Chasing RFI Waves – Part Seven

Old Vehicles, Mechanical Diesels, and RFI

• Strong interest in purely mechanical diesel engines as ideal for radio-quiet work and EMP resilience.
• Examples cited: 6.2L/6.5L GM/“Detroit” diesels, 5.9L 12‑valve Cummins, Mercedes OM617, older Perkins, and small industrial/agricultural diesels.
• Engines that run with no ECU and minimal wiring are praised: once started, they can often keep running without electrical systems, with fuel shutoff via vacuum or mechanical linkage.
• Drawbacks noted: some early 6.2/6.5 blocks are prone to cracking; later castings and AM General’s current 6.5 supposedly fix this.
• Retrofitting older Suburbans with these engines is described as straightforward because they were designed as drop‑in small-block replacements.

Comfort and Longevity of Older Cars

• Debate over whether modern seats will last like older ones.
• Multiple anecdotes that 1980s BMW and Volvo seats remain extremely comfortable and intact, surpassing many newer cars.
• Rebuild kits (foam, covers, even heaters) are available for some vintage seats.

Radio Quiet Zones and RFI Management

• Green Bank/NRQZ described as essential because terrestrial signals are many orders of magnitude stronger than astronomical ones; front ends saturate, so data during RFI must be discarded.
• One rule-of-thumb comparison: lifetime received signal energy is likened to the energy of a single flea jump.
• Attempts to “algorithm away” interference are seen as limited by dynamic-range/clipping constraints.
• Enforcement relies heavily on personal networks: long-term relationships with FCC staff and local stakeholders are key to resolving interference, from misused ham bands to problematic farm equipment.

Other Quiet Sites and RF-over-Fiber

• Murchison Radio Quiet Zone’s “SMART boxes” for SKA-Low are highlighted: claimed to be so quiet that a phone on the Moon would be louder.
• RF-over-fiber is described as standard for moving L/S‑band signals from antennas to equipment rooms with low loss; signals are converted back to RF because existing modems, amplifiers, and filters are RF-based and cheap.

Modern Sources of Noise: Vehicles, EVs, and Radars

• Complaints about electromagnetic noise from modern vehicles and boat systems; frustration that we don’t better contain it.
• EVs are reported as especially noisy in AM bands; fixing this is possible but adds cost, weight, and complexity, so vendors skimp.
• Large military radars can inject periodic chirps and tones into audio gear at surprising distances.

Green Bank, Sugar Grove, and Local Flavor

• Multiple visitors describe Green Bank as surreal: immense dishes, strict RF rules (no digital cameras/phones in core areas), and a striking rural/scientific juxtaposition.
• Sugar Grove Station is recalled as an NSA/ECHELON interception site quietly sharing the radio quiet zone; anecdotes about restricted access, underground facilities, and its reputation among locals.

Regulation, EPA, and Desire for Simple Trucks

• Several commenters argue for a modern, electronics-free diesel truck; believe demand is high among “truck people.”
• Discussion of EPA footprint-based rules that allegedly incentivize larger trucks and effectively eliminate small, lightweight, efficient pickups from the US market.
• Some push back, noting safety benefits of many modern electronics, even while disliking touchscreens/connectivity.

Broadcast Tech and Nostalgia

• Blonder-Tongue is remembered both as early UHF TV add-on gear and as current/historical analog cable/modulator hardware in nursing homes, prisons, and hospitality.
• Retro enthusiasm for clear plastic prison CRT TVs and their use in gaming.