Boltek StormTracker-PCI - Manual (Page 14)

10 MAKING BACKGROUND MAPS
Troubleshooting
Problem: There is a very high noise count.
Reason: There is something producing noise in the low frequency range StormTracker uses to
detect lightning. It is most likely an electrical device near the antenna.
StormTracker is a radio receiver sensitive to all sources of radio frequency energy. Lightning is
one source but there are many others. Interference can appear as either excessively large number
of noises ( >50 noises/minute) or as a cluster of lightning strikes which appear suddenly and do
not move with time. Interference usually appears as a continuous stream of strikes and/or noises
(apparent when you turn on strike and noise beeps) whereas a thunderstorm tends to produce
randomly spaced bursts of strikes.
Solution: First try raising the Receiver Squelch slightly to see if you can make the receiver
ignore the noise. The Squelch control is found on the Configure Processing screen. If you need to
raise the squelch control more than half-way you will be sacrificing some range and should try to
solve the noise problem.
To locate the source of the noise, first confirm the noise is coming in through the antenna. Shield
the antenna from radio waves by placing an empty tin can upside down over the antenna. If the
noise disappears then the antenna is picking up the noise signal. You should either relocate the
antenna farther from the noise source (raising the antenna usually works best), or relocate the
source of the noise. To identify the source of the noise, one by one turn off all electrical devices
(including your computer monitor) until the noise stops.
If the noise does not stop when the antenna is shielded with a tin can the noise is coming in either
through the antenna cable or the receiver board. Try relocating the antenna cable to see if the
noise changes in any way. Try placing both the antenna and antenna cable inside a steel container
close to the computer to see if the noise stops. Slowly remove the cable and begin to run it back
to your desired antenna location. If the noise returns this should provide a clue as to what may be
causing the noise.
Appendix A