power line & radio transmitter interference w/pedometer

Since 2001, over 90,000 cyclist's have joined Cycling Forums to discuss topics from general cycling to equipment, training, racing and travel or vacation destinations (especially in europe during the tour de france). We also feature an great deals in our online store, 100's of articles, classifieds and product reviews.

There are certain areas where my pedometer runs either
inaccurately or not at all. There are power lines and also a
50,000 watt fm radio transmitter in the area. Would any of
these affect the pedometer? I'm thinking magnetic field
here. If this happens, should people with pacemakers also be
concerned?

Bob in Syracuse NY

Bob, Just shorten the antennas in your beanie, and add
another layer of tin foil. This'll stop the interference,
and those pesky voices too!

rcranger@syr.edu (Bob Syr) wrote in message
news:<55934f9a.0406300644.141b08bc@posting.google.com>...
> There are certain areas where my pedometer runs either
> inaccurately or not at all. There are power lines and also
> a 50,000 watt fm radio transmitter in the area. Would any
> of these affect the pedometer? I'm thinking magnetic field
> here. If this happens, should people with pacemakers also
> be concerned?
>
> Bob in Syracuse NY

rcranger@syr.edu (Bob Syr) wrote in message news:<55934f9a.0406300644.141b08bc@posting.google.com>...
> There are certain areas where my pedometer runs either
> inaccurately or not at all. There are power lines and also
> a 50,000 watt fm radio transmitter in the area. Would any
> of these affect the pedometer? I'm thinking magnetic field
> here. If this happens, should people with pacemakers also
> be concerned?
>
> Bob in Syracuse NY

Pacemakers are now manufactured with immunity to most radio
signals built-in as part of their acceptance testing. There
are ANSI standards that they meet. Transmitters of TV and FM
generally have an antenna pattern that looks like a drooping
pancake, with most of the energy radiating out horizontally
toward the horizon to get maximum ccoverage. I did a study a
number of years ago as part of my job as an EMC engineer,
that showed maximum signal levels on a flat land mass around
a TV antenna were actually highest about 1 mile out from the
base of the tower. AM transmitters, however, are strongest
closest to the tower, but even there, the FCC requires that
the area around the base of the tower where fields are high
enough to cause bodily heating must be fenced off. So, you
are probably perfectly ok, unless you climb through the
fence around an AM transmitter on your runs.

H. R. Hofmann

Uncle Pete, is that you? I finally found you. Only one
question. Why did you touch me as a kid? I put up with the
lining cut out of your pockets and the "Unca Petey has
something in his pockets for you" routine, but the touching
went to far. You really should be ashamed of yourself for
taking advantage of a young lad of 38 years. Anyways, this
saturday night as usual? Your place or mine?

"H. R. Bob Hofmann" <hrhofmann@att.net> wrote in message
news:deadaa59.0406301828.abee591@posting.google.com...
> rcranger@syr.edu (Bob Syr) wrote in message
news:<55934f9a.0406300644.141b08bc@posting.google.com>...
> > There are certain areas where my pedometer runs either
> > inaccurately or not at all. There are power lines and
> > also a 50,000 watt fm radio transmitter in the area.
> > Would any of these affect the pedometer? I'm thinking
> > magnetic field here. If this happens, should people with
> > pacemakers also be concerned?
> >
> > Bob in Syracuse NY
>

AM wavelengths are such that the pickup by a pedometer would
be very minimal. I doubt the magnetic fields from power
lines are strong enough to false the counter pickup coil in
the pedometer. I'd suspect an placement issue more than
external interference being the cause.

Peter