[RFI] RFI and Smart meters

[Gary Tuck]

I've been suffering from what appeared to be two sources. Certainly power line noise which
I've had on a couple of other occasions in past years at this QTH.  The power company has
always found it and fixed it.  Then there was a nearly constant background hash type noise
which I thought originated with the smart meter or power drop thinking I'd eliminated every 
other source. 

A senior tech arrived and placed sensors on the input lines,  connected them to a recording
device, measured harmonics, and over a two week period declared that the power as delivered
was fine.  He pulled the smart meter for a couple of days and still the noise persisted.  He
tried everything I could suggest.  He drove with me in my car with the AM radio tuned off station
and heard the RFI kick up in the spots I'd told them about and then talked to the crew which is
responsible for power quality. He inspected the cable installation and its ground,  He also helped me
 trouble shoot the circuits in the house and we found a CF bulb which seemed to be part of the problem.  
(The bulb in question was "burned out" and but when the light switch was turned on, the noise diminished,
turned off, it increased.  Could someone explain that to me?  There are other CF's on that
circuit which I will be changing out soon.  I also have florescent lights in the kitchen and utility room 
besides CF bulbs in several fixtures. 

So, it looks like the hash type noise may have originated, at least in part, in my own house.  I really
hate to admit that since I thought I'd checked everything out.  The line noise is quite real, spitting
and sputtering and intermittent.  I wish the crew responsible for that issue was as dedicated as the
senior tech who helped me out.  But I now have hope after six months of fighting the issue and
starting to work on setting up a remote station. 

73, Gary W7TEA





> Two utility company techs arrived today to check out the smart meter after I 
> described the symptoms.  They found that the ground wire behind the meter was 
> carrying current.  When the current was cut off at the breaker panel, the 
> current bled off slowly.  RFI was being radiated from the drop and down into 
> the ground--underground utilities here.  A line crew is coming next week to 
> check the transformer
> and the ground at the meter.   Any thoughts and relevant experiences surely 
> welcome!
> 
> 73, Gary  W7TEA