RFI
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Re: [RFI] Base Power Company

To: k5qx@sjpoodles.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Base Power Company
From: Richard Karlquist <richard@karlquist.com>
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:17:21 -0700
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
In general, most SA's have a very high noise figure.  And a built in
whip is an inefficient antenna on 40 meters.  So this "measurement" is
probably fairly meaningless.  To get a meaningful measurement, you need
a combination of an antenna and a receiver that is sensitive enough to
hear noise off the air.  For the antenna, I like to use a tuned loop
antenna.  For a receiver ... well a real "communications receiver" (not
an entertainment device) with a noise figure below 10 dB. (turn on the
built in preamp).  I like to use an Icom 706 running off a gel cell. 
The off the air noise should peak as you tune the loop.  (Do not use an
untuned loop with a preamp; you will only hear preamp noise, not off the
air noise).

---
Rick Karlquist
N6RK 

On 2025-07-08 10:13, John Warren wrote:

> Has anyone in Texas installed whole house backup batteries from Base Power in 
> Austin, Texas? I am considering installing their batteries and am looking for 
> any insight on potentional RFI issues. My neighbors have their batteries 
> installed and they were kind enough to allow me to take some rough 
> measurements.
> 
> I used a TinySA spectrum analyzer with the built-in telescoping antenna and 
> did find that at the inverter enclosure for each battery there was around a 
> 10 dB increase in noise from around 7 to 10 MHz and another similar peak in 
> the area of 14 MHz. The noise level dropped quickly as I moved away, 
> disappearing completely around 3 to 4 feet from the inverter enclosure. 
> Around the other sides of the battery and conduit that connected to the 
> house, there was no excessive noise.
> 
> I plan on going back over with a portable AM/FM/SW radio  and the TinySA 
> again to make some better measurements and document what I find.
> 
> Thanks for any input anyone may have.
> 
> 73,
> 
> John K5QX
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