debugging
Hi,
"First, change cable lengths that you use to interconnect the TV,DVD, and VCR units.(make sure they are all securely attached)"
Same thing, fox still picks up a local radio broadcast
"Re -orient the units if you can: ie if they face west, face them south...if this is a real pain, go to next step..."
Didn't help...
"Look at the male plugs of each unit...are they polarized? If one of your gear is old enough to have equal sized blades on the male plugs, turn it over to plug it in the other way. This is not very common anymore..."
My TV is quite old and the outlet plug did, in fact, have equal sized blades. I reversed the plug but there was no change.
"
Next, ground the units well, either to each other, or each one to a ground (there are usually many available to you, each of a different quality): In order of "groundedness" from worst, to best Find metal screw on each unit that screws into metal of the chassis or case: tie these together with some hookup wire; Get or borrow an outlet tester, and test the outlet(s) that you are using..specifically you want to find that there IS a ground connection...many contractors 'forget" to hook them all up; If you are comfortable working in your power box, check that all ground and neutral connections are clean, and tight...(might as well tighten the hots too, while you are in there...THIS IS A DANGEROUS STEP - ONLY DO IT IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO); Next, Go outside of the house, where the power enters, and look to find the Ground rod, driven into the ground at or near the power entry...look to see that is has a good connection, is clean and tight."
Woah, you over-estimate me
. My hands-on electrical knowledge is limited to introductory courses in digital logic and analog circuits (about 3.5 years ago), with much more theory than actual practice.
Some more questions if you don't mind:
What do you mean by "ground the units well?" Isn't everything in the vcr already grounded to the case which, in turn, is grounded to the outlet and outside ground rod (again, I am not very familiar in this area).
How much $$ is an outlet tester? Is it the same thing as a voltage meter, or is it something special to check if there is a ground?
When looking at the ground, what exactly will I be looking for? What should have a good connection? Also, keeping in mind that I am not an electrical engineer, we can touch the ground rod because the ground has much less resistence than people? What about anything that is connected to the rod?
"If the problem persists, then next, you need to go to an electronics store, and purchase "ferrite chokes"- these are specially constructed pieces of sintered ferrite (iron powder)that are made to pass your power cables through. You open them up, carefully, and then wind as many turns through the center and around the outside as possible and still close the core back up. Be careful, and don't force it shut, as the ferrite is really like cheap glass - it will shatter and lose its effectiveness. Do this on all power cords."
Is this the end all to all problems? That is, if I skip straight to this step, then should it solve all problems? I've never heard of the product and am not exactly sure that I understand how they are to be used. They are wound around all power cords?
Also, your steps seem to suggest that the problem is most likely a power problem. Is this correct? I that the problem would be with the cable wire and that some type of filtering hardware would be the solution.
Thanks again...
