Sources of Noise: SID Monitor By Szu-chiech Lu and Mathieu Evans.

Sources of Noise: SID MonitorSources of Noise: SID Monitor

By Szu-chiech Lu and Mathieu EvansBy Szu-chiech Lu and Mathieu Evans

Project Objectives: Project Objectives:

In addition to investigating potential sources of In addition to investigating potential sources of noise from everyday electronic devices in school noise from everyday electronic devices in school

or office settings, our hope was to create a or office settings, our hope was to create a catalog of sorts that would visually portray catalog of sorts that would visually portray

different types of noise both quantitatively and different types of noise both quantitatively and qualitatively.qualitatively.

Why?Why?

Our own SID monitor back home was Our own SID monitor back home was experiencing frequent signal disturbance during experiencing frequent signal disturbance during the daytime that was unexplainable. When we the daytime that was unexplainable. When we

came to Stanford and began to brainstorm came to Stanford and began to brainstorm potential project directions, the noise problem potential project directions, the noise problem we had on our hands back home was at the we had on our hands back home was at the forefront of our mind. So, there was some forefront of our mind. So, there was some

element of personal satisfaction in problem-element of personal satisfaction in problem-solving in our motivation.solving in our motivation.

Experiment: Sources of NoiseExperiment: Sources of Noise

SuccessfulSuccessful• Fluorescent Light BulbsFluorescent Light Bulbs

• Vacuum CleanerVacuum Cleaner• Microwave OvenMicrowave Oven

• CRT MonitorCRT Monitor• Gas LampGas Lamp

CRT MonitorCRT Monitor

• The reason the old computer monitor The reason the old computer monitor we used generated noise was because we used generated noise was because cathode tubes were present in the cathode tubes were present in the monitor.monitor.

• Loud noise generator via the power Loud noise generator via the power speakers utilized by the SID monitor.speakers utilized by the SID monitor.

• Noise/Interference ceases when the Noise/Interference ceases when the computer monitor is approximately 4-computer monitor is approximately 4-5 meters away from the antenna.5 meters away from the antenna.

CRT MonitorCRT Monitor

Old CRT MonitorOld CRT Monitor 1m away1m away Values were high, but not quite to the railValues were high, but not quite to the rail Placed perpendicular to the antennaPlaced perpendicular to the antenna

CRT Monitor Noise

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CRT Monitor 2 CRT Monitor 2

Moved the monitor to 2m awayMoved the monitor to 2m away Reduced effectReduced effect Appears to have ¼ noise strengthAppears to have ¼ noise strength Seems to follow the inverse square lawSeems to follow the inverse square law

CRT Monitor Noise

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Gas LampsGas Lamps• Very strong noise generator and the most noise is present Very strong noise generator and the most noise is present

when the tubes themselves face the antenna in a when the tubes themselves face the antenna in a perpendicular fashion.perpendicular fashion.

• Placing the gas lamps in this fashion, the noise ceases at Placing the gas lamps in this fashion, the noise ceases at approximately 3 meters from the antenna.approximately 3 meters from the antenna.

• Placing the gas lamps in line with the antenna, the noise Placing the gas lamps in line with the antenna, the noise ceases at only 2 meters from the antenna.ceases at only 2 meters from the antenna.

• The graph showed an unexplainable oscillation of noise The graph showed an unexplainable oscillation of noise levels. In other words, the voltage reading would drop back levels. In other words, the voltage reading would drop back down into the value range we’d previously calibrated for no down into the value range we’d previously calibrated for no apparent reason and without turning off the gas lamp. It apparent reason and without turning off the gas lamp. It would also rise back up near the value rail only slightly would also rise back up near the value rail only slightly lower than its first sudden increase. In one test, the high lower than its first sudden increase. In one test, the high value was maintained. It is unknown whether or not this value was maintained. It is unknown whether or not this process of oscillation would occur again, much less process of oscillation would occur again, much less perpetually.perpetually.

