Wireless alarm systems INTERFERING sources

What type of signals are able to produce RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) on Wireless Alarm Systems and will jeopardize they're operation?

Not all Radio Frequency (RF) transmitters are able to generate RFI, they have to be in accordance to certain rules described hereafter. Find here with more detail the list of Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter sources generating RFI mentioned here above:

  1. RF transmitters operating "ON" the Wireless Alarm Systems frequency. This is the most annoying RFI, it require only a very low power to do so (in my REAL case, 1 milliWatt was enough);

  1. RF transmitters "SATURATING" the input stage of the Wireless Alarm Systems RF receiver A transmitter "close" to the operating frequency may have enough power to saturate the RF receiver input stage. This signal overrides the normal incoming RF sensor signals. This can happen with permanent installed RF transmitter stations or temporary operated (CB, Radio Ham, ++) mobile or fix.

  2. RF transmitters causing "INTERMODULATION" "In gross" its the mix of two signals that result in an on the frequency signal of the Wireless Alarm Systems due to the non-linearity of wireless RF receiver input stage. It can be defined as a beat tone generated by two signals where the mixed beat part is on the Wireless Alarm operating frequency. Realize that quite a fair amount of combinations may produce that sort of RF signal.

  1. "HARMONICS" of a RF transmitters falling in the Wireless receiver frequency bandwidth. All transmitters generate harmonics, those harmonics have to be suppressed (EMC requirement) to a certain degree, nevertheless there are still attenuated harmonics and when you have to deal with a powerful RF transmitter they may still be sufficient to "muzzle" the RF receiver sensor inputs of the Wireless Alarm Systems.

  2. a RF transmitter signal not directly on the frequency who is "NOT ATTENUATED" enough by the RF "receiver bandpass filters". The RF receiver's use already since approx. 20 years SAW filters. Those filters attenuate the beside the frequency incoming signals, however those signals are still coming true in an attenuated manner but they may be of a sufficient amplitude to "interfere" the RF receiver sensor inputs.

  1. RF transmitters on the IF (intermediate frequency) Modern wireless receivers use frequency conversion techniques who uses and IF stage to narrow the bandwidth (easier on lower frequencies). One drawback with them, if the IF frequency is not attenuated enough by the input stage, a RF transmission on that frequency will pass and generate RFI.

As you see there is a quite some impressive number possible of RF transmitter sources that may generate RFI on Wireless Alarm System receivers. The major problem being that specific RFI avoidance techniques, used in military and by similar instances, are not affordable for wireless alarm systems even if the FCC (or like instances) would allow this type of avoidance techniques in wireless alarm systems.

RFI is expectedly most of the time (and lucky enough) of the involuntary nature and not persistent but in the meanwhile the system is deaf and when it comes to security realize how easy it is to have a Wireless Alarm Systems disturbed... dead. Silent key, NO ALARM, NO DETECTION.

Paul

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