> From:    Sunil Bector <[log in to unmask]>
>
> My TV is 8 inches away from my monitor, and that is what caused the
> problem.

Sounds likely.  Does the TV have to be on to cause the problem?  Do you have
cable TV?  If so, try moving the cables apart.  If it is easy to move
one, try separating the TV and monitor.  If not, you could try using a
grounded sheet of metal (even aluminum foil) between them, or the cables.

>         My TV has always been this close to my monitor, however, so any
> idea as to why the bar just started to appear?

Someone may have turned up the amplitude of the cable TV signal, a cable
or connector could have been damaged or come loose.  Components age and
their characteristics change - which could cause the TV to "leak" more, or
the monitor to be more sensitive to interference.

Even changing where you plug things in could affect the interference if the
signal is leaking down the TV cord and up the monitor cord.  A good surge
protector with EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference) filters or UPS should
help if this is the case - but only if the TV is plugged in on the source
side and the computer/monitor on the output side (or vice versa).  You could
try plugging the TV into an extension cord plugged into a socket on the far
side of the house, first - to see if this makes a difference.  A ferrite
"doughnut" or even a big steel nut around each power cord should help to
filter out this kind of interference.

Computer, monitor and TV should already have filter circuits built in
where the power enters the case, but sometimes an electrolytic capacitor
"dries out" and stops working.  Unless you are trained in repairing
switching power supplies, TVs, or monitors, I recommend leaving such repairs
to the professionals, as you could expose yourself to potentially LETHAL
voltages (possibly 30,000 V or more), implosion hazards, and maybe even
X-radiation.

>                                                I updated the driver on my
> video card, which may have changed the refresh rate on my monitor.

It could be that the interference was always there, but changing the refresh
rate just made it more obvious.  What rate are you using?  The NTSC (North
American TV) Standard is 30 frames/second (odd lines in first 1/60 s, even
lines in second 1/60 s. (59.94 Hz)

>                                                                    Should I
> experiment with different refresh rates, or does this have nothing to do
> with the problem at all?

A different refresh rate could make the problem less obvious - but you would
know that the interference is still there.  It is better to track the
source down and eliminate it.   After all, you don't want to add to the
"electronic pollution".

>
> Thanks,
>
> Sunil Bector
>
> >> ------------------------------
> >
> >I suspect that you are receiving an interfering signal with almost the
> >same frame rate.  Could it be a similar system nearby?  Or a TV broadcast?
> >
> >Boyd Ramsay
> >
> >[log in to unmask]
>
> Date:    Thu, 1 Jul 1999 08:11:52 -0400
> From:    John Cramer <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: lines on monitor
>
> Sounds like something external.
> Also other item that has affected monitors
> has been small 110 volt fans for operator confort.
> If one is in use move it away from the monitor.
>
> JohnW

"Sparky" old motors - such as "universal" motors with dirty commutators
and loose or worn brushes will cause "sparkles", flashes of colour (or B/W),
or "snow" - somewhat randomly scattered across the screen, not a sharply
defined band across the screen.

> >From:    John Morgan <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Re: lines on monitor
> >Sounds like magnetic interference.  Look for florescent lights, other
> >monitors, anything with a speaker nearby.

Boyd Ramsay

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