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Of wireless war and peace
Tetsugen
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
One of my neighbors has installed a TV dish and transmitter that blocks out all of our WiFi signals. We have asked nicely for him to switch it off or to find an alternative but he's being a huge asshole about it. We've also asked the authorities on what to do in this situation and have no idea on how to solve this issue.
Is there a way to boost the wifi signals that would overcome the TV transmissions ?
Is there a way to boost the wifi signals that would overcome the TV transmissions ?
Tetsugen on
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They would need a license to transmit, I'm fairly sure. Do you know what they are sending out?
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/index.htm?job=home
Find the person's first and last name and then search.
If you find that they are a ham radio operator, tell them you know they are a ham radio operator, you think they are causing harmful interference, you know they aren't allowed to cause harmful interference and they are required to correct the problem, and you'd like them to help you.
If he helps you, great. If he doesn't help you, write a letter to the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Bureau.
(I'm a ham, callsign NOØK)
Edit: if all else fails you could also call on the Big Guns: other hams. Most hams are middle-aged, have tons of disposable income, spend lots of that disposable income on expensive stuff like directional antennas and spectrum analyzers, and a rare few hams would LOVE to help you collect measurements to prove the kind of harmful interference this guy is causing. If you want to beg for help like this, go to www.arrl.org and search for amateur radio clubs in your area, and then contact them and be polite and beg for help.
XBL Michael Spencer || Wii 6007 6812 1605 7315 || PSN MichaelSpencerJr || Steam Michael_Spencer || Ham NOØK
QRZ || My last known GPS coordinates: FindU or APRS.fi (Car antenna feed line busted -- no ham radio for me X__X )
Actually the first thing you need to do is make sure the problem isn't something on your end. I'm assuming you have a wireless access point, and the AP still works when your device is right next to the AP, but doesn't work if it's farther away. It used to work that far away but not any more. Right?
If that's true, first confirm the problem isn't your equipment. Electronics can go bad. Your AP will still broadcast and try to create a network even if it's not connected to anything but power, right? Get one of those $20 automotive inverters (plug into accessory outlet / cigarette lighter in car, get AC power, you know?) and drive way out in the boonies. US highway who knows where, nothing but farms and small towns, you know? Stop the car, plug in the AP, and put the AP on top of your car's roof. Without being a nuissance or exposing yourself to surprise vehicle traffic, see how far you can walk from your car and still maintain a connection. Does your network still have the same problems even way out in the middle of nowhere?
Second thing you can do is to do the same sort of test at your place. Get an extension cord and put the access point out on a window or balcony or out on the front lawn if you have a lawn. Do the same sort of test: see how far away can you get and still maintain a connection.
If the AP has metal building frame stuff between it and your device, the distance WILL be shorter. If you have the AP on an extension cord way out in the middle of your lawn, the distance shouldn't be that much shorter.
Is the distance significantly shorter near this source of possible interference? Like, you lose signal after 10 feet instead of 150 feet? That could be interference.
Your next step would be to establish some sort of directionality for the interference. You really need the AP out in a field for this. Imagine eight radial lines coming out from the AP, north, northeast, east, etc.
Take measurements for each direction. How far away can you get and still maintain a connection to the AP? (Edit: be sure the device communicating with the AP is oriented the same direction relative to the AP for each radial. Most antennas have some directionality and at least two 'nulls' with lowest RF performance. I'm not saying you need to know the coverage pattern for your device's antenna, just keep the same part of the device pointed at the AP for each measurement. Don't face the device constantly north, face it constantly toward the AP. Also APs can have directionality in their coverage pattern unless the antenna is pointing straight up and down. If I were you I'd do the test twice: once with the AP facing one direction, then WITHOUT ADJUSTING ANYTHING rotate the AP 90 degrees and check the same eight radials.)
Is the distance DRASTICALLY shorter in the direction of your alleged friendly neighborhood spectrum polluter? If so, document all of the tests you have done and your results, and THEN look for help. Share your findings with them. Just as computer nerds (myself included) would rather help someone who has first tried to help themselves, both the FCC SEB and any local amateur radio clubs will probably be much more likely to help if you can show you've done your homework first.
Oops, looks like they're the Spectrum Enforcement Division, not Bureau. You can reach them indirectly via 1-800-CALL-FCC (1-800-225-5322).
Edit2: I know this sounds like a lot of work, but spectrum is like freedom: sometimes you have to defend it.
XBL Michael Spencer || Wii 6007 6812 1605 7315 || PSN MichaelSpencerJr || Steam Michael_Spencer || Ham NOØK
QRZ || My last known GPS coordinates: FindU or APRS.fi (Car antenna feed line busted -- no ham radio for me X__X )