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Re: [RFI] Not your typical invisible fence RFI

To: Don Kirk <wd8dsb@gmail.com>, RFI <rfi@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Not your typical invisible fence RFI
From: Jim McDonald <jim@n7us.net>
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2022 15:48:19 +0000
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
I haven't used our Invisible Fence system for several years, but it did 
generate RFI.  I easily stopped it with a Corcom AC line filter.

73,  Jim N7US

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+jim=n7us.net@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Don Kirk
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2022 09:23
To: RFI <rfi@contesting.com>
Subject: [RFI] Not your typical invisible fence RFI

I just uploaded a video onto YouTube that documents wideband RFI on 20 meters 
that I tracked down to my neighbors invisible fence transmitter, and it's not 
the typical approximate 7 or 10 KHz interval RFI encountered with inground 
invisible fences.  The RFI which is at least 150 KHz wide at my house moves 
around based on outdoor temperature and on warmer winter days it drops down to 
slightly below the 20 meter band.

I was hoping the problem was with the wall-wart power supply feeding the 
transmitter but it was not.  The transmitter has battery backup and the RFI is 
still present with the wall wart unplugged, and we also tried a linear lab 
grade power supply in place of the 19.0 Vdc 1 amp wall wart with no noticeable 
difference in the level of RFI at my house.

Unfortunately the transmitter is not part of a DIY system so the manufacturer 
(Radio Systems Corporation) requires that we deal with the local "Invisible 
Fence" Dealer which is our next step.

An interesting note is that when I first tracked the RFI down to my neighbors 
home I wound up near the main circuit breaker box.  We then tried sniffing the 
circuit breakers with a very small loop to see what circuit in the house the 
RFI was originating (assuming the RFI was being conducted on house wiring) and 
this technique typically works great.  We did not detect the RFI on 20 meters 
on any of the circuit breakers which was interesting because the RFI was strong 
near the main circuit breaker box.  It turned out that the invisible fence 
transmitter is just a few feet away from the main circuit breaker box which 
explained why the signal was strong near the main circuit breaker box.

For those interesting here is a link to the video documenting the RFI:
https://youtu.be/rHABjR0GZWg

P.S. I have great neighbors that are wonderful to work with on RFI issues.

73,
Don (wd8dsb)
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