Yes, great list.
That maybe me on #2, lol. I re-transmit the audio from the HF receiver
on 440 while DFing on 2m or vica versa with 2 HT's. Could be done with
one dual bander I suppose as long as you can listen to both bands at the
same time. Seems like nearly all my 120hz noise at some point will
develop a distinctive pattern especially as the weather changes but one
has to be really patient for this method. Got to be ready to go when it
does happen, usually at a non convenient time. But when it does, its
obvious by listening to the two sources that you have a match.
It helps also to have a rotatable vhf (or possibly uhf) station beam to
get you started in the right direction. Listening to the pattern
(especially if its intermittent) on vhf and hf at the same time to match.
And you maybe able to actually see the arc at night especially with
binoculars once you have found the pole. Of course it helps if its dark
and no nearby streetlights. Likely expect a faint little pinpoint arc.
Just more tools to consider. One has to keep a really open mind chasing
this stuff and get all your ducks in a row before calling the utility.
It is really time consuming for me but worth it and really satisfying
when the utility fixes the source you found. Kind of like solving a
complex puzzle. And can be very frustrating at the same time for many
reasons.
The knowledge base on this reflector is incredible. I am happy to be a
student here.
Currently chasing 3 sources. I have identified all 3 poles and got one
pinpointed with the Ultrasonic. The other 2 are intermittent to the
point of ceasing for weeks and months at the time making the hunt long
term. One of these I identified today. Its 2 houses down and singing
like a canary. The pattern matched. Not long after I got back to the
shack it ceased so no Ultrasonic for now....
73
Chuck
W4NBO
On 9/29/21 10:50 AM, EDWARDS, EDDIE J via RFI wrote:
Alan,
Sorry for my delayed post on this subject. Some things previously mentioned on
this group by the professional RFI investigators who have posted in the past
but I wasn't sure if you were aware of in your post:
1. In older neighborhoods with older power lines, you should be able to find
dozens and maybe over 100 RFI sources within a short distance to your station.
Not all of them are creating RFI being picked up at the location of you
antenna(s). And the utility is not required to fix all of them if they are not
causing harmful interference to anyone.
2. Best way to verify that a source in the field is your RFI source on your
radio is to get a noise signature on a scope, save it on the scope, then go
into the field and find a matching noise signature in the field. One ham on
the list has done this using his ears, but most of us with tinnitus need visual
scope readings. LOL
3. If you let multiple sources ramp up, you will be "pealing the onion" as you
remove the loud sources first only to find less strong ones below that layer. You may
have found this to be the situation in your case.
4. Back in the pre-cable, pre-streaming TV days, it was the utilities
responsibility to find and repair RFI sources causing interference to TV or
radios. It is to their benefit to perform their work tasks in the most
efficient way possible. So it is to their benefit to have trained and well
equipped RFI investigators. Not all utilities will be this efficient as you
have found. Utility's budgets and internal politics can interfere with these
tasks. But the FCC's viewpoint is that it is the utilities responsibility to
find and eliminate harmful interference from their equipment and only their
equipment. The ham should only verify that it is from the utility's equipment
and not his own or his neighbors'.
5. Always continue to listen at higher and higher frequencies when searching
for RFI sources on powerlines. You should be able to confirm a source by
finding it at 300Mhz or higher. If you cannot hear it that high, keep moving
down the line until it gets stronger or fades away. And it is possible it is
not from the utility equipment at all if it is not broadband noise.
73, de ed -K0iL
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