Picamera: intermitent purple snowstorm - EMI or software issue?

Question

I have recently tried a NoIR camera in my new appartment and started getting this strange interference, see photo below. I comes and goes randomly but happens mostly at night in a dark room. Sometimes it can go on a whole night, every minute or so, and sometimes just for minute.

I have used the same setup on a Pi0w and on a Pi2+ before without this problem and I do not think the software has changed.

• Pi3+ with Buster

• Pihut Zerocam NOir https://thepihut.com/products/zerocam-noir-camera-for-raspberry-pi-zero

• Ribbon cable is extended to 45 cm

Could this be some sort of magnetic interference or should I be looking at hardware or software issues? What can I do about it?

Answer 1

Yes! Thanks @Dougie

That seems to fix it.

Apparently there is a new AWB algorithm to accomodate the Pi4 and this screws with PiNoIR cameras on older pi's The whole discussion is found here: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=245994

By now it seems to be included in the standard upgrade. I ran sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y as Dougie suggested and have not hade any problems since.

So all cred to Dougie and guys on pi-f