Roy.
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|  #1 Posted on 27.9.04 2039.18
Reposted on: 27.9.11 2040.17 | I wasn't sure where to post this, but it's semi-TV related, so I guess this is the best place for it.
Here's the story: a shopping center I regularly visit (it's got a pizza place, a liquor store, and a laundromat, hence the regular visits) is in a neighborhood where I pick up cable television signals on my radio. Whenever I tune my car radio to 105.5 FM (to normally listen to Phillies games) and I'm in this neighborhood, that channel picks up cable channels. Specifically, I think I'm picking up a house or apartment's TV feed, because I've heard Law & Order on TNT, Sportscenter, Golf, and many others throughout the day.
Now I've picked up broadcast channels on very low FM frequencies (88.5 or so) but I've never picked up cable channels on a regular car radio before.
I can't think of what might be doing this, and it's been bugging me because of it. I'm a bit of a science geek, and I've racked my brain trying to figure out what the hell is going on here. I thought maybe it was a DirecTV feed or something, but how am I getting it, and why just in that neighborhood?
Does anybody smarter than me have any cool explanations as to why this happens? I'm so intrigued I might just knock on every door in the neighborhood to see who's watching what I'm hearing! | Promote this thread! |             | Mr Heel II
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| #2 Posted on 27.9.04 2313.10
Reposted on: 27.9.11 2313.10 | This would appear to be the culprit.
It uses the FM band between 105.5-105.9 megahertz.
It's supposed to have a clean range of 50 feet, and in the right setting could certainly go further.
Come to think of it, you could probably make yourself a mini neighborhood pirate-radio station with one of these... | Roy.
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| #3 Posted on 27.9.04 2337.54
Reposted on: 27.9.11 2337.54 | You sir, are a genius! That's gotta be it, and now I can stop being driven crazy. I had no idea something like that existed.
Once again, the fine folks at the W get it done for me. | The Thrill
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| #4 Posted on 28.9.04 0854.55
Reposted on: 28.9.11 0855.40 | Originally posted by Roy.
Now I've picked up broadcast channels on very low FM frequencies (88.5 or so) but I've never picked up cable channels on a regular car radio before.
That little doodad could be it, but it could also be plain ol' off-band transmissions.
At the old Brems Barracks radio labs I wuz schooled at in the Army, we occasionally could get Regis & Kathie Lee on Army FM radios...right around your 88.5 MHz area you're describing.
I also once picked up video from my hotel room's cable TV (I forget where) on ch. 3 of my Sony Watchman portable TV. No audio, just a crystal-clear picture of ESPN.
Sometimes electronics do wacky things...sorry to spoil your moment of clarity. | Roy.
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| #5 Posted on 28.9.04 0919.49
Reposted on: 28.9.11 0920.54 | Originally posted by The Thrill
Originally posted by Roy.
Now I've picked up broadcast channels on very low FM frequencies (88.5 or so) but I've never picked up cable channels on a regular car radio before.
That little doodad could be it, but it could also be plain ol' off-band transmissions.
At the old Brems Barracks radio labs I wuz schooled at in the Army, we occasionally could get Regis & Kathie Lee on Army FM radios...right around your 88.5 MHz area you're describing.
I also once picked up video from my hotel room's cable TV (I forget where) on ch. 3 of my Sony Watchman portable TV. No audio, just a crystal-clear picture of ESPN.
Sometimes electronics do wacky things...sorry to spoil your moment of clarity.
No, the phenomenon I was describing was the 105.5 FM picking up cable broadcasts. I know that our local CBS station transmits on 88.5 FM, specifically. I don't know of any cable stations that are broadcasting sound for free over the air radio, let alone in a specific neighborhood
The above gizmo is probably it. I mean, it's different channels at different times, and I've even heard the channels change as I drive by. I'm definately picking up somebody's TV broadcast, and a wireless transmitter makes total sense. | Guru Zim
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| #6 Posted on 28.9.04 1039.34
Reposted on: 28.9.11 1041.32 | | The low end of the FM band often has broadcast TV sound, in my experience. I've never seen this on the high end before. I was thinking VCR rabbit, but I can't remember if that uses FM or not. This thing seems like a pretty good culprit to me. | | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
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