Sun 7 Jan 2007
Back at work, and it feels like being dragged to school when we were kids. Not a good day at all.
Anyway, I have a question that I hope some of you engineers can solve for me. It is something that has always baffled me and annoyed me.
Why is it that everytime you’re driving down King Faisal highway (the one between Adailiya and Khaldiya), and get closer to Kuwait City, once you reach the first ring road, your FM radio stations get static, especially BBC and 87.9. Also, very often, whenever Im using the phone there, I get disconnected and the signal goes down to 0 all of a sudden!
Is it because of the Ministry of Information? the Liberation Tower?
Just a stupid question on a stupid day. It really annoys me.
13 Responses to “Radio and phone interference”
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January 7th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
if i tell u , i have to kill u
delete this post
January 7th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
FM operates on 87.9 - 107.9 Mhz; GSM operates on 900MHz/1800MHz.. they are on two totally different bands. And FM is broadcasted from one area in Kuwait City, and GSM is broadcasted using multiple stations around Kuwait.. therefore there is nothing jamming both signals.
I would blame the 87.9FM problem on not recieving the signal property .. or mixing signals with other broadcasters in that area. As for the mobile issue .. you would have to take that up with MTC .. poor cell phone service in that area.
January 7th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Stop spreading rumors, and do not blame this for not responding to my sms sent on Friday.
January 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I second KTheKuwaiti’s comment, and it is definitely NOT a stupid question. It is a question that plagues the mind of any radio engineer that installs and/or maintains any wireless system.
Regarding the FM problems:
I am not sure how heavily regulated the airspace is in Kuwait, so it could be interference from a local RF signal used for god knows what, or spillage from a nearby (frequency-wise) signal. I could go on explaining all things than can cause a signal to drop but without having a full spectrum map of all radio services in the area (or having a wideband receiver, an antenna, and a spectrum analyzer) there is nothing that comes into mind of what operates in that frequency.
About your phone calls being dropped:
It could be a blackspot. As in, an area where radio frequency signals ‘fade’ due to waves being reflected, refracted, and scattered. It IS an urban area full of taller buildings that cause the previous phenomena. When your GSM phone drops a call, the cellular base-station knows the call hasn’t been terminated from your side, which would allow whoever’s managing the mobile switching centre (or MSC) to know that calls are being dropped, and investigate the cause of the loss of connectivity. That is, if the mobile company cares enough to check coverage and service for every network cell in Kuwait.
Sorry for writing lots of text, but you asked for it
SHAMELESS PLUG: prospective employers.. do some good, make someone happy. OFFER ME A JOB!
January 7th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
KM, call me, tell me, then ill kill myself. deal?
Purg, Friday I was too distraught and full of sorrow knowing that the vacation is over. Cant blame me there!
K and Z, thx for the replies. Its really weird, I notice it bcz i always have the radio on. The thing is, its always in the exact same spot! When ur stopped at the traffic light on King Faisal highway and first, with Shamiya on ur left and Tha7ya on ur right, if ur there switch on BBC and move slowly, ull notice how unclear it is. Thats why when im there in the mornings i drive real slow to stop at the best spot when the light is red. As for the phones, its a bit earlier than that spot, somewhere between 1st and 2nd ring road. I use MTC, not sure if its the same with Wataniya. I remember the other day both my wife and myself both had a dropped call at the same time when driving in that area.
January 7th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
you r right … it is not only that … i usually listen to my ipod with the Cassette Adapter Car Kit thing … and i always get this sound interference … which i find really weird …
i don’t think i am helping u answer the question here hehehehe
January 7th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
its the Bermooda Ring road
January 8th, 2007 at 12:10 am
from the bridge i think i asked from an engineer :>
January 8th, 2007 at 5:11 am
Just admit it, you do not want to be seen with us.
January 9th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
She asked an engineer .. he must be right.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:48 am
butofcourse.
January 12th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
umm just passing thro coz im soo board but r u all seriouse my god u need lives sorry to say
October 30th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
kazim saher…
…