I agree that it can be very frustrating. I have had bad power line
noise, on and off, for several years. I've written emails, made
phone calls, and gotten modest results. When it seems like little
was being done, I wrote a nice, long, detailed, but graciously
firm letter to the CEO, certified mail, return receipt, and copied
the utility's maintenance head, and also copied the ARRL
technical coordinator for the section. That DID get their
attention.
I try to provide info for them, such as radarengineers.com,
for tools, and I also include a copy of a recent FCC
enforcement letter to another utility, so that they know it is
the LAW, not just a request from a wacky radio nut.
We should always be nice, sometimes firm, always persistent,
and of course should do all we can to locate the pole if possible.
Doing those things should eventually end up with positive results,
and the FCC complaint should be kept as a last resort -- though
an option that should be used if needed!
I would also say to document everything -- date, time, contents
of all emails, calls, and letters. It could even be worthwhile
to videotape yourself with your RFI-finder, proving the noise
is there and comes from such-and-such a pole.
By the way, I have found that an Arrow handheld 70cm beam
(arrowantennas.com, 7 elements), with a handheld on AM
(Yaesu FT-50) works magic for finding offending poles.
Very directional, allowing pin-pointing with not a lot of effort.
--
Dave NØRQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Pelham" <john@radiophile.com>
To: <rfi@contesting.com>
Cc: <nidxa@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 16:37
Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI- TVI & YOUR POWER COMPANY
> I'm glad to hear of your successful experiences with your power company
> Bill, but it doesn't always work that way. I've been both persistent
> with,
> and nice to, my power company RFI troubleshooter for SIX YEARS, and have
> gotten essentially nowhere. New noise sources arise quicker than the old
> ones are fixed.
>
> I've got lots of e-mails too; they read similar to your example and have a
> very friendly tone both ways. But, when they come out and look, they
> usually find nothing. If I DF the noise to a particular pole, they
> usually
> find nothing. If they find something (bad insulator, bad lightening
> arrestor, loose hardware...) they tell me they fixed it but the noise
> remains. This has been going on endlessly for years.
>
> I've given up on the nice-guy approach. I just last month sent a stern
> e-mail to my power company CEO. There has been no response, so just today
> I
> sent a postal letter with proof of delivery. After that, I will try the
> FCC.
>
> 73,
> John, W1JA
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill NY9H" <ny9h@arrl.net>
> To: <rfi@contesting.com>
> Cc: <nidxa@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2005 3:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI- TVI & YOUR POWER COMPANY
>
>
>> REGARDING GETTING HELP FROM your POWER COMPANY.
>>
>> I responded to a query on the Tentec flector about noise blankers.
>> Today I was further encouraged to copy it here.
>>
>> this NB thread reminded me to email "my" contact at ComED, as I have S9
>> noise in two different directions !!!! I was always amazed at how well
>> the onni6+ NB worked. Better than my Icom 756P2 ,,, as good as My K2...
>> which is fantastic. ( in fact I wrote a letter to Inoue before the
>> release
>> of 7800 suggesting he tell his guys to make it the best NB. I did get a
>> written reply from Japan !!! very nice letter, and in fact have
>> maintained
>> email communications since then.)_
>>
>> Anyhow i emailed my Comed contact....and need to share it with you.
>>
>> YOU NEED TO BE NICE AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR UTILITY.
>> YOU WILL GET RESULTS,,, If you can figure how to be both persistent AND
>> NICE. I was able to make these guys understand that I KNEW WHAT I WAS
>> TALKING ABOUT ..it messes up my equipment & that I truly appreciated
>> their
>> assistance.
>
> <snip>
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