Gas Lamp NoiseGas Lamp NoiseGas Lamp Noise--1M away from the antenna

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Turned on the gas lamp at 1m awayTurned on the gas lamp at 1m away Sharp rise followed by a dipSharp rise followed by a dip Then rose again and maintainedThen rose again and maintained

Gas Lamp Noise 2Gas Lamp Noise 2Gas Lamp Noise

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Gas Lamp at 2m away from antennaGas Lamp at 2m away from antenna Appears to have no effect at 2mAppears to have no effect at 2m Optimum DistanceOptimum Distance

Vacuum CleanerVacuum Cleaner

• The reason we felt a vacuum cleaners was an important The reason we felt a vacuum cleaners was an important device to test was because school and office settings have device to test was because school and office settings have janitors that might be less than considerate as to where janitors that might be less than considerate as to where and when they vacuum.and when they vacuum.

• The vacuum’s noise performed much like the CRT monitor The vacuum’s noise performed much like the CRT monitor in the sense that the further it got from the antenna, the in the sense that the further it got from the antenna, the weaker the noise. Noise appeared to disappear after about weaker the noise. Noise appeared to disappear after about 13m for certain so it was significantly stronger than the CRT 13m for certain so it was significantly stronger than the CRT monitor and twice as likely to pose a threat.monitor and twice as likely to pose a threat.

Vacuum Cleaner NoiseVacuum Cleaner Noise

Besides the microwave, vacuum cleaners are Besides the microwave, vacuum cleaners are also very noisyalso very noisy

Also made the SID monitor data hit the railAlso made the SID monitor data hit the rail

Vacuum Cleaner Noise

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Vacuum Cleaner 2Vacuum Cleaner 2

More realistic vacuum cleaner graphMore realistic vacuum cleaner graph We simulated vacuuming by …er…actually We simulated vacuuming by …er…actually

vacuuming the hallvacuuming the hall

Vacuum Cleaner Noise 2

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Microwaves (a.k.a. Microwaves (a.k.a. pure evilpure evil))

When I say evil, I mean that microwaves are quite possibly the When I say evil, I mean that microwaves are quite possibly the most powerful and consistent source of noise that can be thrown most powerful and consistent source of noise that can be thrown at the SID monitor. It seemed to have a at the SID monitor. It seemed to have a

We tested the SID with microwaves about four times by ourselves We tested the SID with microwaves about four times by ourselves before we looked at our data via Logger Pro 3. The times when it before we looked at our data via Logger Pro 3. The times when it was being used by others in the building throughout the day was being used by others in the building throughout the day showed up on our graph as well.showed up on our graph as well.

As soon as the microwave was turned on, the voltage value hit the As soon as the microwave was turned on, the voltage value hit the rail almost instantaneously and remained there for the duration of rail almost instantaneously and remained there for the duration of the time it was on.the time it was on.

As soon as the microwave was turned off, there was a certain As soon as the microwave was turned off, there was a certain amount of time needed for the SID monitor to make a recovery amount of time needed for the SID monitor to make a recovery (recovery time for a given test increased slightly after every (recovery time for a given test increased slightly after every successive test), but the voltage value returned to our previously successive test), but the voltage value returned to our previously calibrated value (-2) for every test…except one!calibrated value (-2) for every test…except one!

Todd came down to check our project’s progress and when we Todd came down to check our project’s progress and when we told him about how our microwave test reflected the possibility told him about how our microwave test reflected the possibility that microwaves have a noise range of more than 25m, he that microwaves have a noise range of more than 25m, he wanted to see it for himself.wanted to see it for himself.

We turned on the microwave in the upstairs conference room and We turned on the microwave in the upstairs conference room and the voltage value hit the rail once again. After a minute, we the voltage value hit the rail once again. After a minute, we shut the microwave off and after five minutes of waiting, the shut the microwave off and after five minutes of waiting, the voltage values did not recede back to our previously calibrated voltage values did not recede back to our previously calibrated values. In fact, for that individual monitor, the values values. In fact, for that individual monitor, the values nevernever receded, even after unplugging it, restarting it, or practically receded, even after unplugging it, restarting it, or practically taking it apart.taking it apart.

Next, we tested a new monitor and the original DATAQ and this Next, we tested a new monitor and the original DATAQ and this monitor worked fine and was still affected by the microwave. monitor worked fine and was still affected by the microwave. Its voltage values recovered properly as expected though.Its voltage values recovered properly as expected though.

