Sound System Interference on Two Different Systems

[ckaiserca]

Hello!

 

I am having a strange problem with two sound systems that I work with in two different venues (a theatre and a church). The problem is the same in both places, and both venues are right around the corner from each other, and that leads me to my question of the possible causes.

 

Both systems have been running noise free for years. Now just all of a sudden, even with the main faders down, the speakers will give off noises that sound like static or RF interference at random intervals. This only seems to happen during daylight hours. What sometimes happens is that the noise will build in intensity until there is almost a "discharge" of noise from the system speakers!

 

My thoughts on the causes: A new construction site across the highway. I'm wondering if their two-way radio communication might be causing some kind of weird signal build-up in the cables and amps of the venues. My other thought (and this might be a bit of a reach) was the construction crane. Its boom actually crosses over the power lines when it swings. Is it possible that the swings of this crane boom over a high voltage transmission line could cause some kind of electromagnetic interference that would show up in my sound systems?

 

If the same problem did not show up in both venues at the same time, I would be looking for causes inside the buildings, but when the exact same problem shows up at the exact same time in two different systems (on two previously problem free systems!), one does begin to wonder about an external cause.

[Andrew C]

Two ways on the building site would be 1st guess, and maybe more specifically to the crane operator. Is he "up-top"? Is the timing right; new crane = interference?

 

If you were this side of the pond, I could recommend the DTI to check it out, but that won't help you at all!