Susan,

Please help us here. Are you referring to the PCTI a phone switching device? If so, we have found them to be so problematic, that we do not carry them.

You could try going to Radio Shack and asking for help. They may have a device to cut down RF signals.

--
Martin Markoe, eMicrophones, Inc.
The best microphones for Speech Recognition
See us at: http://www.eMicrophones.com/index.asp
Read, "Key Steps to High Speech Recognition Accuracy" at:
http://www.emicrophones.com/docDetails.asp?DocumentID=38

When I first started using SR, I had a similar problem. The neighborhood CB'er had so much RF power it was actually changing the signal from the headset to the PC. Talk about frustration!

The headset I had was an Emkay. Newer headsets I've used since haven't had that problem (or the CB'er moved). I believe that it was a case of poor shielding on the headset's cable making it an antenna.

One thing to remember here is that if the headset's shielding is wrong no amount of external fixes will work. So perhaps the first thing to try is another headset!

If that fails I'd try these:

• As odd as this may sound, have them check their computer's outlets for proper wiring and ground and that the telephone has a proper ground.
• You might try something like this RFI kit at Palomar Engineers. http://www.palomar-engineers.com/RFI_Kit/rfi_kit.html they also have an RFI tip sheet they'll send with a catalog for free. Some of that kit will require someone with technical skill.
• Check with a local amateur radio club or amateur radio operator for assistance. Many times hams (amateur radio operators) will help with RFI problems even if they don't cause it.

I totally agree with what ADMIN and Martin suggest, and add the following concerning RFI interference =

You might try making a coil of cable around at thick box of pencil leads, kind of a poor man's RF choke (better to follow Marty to RadioShack and purchase a $5 RF "ferrite Bead" - which is a main component of the RFI kit ADMIN mentions... and see if that kills the extraneious radio frequency interference (RFI) - and often moving the set and adjusting the cables as they drape wherever they drape -- and sometimes you can stop RFI by added shielding (aluminum foil) wrapped around the offending device - maybe the cable, maybe the base unit, whatever. If you know of a local HAM or CB guy in the neighborhood, he may be at fault for overloading -- I had this problem in my phone system at my old office whenever a higher power CB rig passed by allowing me to hear what he was saying. Fortunately, it was nly when he was driving past, but would have continued had he stopped out front and parked there. It was intermittent for me, but maybe not for you. If there is a local radio amateur (HAM) causing this, he may be able to adjust things in his shack to avoid causing your problem.

Try the ferrite bead and wrape the cable in it a few times (circle it or fold it back and forth in the center of the bead) or maybe the power cable, or .... get creative. Often just moving things about, even plugging into a different wall outlet can cure it.

Do a web/google search for RFI and amateur radio and see how mcuh has been written (both science and voodoo) on the matter !!

Just my take. ////// Richards /////////
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