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Topband: sudden increase in noise level on topband

To: "Topband Reflector" <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: sudden increase in noise level on topband
From: "Dennis Peterson" <dennisissure@comporium.net>
Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:18:04 -0500
List-post: <topband@contesting.com">mailto:topband@contesting.com>
Just wondering if anytone else experienced the scenario I did this morning 
around 1000 UTC.  Upon getting on the band this morning the noise level had 
risen from it's normal level of S3-S5 to S9 +5 and 10.  Nearly impossible to 
hear anything on the band locally let alone DX.
Last night I was able to work 4 DX stations between 0437 and 0530.  Those 
stations were SV5/DJ7RJ, HA9RE, I8SAT and TI5/AJ3G.  All were rather weak but 
copyable and the noise level on the inv-L was only S5.  

I noticed that when switching the mode switch to AM, the noise has a DC hym or 
buzz on the level.  It is the same level al,l the way from 1760 thru 2.0  The 
entire 160 meter band appears to be suffering from this level and scenario of 
nois3e.  Inspection this morning of 3 separate poles that carry the power to 
the service entrance did not show any signs of arcing or carbonization of the 
glass insulators.

There is a popping sound or arching sound ever second on the second and the NB 
does nothiig to kill the noise or the arcing sound.  I have unplugged all wall 
warts and other paraphenalia in the shack and home and have determined that 
everything here is fine.  I checked all ground connections for possible diode 
rectification on or loose connections and shorts and found them to all be 
secured.

There is a 100 turn static discharge coil from the feedpoint to ground and 
disconnecting it makes no difference whatsoever.  All ground connections on the 
6 radial ground grids are secure and connected securely.  All RF connections at 
the feedpoint of the antenna are solid and tight.  All connections on the 
ground terminals of the equipment are solid and secure.

I called the power company and told them that the noise was and is better than 
300+hZ wide with the humm or buzz and they said that when they get someone 
freed up and available they would try to get someone over 
here...............................

I have never seen anything like this in my 35 years as a ham operator.  I have 
had issues maybe three times with various power companies that were resolved 
within a matter of days or minutes like carboned insulators and or loose 
insulator, cracked insulators, loose transformer mounting hardware and 
transformers that were ready to quit.  But nothing like this, anyone with any 
suggestions as to where I might begin my search for the SOURCE?

de K4CKDennis













Dennis G. Peterson
326 East Jefferson Street
Apt 2
York, SC  29745
803-389-9366

Read my story below by clicking the URL:

http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/DennisD.htm 

http://www.k4ckd.com
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UR RST IS ... ... ..9 QSB QSB - hw? BK

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