Yesterday an engineer (and two others) was out to confirm the 2 powerline
RFI sources.
*BACKGROUND*:
- Our electric utility is part of Colorado Springs Utilities. It is
city-owned and operated. https://www.csu.org/Pages/AboutUs.aspx
- On Jan. 22, I submitted "trouble tickets" for two separate
RFI-producing powerline leaks. I had DF'ed and located the poles producing
the RFI.
*UPDATE*:
- Yesterday, Feb.1, I saw the engineer (and 2 others) walking nearby
with their Radar Engineers ultrasonic dish and a Mini-RFI M330 locator.
- They thanked me for accurately locating the poles with the RFI sources
which they had now confirmed.
- Although I had not been with them for Source #1 (the one pictured at
https://www.qrz.com/db/K0AV the POLE ON THE RIGHT) - they reported that
they ultimately had used the ultrasonic dish to find a source - and they
believe it is a defective "pin insulator" (?). Ultimately this may or may
not be correct. This Source #1 is the pole with the temperature-sensitive
RFI source.
- I was with them by Source #2 - and the noise was easily heard on the
M330 (not the current version). This source is not temperature-sensitive.
They used the ultrasonic dish - and I was unclear if they felt they had
isolated the component.
- The engineer said he would put in work orders to repair both sources.
(timeline unknown)
*INTERESTING ASIDES*:
- Ultrasonic dish. I mentioned that a previous attempt with an
ultrasonic dish some years back had been disappointing. He said this was a
new version (Radar Engineers) dish.
- And, that the upgraded version had been recommended by a contractor
the utility had recently used to survey their powerline.
- The survey had been prompted by a series of "pole fires" they had
experienced.
- He described the survey as having been done from a vehicle driving
beneath 200 miles of their lines. (1/5 of the utility's total). And, that
the contractor had then used this latest model R.E. dish to zero in on the
source. Future surveying depends upon budget considerations.
*I'M CURIOUS*:
- Is there some new technology being used for surveying lines? I sort
of recall reading something like this. Drones? SDR recording?
- Or, maybe this is just some guy driving around with his AM radio on?
- Is there a new version of the ultrasonic dish that is better than the
previous Radar Engineers model?
- What is the difference between RE models and the MFJ-5008?
https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-5008
I will further update when these tickets are closed out - and the defective
component is positively identified.
73, ~ Alan K0AV
Colorado Springs
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