, unless they are FM signals, the TV can't listen in on them.

Answer 2

Is it a licensed amateur radio operator, a licensed Citizen's Band radio operator or a bootleg operator of some sort? Does the bleed-through to your systems contain call letters? An Amateau Radio call sign would begin with a W or a K and maybe another letter before a single number and then two or more letters. There may be an associated vanity vehicle license or window stickers. The FCC was sloppy in assigning frequencies. The early "color" frequency for TV was actually *inside* a band assigned to amateur radio CW (dah-di-dah-dit stuff) operation. CW schedules where shuffled to avoid the times of the few color TV shows then aired. The signals may be "splashing" or your TV may have inadequate RF (radio frequency) shielding. A bit or mylar or statigically-placed aluminum foil might do wonders. If it's the house next door you might get snow problems every time a welder or even a poorly-designed blender was used. If it's bootleg broadcasting, whether it's interfering or not, if the FCC comes calling the FCC might leave with the bootleg equipment. Document the time and variety of interference. If you have a VCR, tape it for proof. Relative to the telephone, the specific method of the telephone installation may be related to the problems. I was once picking up conversation from a law-enforcement safehouse on a hard-wired extention telephone. The length of the wire "tuned" to the portable telephone used at the safehouse. This was mutual fault. Eek! a cel-phone where anyone could snoop the call? They stopped using the cel-phone there. Back to your mom. If there is no fault in her phone system, there's another reason to complain to the FCC. If she's legally disabled they will be especially concerned.

Answer 3

Those frequencies are in the 70 cm amateur band. Typically those channels are used for amateur television, you may be able to actually see their transmissions.

Answer 4

Because it can!!!!!!!!!!!