interference hilarity ensues

There have been a lot of cases throughout history where certain radio systems had strange and unintended consequences for people and equipment nearby.  Most recently BPL (Broadband over Power Line) has raised a lot of hackles because it has been proven to interfere with the band used by radio amateurs (HF band, 1.8 to 30MHz).

Another story featured a new military system that worked in UHF (395-400MHz).  People got understandably agitated when their garage doors started opening and closing by themselves.  A bit of investigation later it was discovered that the military’s new system was causing this.

Today’s little bulletin is just as weird, apparently keeping with tradition:

The cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville recently began testing a powerful new police communications system, but the system is so robust that the radio signals are reaching as far as 30 miles away.

In Plano, the signals have wreaked havoc on a network of radio-controlled sprinklers the city uses at parks and road medians, prompting expensive system upgrades and a complaint by the city to the Federal Communications Commission.