As stated in module 6 you have reached the end of the theory requirements for the experimenters licence however I suggest that you revise all of the theory covered in the modules 1 through 5 carefully.

In this module I hope to cover the basics of
EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility)

EMC deals with the whole area of interference by amateur stations to other nearby electronic devices (such as televisions telephones etc.) and also to interference caused by nearby electronic devices to amateur radio operators.

Every Amateur radio operator needs to make sure that His or Her own House is in order and that the operator can operate on all bands and all modes using full power without casing interference to devices in their own house. This will go a long way to preventing complaints from neighbours and it will allow the Amateur radio operator to establish that one's own equipment is functioning correctly.

A low pass filter should be fitted to the output of a HF transceiver between the transmitter and the ATU, It is better to fit this after the SWR bridge if one is used.

A good RF ground should be connected to the transmitter.

Read the following article about Filtering (this article was used earlier in the course to introduce filters in module 5)
Interference and Filtering

In most cases where there is a complaint of interference the Amateur station is not at fault.
The first thing to do when a complaint is received is to check the station log to see if the station was in use when the interference occurred, in many cases the erection of an antenna is enough to cause complaints of interference!

Please read the following pages on the RSGB EMC committee web site

Introduction
Leaflets
The leaflets deal with particular types of interference problems

A few notes concerning EMC and Ireland

1/ If your station is in order there is no need for you to stop transmitting, only the ODTR can stop or restrict you from transmitting in relation to EMC problems. Please Note that there is a special case in relation to 6m and Cable TV systems.

2/ Cable TV systems are supposed to be Closed systems, NO RF should either leak out or be able to get into these systems however the regulator has given the cable TV operators several years to completely close all cable TV systems, until this is done Cable TV MUST be protected from interference from operation on the 6m band.
What this means is that if you are causing interference to cable TV systems when you operate on 6m then you MUST stop transmitting, it would be a good idea to also contact your local cable TV company as they may be keen to fix the leak.
If you are causing problems to cable TV whilst operating on other bands (not 6m) and your own is not at fault then it is the responsibility of the cable TV company to fix the leak.

3/ Since telephones are not radio receivers your station is unlikely to be at fault in cases of telephone interference, See the following leaflet
RSGB EMC5

4/ In Ireland it is very common for the electrician to wire the house for TV during construction, unfortunately the Electricians tend not to understand good RF practice and it is all to common to find mains junction boxes, twisted and taped joints etc, being used instead of proper coaxial Splitters and couplers. When houses are wired for TV in this substandard manner it leaves the house very prone to TV interference problems.
Fixing the internal wiring in your neighbours house IS NOT your Problem.

5/ The IRTS has an EMC Officer Who can be contacted for further information in relation to specific related EMC problems.
See IRTS Officers page on the IRTS web site for contact details