I'm pickin' up radio stations on amp!

[Root 5]

I took my bass combo over to my dad's place to jam! But I was hearing voices through my amplifier - without smoking or injecting anything into my body!

Hmm...

I seem to be picking up radio stations!

Why would this be happening???

Thanks in advance!

[Ewo]

I've run into RFI problems a couple times.

I'd suggest you try to isolate where the radio frequency interference is getting in. Sometimes it's the bass, or the guitar cord. Sometimes it's the amp.

So check if you get the radio signal in the amp itself, without plugging in your bass. If the house outlet isn't grounded well, that might be the case.

If you don't get the RFI there, try substituting another bass.

If the RFI is entering through the bass, search the tech section of the BG forum. There have been some threads on RFI and shielding.

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by Root 5

I took my bass combo over to my dad's place to jam! But I was hearing voices through my amplifier - without smoking or injecting anything into my body!

Hmm...

I seem to be picking up radio stations!

Why would this be happening???

Thanks in advance!

Was there a Russian spy living next door with a dual side band transmitter.
Sometimes you can get ghost radio stations on amps in certain places often this is due to the rf caps not getting away to a good enough earth to work properly.

[JFOC]

Build a Faraday cage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage
;p

[jordak]

http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4223
As much as I hate Monster's marketing and pricing, I think this might work.
Does anyone know of a $20 alternative? I'm sure there must be one.

[jordak]

"Wall mountable surge protector features individual six outlets that pivot for adapter fit. Three-line AC surge protection is ideal for basic household electronics and appliances. Six rotating surge-protected outlets allow room for large block space outlets. 1080 Joule energy rating provides maximum protection of all your sensitive electronic devices. Surge protector filters EMI/RFI noise up to 75 dB reduction."

http://h71016.www7.hp.com/dstore/sp_...39&pagemode=ca

So, most surge protectors will do the trick

[Clark Dark]

If you go the surge protector route invest in a Tripp Lite IsoBar. It has the best RFI filtering IMO/IME. My ISOBAR825ULTRA offers 8 outlets arranged in four filter banks.

[RickenBoogie]

Furman makes a great 6 outlet strip with RFI and EF filters. Works like a charm, and inexpensive to boot.

[Alex1984]

I think you need shielding. In both your cable and your bass.

[two fingers]

The question is was it clear or did you get static?

[fdeck]

In my experience, radio pickup is almost always caused by a dodgy ground connection between the bass and the amp, i.e., in the bass, the cabling, or the input jack of the amp itself. The input jack is an Achilles heel of modern amps, where a small amount of wiggling on the plug eventually causes the solder joints to crack.

[B-string]

99% of the time it is an instrument cable. Any good cable will do, Plant Waves, any cable. No need to spend too much money on a Monster waste of money cable

[backup]

Originally Posted by B-string

99% of the time it is an instrument cable. Any good cable will do, Plant Waves, any cable. No need to spend too much money on a Monster waste of money cable

+1.
nowadays most bass guitars have shielding. so its very likely the cable. thats also were hum, noise and static comes from. i used cheap 2$ cables even though there is no radio there is still lots of hum. picked up a fender CS cable. no noise no radio no hum. also great quality. and its 15$

[Joedog]

Make yourself a tinfoil hat and the voices in your head will stop! Or so I am told.....LOL!

Many moons ago we picked up a police radio.....they had received a complaint about a band on the street making too much noise. They said we sounded pretty good! They never bothered us...just drove slowly by. True story! I always thought it was the house wiring (old). From the above replies I guess I was wrong!

[Clark Dark]

I mainly play in a church constructed in 1917. The old knob and tube wiring wreaks havoc with the keyboard and amplifiers that is prior to my purchasing the Tripp Lite ISOBAR825ULTRA. The fact it has multiple filters made a huge difference.

[Root 5]

I plugged my amp in sans a cable.

I'm still picking up a radio station - a crummy one at that!

I tried plugging in another part of the house and - still hearing the radio!

Wotcha think's going on??

[ffutterman]

This far into the thread and no Spinal Tap references? I'm disappointed, Talkbass.

[Codger]

Check out Randall Aiken's suggestions.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by Root 5

I took my bass combo over to my dad's place to jam! But I was hearing voices through my amplifier - without smoking or injecting anything into my body!

Hmm...

I seem to be picking up radio stations!

Why would this be happening???

Thanks in advance!

How old is the house? Does it have two prong, or three prong outlets and if it has two prong, did you need to use a ground lift adapter? If so, you removed any chance of filtering out RF or any other noise.

[megafiddle]

Since the amp still receives the station with nothing but a power cord connected, I
would look there first. Can you position the amp very close to an outlet and coil up
the power cord? It may do nothing, but if the interference stops, then thats where
it's getting in. If so, and the cord is detachable IEC type, there are standard shielded
types available from suppliers like Mouser. You don't need anything exotic.

Anyone know if ferrite beads (the big clamp-on type used for cables) work for radio
station interference?

They are used to prevent power and computer cables from radiating RF. Seems they
ought to work for "reception", also.