German magazine Radioszene reports the issue of electromagnetic interference from consumer devices, e.g. switched-mode PSU’s and LED lighting, is being raised in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament)
Bundestag Member Ralph Lenkert of the political party Die Linke (The Left) has submitted 21 questions on “Protection of the resource electromagnetic environment” to the Federal Government.
The Federal Government is expected to provide answers about the state of the electromagnetic environment.
The questions include (Google translation):
• What is the Federal Government’s knowledge of general development of “Human-made Noise” (unwanted electromagnetic noise) in the field of shortwave, the VHF range, in DAB applications and in particular in the field of amateur radio service respectively in rural and urban areas (please for each application individually describe)?
• The federal government shares the concern that the electromagnetic environment with the implementation of the DOCSIS 3.1 method in insufficiently shielded Cable networks due to broadband radiated Electromagnetic Interference on FM, DAB and frequencies of the Amateur Radio Service as well as radio applications no longer as intended Will be available (please explain)?
359/5000
• In view of the reports in its report (see http://www.teltarif.de/radio-kabel-internet-stoerungen/news/63267.html or CQ DL amateur radio magazine, Issue 5-2018) in the implementation of the DOCSIS 3.1.-method a general monitoring about the condition of the affected cable networks?
If not, why not?
• Electronic devices whose distribution has been prohibited
• The number of personnel with which the testing and measuring tasks are carried out at the Federal Network Agency
Read the Radioszene article in Google English at
https://tinyurl.com/Radioszene-EMI-Bundestag
Original text in German
https://www.radioszene.de/124771/radio-empfang-gestoert.html
Die Linke Bundestag submission – Protection of resource electromagnetic environment
https://dip21.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/036/1903641.pdf
US Coast Guard warns of LED lighting safety hazards
The ARRL reports on US Coast Guard warning of LED lighting interference to Marine Radios and AIS Reception
The ARRL say:
The US Coast Guard says it’s received reports from crews, ship owners, inspectors, and other mariners regarding poor reception on VHF radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC), and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of LED lighting systems. This could include interior and exterior lighting, navigation lights, searchlights, and floodlights found on vessels of all sizes.
“Radio frequency interference caused by these LED lamps [was] found to create potential safety hazards,” the Coast Guard said in an August 15 Marine Safety Alert. “For example, the maritime rescue coordination center in one port was unable to contact a ship involved in a traffic separation scheme incident by VHF radio. That ship also experienced very poor AIS reception. Other ships in different ports have experienced degradation of the VHF receivers, including AIS, caused by their LED navigation lights. LED lighting installed near VHF antennas has also shown to compound the reception.”
ARRL has determined a wide range of interference-causing potential from consumer lighting devices.
“While some are relatively quiet, other devices — even those that meet the required FCC emissions limits — can still cause harmful interference,” said ARRL Electromagnetic Compatibility Engineer Mike Gruber, W1MG.
“My best recommendation is to try LED lights before you buy, especially if there is a possibility that the device will be used while you’re operating. “Once you have determined that a particular LED device is quiet, then purchase as many as you need from that same store.”
Over the past few years, ARRL has provided the FCC with reports of LED and other lighting systems that are not in compliance with FCC regulations. In several instances, these devices greatly exceeded the FCC’s emissions limits, in one case by as much as 58 dB, creating as much noise as 650,000 legal devices.
Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/view/us-coast-guard-warns-of-led-lighting-interference-to-marine-radios-ais-reception
The Netherlands: LED lights jam shipping Automatic Identification System
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2018/july/led–lights-jam-shipping-automatic-identification-system.htm