Troubleshooting Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) can turn an enjoyable amateur radio station into a frustrating experience. This class provides a practical introduction to understanding, locating, and correcting common sources of radio frequency interference.

Participants will learn how to recognize different types of RFI and identify potential sources, plus practical techniques for locating indoor and outdoor interference using amateur radio equipment, portable receivers, directional antennas, spectrum analyzers, and other troubleshooting tools.

The class will also cover methods for reducing or eliminating RFI, including ferrite chokes, filtering, grounding, and identifying faulty equipment. It concludes with guidance for working appropriately with neighbors, utilities, and the ARRL when interference originates outside the operator’s QTH.