I have located the source of the power line RFI. The local utility RFI engineer (P.E.) has my RFI trouble ticket in the queue. Hopefully within the next week or so. But, now I'd like to gather ideas
Author: Michael Carter via RFI <rfi@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2024 19:25:26 +0000
Hi Alan, I was intrigued by the 2-level primary distribution lines - not something we see here in New England. I wasn't able to zoom into the photo to see the detail of the insulator type. Older bell
Don't neglect the standard lightning shunts on the poles. My last case involved just those. Once the power provider replaced a single lightning shunt, the RFI totally vanished. They can and do become
Author: Michael Carter via RFI <rfi@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2024 20:10:38 +0000
Thanks for mentioning the lightning shunts, Dave. I didn't see any on the pole Alan identified as the suspect one, but perhaps that's my eyesight. There is a capacitor bank on the left-side pole in A
YES! Maybe ten years ago, AC0C alerted us to this, and sent me photos to add to my RFI tutorial. As I understand it, they get noisy when they start to fail. 73, Jim K9YC _____________________________
Thank you to everyone who responded. All good suggestions. And thanks to Frank KB4T for his continued voice from the front lines of day-to-day experience. *WG8S (Kim): * - Failed capacitors. - Neutra
In my case, the lightning shunt could not be located with the ultrasonic microphone, but the guys noted discoloration of the large disc. They'd seen it many times before. Dave - WØLEV -- *Dave - WØLE
One type of surge suppressor/lighting arrestor is literally a utility-grade MOV-type device. Internally they can be comprised of a stack of these MOV devices, and as temperature changes they can be e
It may not even be a failed component, as any two pieces of poorly bonded hardware can produce noise. That could explain the temperature dependence. In any case, have them check all the hardware on t
QUOTE: It may not even be a failed component, as any two pieces of poorly bonded hardware can produce noise. That could explain the temperature dependence. In any case, have them check all the hardwa
An almost giveaway symptom for this type of failure is erratic behavior of the RFI in a good gusty wind. True. It is possible to simulate that gusty wind, but power companies frown on that. 73, Scot
A standard procedure for physically exciting loose connections up top a power pole: Take a big sledge hammer and beat on the pole from the bottom while monitoring for RFI. It looks brutile, but works
"Believe me, it's an accepted practice." No, it is not "an accepted practice". You are not to be believed. It is a dangerous practice. 73, Steve, N2IC _______________________________________________
I would assume that Dave is joking when he says that is an acceptable practice. What that is is a very Reckless way of finding things for the sake of improving a hobby. There Maybe someone on this re
I would not assume that people understand this is a joke. It's been suggested many times on here and old timers talk about it, so I understood that it used to be standard (and rather foolish) practic
Well, it was sme 50 years ago. So be it......... Dave - WØLEV -- *Dave - WØLEV* _______________________________________________ RFI mailing list RFI@contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman
You're right David 50 years ago is right about the time I started doing this job. I was taught at that time that the method of choice was to listen to the radio and hit the pole with a sledgehammer.
OK, Michael. I will cease spreading old and dangerous techniques for finding bad connections on power poles. Thank you. I stand corrected 50 years later. Dave - WØLEV -- *Dave - WØLEV* ______________
I recall, about that time, trying to get my local utility to find a line noise problem. After the got a call from the FCC (!), when we went out on our evening noise tracking trip, we found power pole
In my 80s, I'm still trying to learn something new every day. And as time passes, it takes longer. :) Many years ago, one of my Black friends, a Chem E, talked about "the importance of always keeping