I have all of the Radar Engineers equipment. As a utility interference
investigator I'm fortunate to have good tools. The ultrasonic unit is only
useful AFTER I've already found the source pole. Even then the ultrasonic
detector is able to hear the actual source only 40% of the time.
The ultrasonic detector is not able to hear arcing inside a transformer or
any other device where the arcing is inside a metal or plastic
case/container.
Frankly I could do my job just fine without the ultrasonic detector. With
its low productivity and limited usefulness, my success rate would be
impacted only slightly.
Spend money on tools that will do the most for you. By that I mean
directional indicating equipment that will pinpoint the pole, house or
structure. If the source is a pole, a crew will touch everything until the
source is found and corrected. If the source is in a house or other
structure you will use a small receiver possibly equipped with a
directional antenna to walk up to the source.
Save the ultrasonic purchase for last.
73,
Frank N Haas KB4T
Utility RFI Investigator
Florida
Disclaimer: I was on the beta test team for the RX3.
The RX3 is a huge improvement over the RX2. I have not tested the RX1 but
looking at the schematic I suspect the RX3 would beat it by a wide margin.
In tests with a controlled spark source, the stock RX2 (predecessor to the
RX3) with 12 inch dish could detect the spark to a distance of 35 feet. The
RX3 with the same dish could detect it at 100+ feet.
I would definitely go with the larger dish. Actually I would prefer 18 inch
were it available. I will add that I am very disappointed in the quality of
the dish, which I have communicated to the proprietor on several occasions.
The detector used requires a very flat dish. Upgrading/modifying using one
of the other dishes available on the market has not proven practical
because they are all too deep and/or just just as poor in conforming to
parabolic shape as the supplied dish. At some point when my budget allows,
I plan to try a deeper/better/larger dish with a different detector (one
having a wider acceptance angle or "beamwidth").
Outside the scope of your question: I would NOT use ultrasonics to FIND
noisy poles. You want radio receivers for that. Use the ultrasonic to
verify and find specific hardware that is sparking once you have located
the pole.
73
--
Paul Kelley, N1BUG
RFI Committee chair,
Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club
http://www.k1pq.org
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