Where does Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) originate ?
The short answer is: from the same place that spikes/surges come from – Lightning, man-made electrical equipment noise and various transmitting equipment., Actually, Radio Frequency Interference is always associated with spikes and surges. Lightning, the Mother of all Spikes, radiates radio energy across all bands from VLF to microwaves. Other weather conditions, known as spherics, also generate significant energy which often results in small electrical discharges, generating Radio Frequency Interference. While not as severe or dramatic as lightning, serious communication interference can result. But there are other types of interference as well. Radio stations, cellular phones, Citizen’s Band and police radio, welding equipment, small office or household appliances, fluorescent lights, loose electrical connections, defective AC Power plugs, cords or sockets are among the many sources of electrical interference.
