[RFI] RFI, Power Company.

[EDWARDS, EDDIE J]

Very true Pete!  If a ham knows it is arcing, call it in as arcing!  But most hams do not go out and locate the source of their noise.  They just call it in.  If you call RFI in as arcing and it isn't, then the line tech who responded has to forward the trouble call on to the RI locator technician (if they have one).  This is especially true if they are unionized.

I still suggest it's better to call in radio interference as radio interference so the first response is from the right technician to do the job.  If the source is actually arcing on the next block or neighborhood, then it'll probably get called in by someone on the block who is hearing or seeing it.

>From Loftness' book in the Glossary:
Sparking: (same as microsparking).  A complete electrical breakdown of air (or other gas), which generates EMI from below 1 MHz to above 1000 MHz and is the cause of most RI and TVI originating on power lines.  Usually is a small arc in a small gap (0.1" or less).  Does not maintain an ionized conductive channel between half-cycles of voltage wave as do power arcs.

He didn't list power arcs in the glossary aside from this mention of it.

My recommendation:
Power Arcs:  Call it in as arcing immediately.
RFI:  Call it in as RFI to schedule a visit.

You guys might enjoy these arc videos if you haven't seen them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBfT9BARG3w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=C-UTYzfNjKM&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=_FsRZ-I9_F0&feature=endscreen

73, de ed -K0iL

-----Original Message-----
From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Pete Smith N4ZR
Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 4:03 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI, Power Company.

I have Marv Loftness'sAC Power Interference Manual  Manual, and it makes
it clear that sparking can cause RFI, as can arcing. He gives as an
example of sparking loose hardware tying an insulator to a crossbar.
The worst RFI I ever had resulted when a woodpecker undermined one of
two lag bolts holding a lightning arrestor to a pole, causing sparking
between the bracket and the loose bolt.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net,
blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
For spots, please go to your favorite
ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.

On 5/27/2013 4:53 PM, Ed K0iL wrote:
>    "AC Power Interference Handbook" [
> http://www.arrl.org/shop/AC-Power-Interference-Handbook  ] also uses similar
> language.   The ARRL RFI Book says "A sustained spark is often called an
> 'arc'."  Then they also refer to power line RFI as "spark-type"
> interference.

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