Improve RFI


I have terrible RFI in my basement system.  The RFI indicator on the Universal Remote is always on, regardless of where I locate the sensor, and I have to revert back to using the individual remotes for AVR, Blu Ray, etc.  I also have a surround sound system on the main floor; same AVR, same universal remote, and no RFI.  
  The kitchen is on the main floor and all appliances which are usually identified with RFI are in the kitchen.  The lighting is different in the basement and the washer-dryer and firebox are in the basement.

  Everything I can pull up on RFI seems to be from the ham radio world.  They constantly point to the firebox but there doesn’t seem to be any consensus on how to deal with it.

  Any help would be appreciated 

mahler123

First off, I would like to thank everyone who has tried to help here.  My last post sounded snarky and ungrateful.

  Second, a new development.  I placed the the transmitter -relay device on the floor next to the rack.  Previously it had been on the top half of the rack, and then placed on top of a surround that is wall mounted at near the same height.  The RFI light is off now and the Universal Remote works again.

  There is a small window behind  and above the rack .  I am wondering if there has been an increase in RFI from the external environment (I live on a Flight Path for O’Hare Airport, for one thing).  However I don’t understand why the living room remote would not be effected, as the two systems are in parallel on different levels of the home.  Perhaps the weather updated windows in the living room are better for screening RFI?  I am just speculating.

  The floor location isn’t ideal-it might get kicked or placed back on the rack by my wife or someone else-but for now I will leave it there

@mahler123 said:

 I placed the transmitter -relay device on the floor next to the rack.  Previously it had been on the top half of the rack, and then placed on top of a surround that is wall mounted at near the same height.  The RFI light is off now and the Universal Remote works again.

Me thinks you found the source of the RFI. If you want to verify, I would suggest you place the transmitter -relay device back on the rack. Unplug all the associated A/V equipment from the 120Vac AC mains outlets. Then check for the presence of  RFI.

If you are using a surge protector plug strip, or a power conditioner with surge protection, unplug it as well from the AC mains wall outlet.

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Good move.

Proper shielding is always a good thing but may not be needed so much or at all  if the problem can be addressed by simply relocating affected components and/or the source of the EMI. 

As previously posted, a Trifield EMF meter is indispensable for finding sources of RFI. Routers with wifi the worst, hard drives and transformers can be pretty bad.

I bought a TeddyPardo power supply for my main system to replace my modem and router power supply.  Gave them the specs and cable info. The power supply  I received has two outlets - 12V the other 19v with 2 different connection types. Came with very high quality cables. Have been sitting on them for some time.  I’ll install this weekend.

I learned about TeddyPardo off this forum. Everything about them is stellar, website, their questions to me to double check info and their unit & cable build quality. Sent photos of the cheap power supply that came with my modem and router. That closed out the loop for exchange of needed information