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Re: [RFI] Noise centered around 20 meters

To: Thomas Mills <tsmills@bellsouth.net>, Gary <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Noise centered around 20 meters
From: "Hare, Ed W1RFI" <w1rfi@arrl.org>
Date: Sat, 23 May 2020 23:37:02 +0000
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
> Anyone have any suggestions for approaching a neighbor you have not met
> (if it's in a house) in this era of social distancing?

Even without social distancing, that can be a challenge at best.  The neighbor 
probably bought some device or another that is making noise. Let's assume he 
bought a whole basement worth of commercial fluorescent lights at a big-box 
hardware store.  You now have to convince him that this device is being 
operated in violation of some federal law he never heard of and certainly can't 
understand.  (If he has to filter his device, why can't you just filter your 
radio.)

Honestly, that is not a conversation that some hams want to have with a 
neighbor, and some hams just walk away.  Others have asked ARRL to write them a 
letter, and we are willing to do that, in consultation with the ham, of course. 
 If you do get to have that conversation, you may need to stand by what is 
right, but in a way that recognizes that the neighbor does not have your 
understanding of the issues involved.

Some hams have had success approaching a neighbor about an "interesting" 
problem and persuading the neighbor that local solutions to local problems are 
best.  Other hams have had miserable failures demanding their rights as 
licensed amateur operators and threatening the neighbor with the FCC. If any 
good neighbors who are friends know this guy, that may help.  Keep in mind this 
could be something like a grow light for, um.... indoor gardening, so some 
neighbors can be nervous and some even dangerous. If you can get past that,  
some hams have reminded neighbors that no one wants to get the FCC involved 
because the process is cumbersome and we do not know what interagency 
agreements the FCC may have with other federal agencies.

First, read this link. It offers some guidance on "personal diplomacy" to help 
that conversation go smoothly.

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/RFI%20Main%20Page/InterferencePrimer.pdf

Then, go to ARRL's web page, Technology section and read the power-line 
material.  This is not a power-line problem but that page described the 
cooperative agreement between ARRL staff and FCC staff to resolve interference 
problems of all sorts.

Ed, W1RFI
ARRL Lab

Interference Primer - Parts 1 and 2 Derived from QST Lab 
Notes<http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/RFI%20Main%20Page/InterferencePrimer.pdf>
Interference Primer - Parts 1 and 2 Derived from QST Lab Notes (February and 
March 1992) Ed Hare, W1RFI, Laboratory Supervisor, now grapples with one of the 
most difficult problems in Amateur Radio: electromagnetic interference, or EMI. 
EMI is a catch-all . term for TVI, RFI, BCI and any other form of 
electromagnetically generated interference.
www.arrl.org




From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org@contesting.com> on behalf of Thomas Mills 
<tsmills@bellsouth.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 6:21 PM
To: Gary <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com>
Cc: rfi@contesting.com <rfi@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Noise centered around 20 meters

Could this be coming from solar panels?

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 23, 2020, at 6:18 PM, Gary <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I was able to borrow a portable shortwave radio today, and we clearly 
> determined the noise is from about a block over. I will build a loop for the 
> radio tonight and take another whack at it tomorrow.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions for approaching a neighbor you have not met (if 
> it's in a house) in this era of social distancing?
>
> Thanks and 73,
> Gary "Joe" kk0sd
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WW3S <ww3s@zoominternet.net>
> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 11:57 AM
> To: Gary <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com>
> Cc: rfi@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RFI] Noise centered around 20 meters
>
> What type of internet service do you have, DSL? Does your modem have battery 
> backup? I chased my tail with my cable modem, it has battery backup since I 
> also have voip from them as well....switching off breakers makes little 
> difference with battery backup devices....
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On May 23, 2020, at 12:50 PM, Gary <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I was asked to do a video of the noise with no talking. You can see it here:
>> https://youtu.be/I_AeXh5IGYg
>>
>> The noise sounds the same across the band where I can hear it 11 - 15.6 MHz. 
>> It is the strongest around 13.5 MHz. There are no carriers that I can 
>> associate with the noise.
>>
>> I hope this helps.
>>
>> 73, and Thanks Again,
>> Gary "Joe" kk0sd
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: RFI <rfi-bounces+gary_mayfield=hotmail.com@contesting.com> On Behalf 
>> Of Gary
>> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2020 8:46 AM
>> To: rfi@contesting.com
>> Subject: [RFI] Noise centered around 20 meters
>>
>> Hey folks,
>>
>>               I don't work a lot of 20 meters, but was thinking I might use 
>> it during Field Day for a 1E operation. I have some 'noise' that starts 
>> around 11 MHz and gets stronger as I tune up the band. It is about S8-S9 
>> across all of 20 meters and finally plays out around 15.600 MHz. I made a 
>> video showing the issue and placed it on Youtube here:
>> https://youtu.be/HD3sH-YjdyE
>>
>>               I have preformed tests turning the breakers off to my home one 
>> at a time as well as turning the master breaker off and running the radio 
>> from a battery. The noise is unchanged by this. The noise is there 24 hours 
>> a day 7 days a week.
>>
>>               The antenna is a simple ground mounted vertical in my backyard.
>>
>>               Any and all help and suggestions are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks and 73,
>> Gary "Joe" kk0sd
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>
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