Bathroom fan blows up all channels on TV

[boyscout]

When watching TV on the antenna - booster on of course - and the bathroom fan is turned on, it wipes out all channels on the TV. A digital hash of large "pixels" and blurps of noise are found on every channel. When the fan is turned off all returns to normal.

Anyone have any idea what to look for?

Thanks.

[howson]

When watching TV on the antenna - booster on of course - and the bathroom fan is turned on, it wipes out all channels on the TV. A digital hash of large "pixels" and blurps of noise are found on every channel. When the fan is turned off all returns to normal.

Anyone have any idea what to look for?

Thanks.

Is the booster and fan on the same circuit? In other words, when you turn off the circuit breaker for the bathroom fan does the booster go off, too?

I'm guessing that if the answer is "yes" the fan is generating an AC feedback signal that's bleeding over (into) the booster the 12V circuit.

[sande005]

I would also start tracing the antenna wiring - all of it, including runs to the bedroom, basement, outside, etc. The coax wire itself should be fine, but check wherever there is a termination (wall jack, connector, behind the TV, etc.) You may find a loose fitting that is letting the RF noise from the fan get into the normally shielded coax. This would mean that in some places you will have to take the wall plates off, to make sure the connector on the inside of the plate is tight.

If you are in an area with strong reception without the booster box on, then you can do the test suggested by Howson also with the booster off - even better, bypass the booster antenna connections completely. If it is perfect with the booster off or bypassed, it is likely noise in the power circuit. If it is still bad, then it's getting into the cable.

[boyscout]

Thanks @howson and @sande055. I'll look into these things. Between our last trailer and this one I've found enough *really* shoddy factory cable connections to suspect that's where the problem will be found, but was hoping that something simpler than tracing all of that network would be suggested.

[howson]

Thanks @howson and @sande055. I'll look into these things. Between our last trailer and this one I've found enough *really* shoddy factory cable connections to suspect that's where the problem will be found, but was hoping that something simpler than tracing all of that network would be suggested.

Please report back when you figure it out.

[DougW9876]

We had a motor home that sometimes turning on the ceiling lights in the living room would knock the Over The Air signal out. It would happen when we were in an area where the signals were not real strong to start with. Never know for sure what caused it, we just didn't turn on the ceiling lights while watching TV.

[2hams]

We had a similar problem in our Reflection. Our solution, however, was to take shorter showers and or just turn tv off and go to bed. Works for some....


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[offtohavasu]

Is the booster and fan on the same circuit? In other words, when you turn off the circuit breaker for the bathroom fan does the booster go off, too?

I'm guessing that if the answer is "yes" the fan is generating an AC feedback signal that's bleeding over (into) the booster the 12V circuit.

It should be a fuse as the booster and the fan are both 12v DC.

[gbkims]

Fan variable speed? Wonder about the fan's speed electronics pulse width modulation causing some noise from on the 12V.

My Bathroom Fan is on same fuse as the antenna booster, don't now if I have the problem or not.

Could try the old standby: .001 microfarad disc capacitor across the +12V, -12V at the fan. https://www.amazon.com/Projects-B-00.../dp/B00E6PJ9ES
Maybe a noise filter for 12V like https://www.amazon.com/PAC-CSS12-Pas.../dp/B000CEDZBA

[boyscout]

Fan variable speed? Wonder about the fan's speed electronics pulse width modulation causing some noise from on the 12V.

My Bathroom Fan is on same fuse as the antenna booster, don't now if I have the problem or not.

Could try the old standby: .001 microfarad disc capacitor across the +12V, -12V at the fan. https://www.amazon.com/Projects-B-00.../dp/B00E6PJ9ES
Maybe a noise filter for 12V like https://www.amazon.com/PAC-CSS12-Pas.../dp/B000CEDZBA

Thanks Gene. Bathroom fan is not variable-speed, simple switch.

Haven't returned to exploring this yet since I've decreed that nobody goes to the washroom while we're watching TV. Problem solved.