Bluetooth Causing RFI in Amateur Radio Equipment

Question

Level 1

0 points

Bluetooth Causing RFI in Amateur Radio Equipment

I have just noticed an RFI issue between the BT on my late 2012 iMac and my amateur radio. If I turn off the wireless keyboard and trackpad, the RFI goes away. Any solutions?

If this was cabling, I'd wrap the keyboard and trackpad cables with ferrite cores. There is no good place to connect a ground to the iMac chassis, but I assume the chassis is grounded through the house ground (which is generally a terrible ground for RFI).

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Jul 17, 2013 2:57 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Jul 17, 2013 3:00 PM in response to J. Burton

We are not Apple here. Please send your report via Apple Feedback.

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 26, 2016 12:54 AM in response to J. Burton

I do not know how to keep your blue tooth keyboard enabled if indeed it is the culprit you indicate. I am a mac user since the first mac in early mid-80's and have usually leaned towards the wired keyboard as I have had wireless keyboards. I have several bluetooth printers around and use (at this time) a wireless track-ball. That said. if you are in such close proximity to your rig and keyboard / iMac, I would suggest but you are unlikely able to move or breakup your operation between rig and computer operations see if you can determine the rf frequency and then with a field strength meter see how effective various barriers or screening, or other means of eliminating or diminishing the offensive radio frequency getting into your rig(s). Oh, also if you can determine if the interference you pick up is picked up in a certain IF stage in the rig. I do not think you specified if it was HF, VHF, OR UHF or a high frequency of operation that you have witnessed problems. I would imagine you are having issue with HF, that would be my guess. Like to hear what you do and or if you remedy and how a fix may have come about.

Sincerely,

Mark (KB6BYR)

Reply