RFI testing of Playstation 3 dualshock

Some cool Radio Frequency Interference images:

RFI testing of Playstation 3 dualshock

Image by C G-K
I live on a radio observatory that operates within 0.5 – 12.5GHz. Luckily, our house is about 1km from the center of the ATA, but, we still want to limit our RF emissions as much as possible. However, we’d also like to use our new ps3! So, I just borrowed our 0-26GHz spectrum analyzer and mated it with a 2-12GHz horn et voila:

The first part of the video is a bit too dark and it is of me showing the controller plugged into the USB cable, and then turning on the ps3 with the controller. I then put the analyzer into max hold mode to show that there is a bit of bluetooth communications in the first 1-2s of operation, but not afterward.

A) It can see the bluetooth comms in the alloted 2.4-2.481GHz
B) When plugged into USB, the controllers *do not use bluetooth* (WOO!)
C) When first turned on, even with the USB cable plugged in, there’s a small amount of bluetooth comms in the first 1-2 seconds.
D) The horn was about 1ft away from the controller, background (controller off) level when measuring 2.350 – 2.520 was about -61dBm
Da) When turned on, the peak bluetooth signals were -30dBm at 1ft with most being smaller.

Looking Down

Image by Paul L McCord Jr
This is at the 50 foot level looking straight down. This shows my radio frequency interference (RFI) problem with my neighbor’s power and cable lines literally feet from my tower.