Next, we tested the new monitor while placing the antenna Next, we tested the new monitor while placing the antenna outside of the building. For one test, we placed the antenna outside of the building. For one test, we placed the antenna sixty feet away from the microwave and for the second test, sixty feet away from the microwave and for the second test, we placed it a little over 10m away. This concluded our we placed it a little over 10m away. This concluded our microwave testing.microwave testing.

MicrowavesMicrowaves

When used within 30ft of the antenna, a microwave will cause the When used within 30ft of the antenna, a microwave will cause the signal to “rail” at ~5.00 voltssignal to “rail” at ~5.00 volts

Microwaves would not have an effect on the antenna at 60ft awayMicrowaves would not have an effect on the antenna at 60ft away

Microwave Noises

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Microwave 2Microwave 2

Microwave at about 20 meters awayMicrowave at about 20 meters away No effect on antennaNo effect on antenna

Microwave ~20m away from antenna

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Experiment: Non-Noise-MakersExperiment: Non-Noise-Makers

UnsuccessfulUnsuccessful• Electric FanElectric Fan• RefrigeratorRefrigerator

• Human ContactHuman Contact• Office ComputerOffice Computer• Radio/Boom boxRadio/Boom box

• Horseshoe MagnetsHorseshoe Magnets

Electric FanElectric FanFan Noise

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We thought that the fan motor would We thought that the fan motor would have an effecthave an effect

Apparently not, even at 1mApparently not, even at 1m

Radio/Boom BoxRadio/Boom Box

We also though that the radio frequency that radios We also though that the radio frequency that radios receive receive

As it turns out, the SID Monitors behave just like As it turns out, the SID Monitors behave just like radios—they only receive signalsradios—they only receive signals

Radio Noise

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Future ResearchFuture Research

If the SID monitor’s malfunction is a direct result of If the SID monitor’s malfunction is a direct result of repetitive exposure to microwaves, this reflects repetitive exposure to microwaves, this reflects one of two possibilities: either the individual one of two possibilities: either the individual monitor had a faulty part or the entire first monitor had a faulty part or the entire first generation of SID monitors has an inherent generation of SID monitors has an inherent design flaw. If it is possible to break a SID monitor design flaw. If it is possible to break a SID monitor with a microwave from significant distances, with a microwave from significant distances, students experimenting need to be informed so students experimenting need to be informed so they can find a proper place in their school to they can find a proper place in their school to conduct their experiments. Also, it may be conduct their experiments. Also, it may be necessary to redesign the SID so that money is necessary to redesign the SID so that money is not wasted in their production and distribution if not wasted in their production and distribution if they are susceptible to such common devices. they are susceptible to such common devices. Future research is necessary to determine the Future research is necessary to determine the fate of the SID monitor whether good or bad.fate of the SID monitor whether good or bad.

Uncompleted ProjectUncompleted Project

Yes, there is one.Yes, there is one.

Originally, we planned to complete the noise Originally, we planned to complete the noise catalogue and another project concerning catalogue and another project concerning how the data collected by SID monitors at how the data collected by SID monitors at different locations would differ. We were different locations would differ. We were not able to complete this project was not not able to complete this project was not because there was no time, but instead, because there was no time, but instead, the reason was that we did not have the reason was that we did not have several crucial pieces of information about several crucial pieces of information about the SID sites around the world.the SID sites around the world.

Needed InformationNeeded Information Local weather conditionsLocal weather conditions Specification of the antennas at different Specification of the antennas at different

locationslocations Flare(s) that occur at EXACTLY the right Flare(s) that occur at EXACTLY the right

time of daytime of day

Without these important pieces of information, we Without these important pieces of information, we were not able to complete this second project we were not able to complete this second project we had in mind to complete by the end of our two had in mind to complete by the end of our two weeks (today). This may be possible in the future weeks (today). This may be possible in the future when there are much more sites sending when there are much more sites sending information to the Stanford SID Databaseinformation to the Stanford SID Database

THE ENDTHE END