[RFI] RFI Identification Help

[Doug Scribner]

I think I located the source of the noise. A street light that keeps cycling 
on and off...even during the day. It matches the cycle of the interference. 
I entered a trouble ticket with the local utility company and the work has 
been scheduled.

The pole is about 1/2 mile from me.

I'll post the results.

Doug - K1ZO

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Smith" <wa6fgi at yahoo.com>
To: <rfi at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 3:40 PM
Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI Identification Help


> You might want to help out the local pwr company by giving them the "pole 
> number".   Where I live this is a vertical strip with 5 digits on it.
>
> The folk I have talked to when reporting a light out or other problem have 
> greatly appreciated this info.
>
> Gary...wa6fgi
>
>
> On 11/11/2013 5:32 AM, dalej wrote:
>> The street lights we have in our city (Bloomington Mn.) have a little 
>> device on top that senses when it's getting dark and to turn on the 
>> individual street lights.  When that thing goes bad or if the ballast 
>> inside the light fixture goes south, these lights can produce ungodly 
>> amount of on and off noise.  I have found these things several blocks 
>> away from my QTH with interfering noise.  Sometimes when they are in 
>> failure mode they will be on steady during the day.  So if you have this 
>> type of street light drive around for several blocks away from your QTH, 
>> night is best as these things will be on bright for a half minute or so 
>> then suddenly shut off, wait a few more seconds and you will see them 
>> start to come on slowly and that is the time they generate their noise, 
>> awful noise and on the low bands, 80 meters which I use.  Fortunately for 
>> me the local power company has responsibility for maintaining these 
>> lights and they have been responsive to my calls, depending on other
> wo
>>   rkload priority.
>>
>> I'm not saying this is your noise source rather just sharing my 
>> experience with on off type noise, as another poster mentioned it too.
>>
>> 73 and I hope you can find it.
>>
>> Dale, k9vuj
>>
>>
>> On 11, Nov 2013, at 6:40, Doug Scribner <dscribner at myfairpoint.net> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Upon further investigation I have discovered that the interference is 
>>> also present during the daytime although it is much lower in amplitude. 
>>> It still maintains the same On/Off cycle.
>>>
>>> Doug - K1ZO
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee K7TJR" <k7tjr at msn.com>
>>> To: "'Doug Scribner'" <dscribner at myfairpoint.net>
>>> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 9:45 PM
>>> Subject: RE: [RFI] RFI Identification Help
>>>
>>>
>>>> Doug, this might be a street light cycling at night. It's a little fast 
>>>> of a
>>>> cycle, but they only come on at night.
>>>> Suggest you drive your neighborhood at night with a BC radio and you 
>>>> should
>>>> be able to find this if it is a light,
>>>> while observing it go off and on.
>>>> The noise is very strong as the light comes on and quiet when it goes 
>>>> off.
>>>> Good Luck,
>>>> Lee  K7TJR
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: RFI [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Doug 
>>>> Scribner
>>>> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 4:23 PM
>>>> To: rfi at contesting.com
>>>> Subject: [RFI] RFI Identification Help
>>>>
>>>> Symptoms:
>>>>
>>>> Primarily on 160. Although it is also present on 40 and 80. It is much
>>>> stronger on 160
>>>>
>>>> Only on at night...after dark.
>>>>
>>>> Cycles On and Off at set intervals. 20 seconds On and 30 seconds Off.
>>>>
>>>> Produces S4-5 spikes every 2.5 to 3 Kc
>>>>
>>>> A neighbor less than 1/4 mile away recently installed an electric 
>>>> fence. I
>>>> do see regular spikes, very short in duration. Not really that much of 
>>>> an
>>>> issue.
>>>>
>>>> I have verified that it does not come from within my house.
>>>>
>>>> I have a picture of the interference on my SM-5000 station monitor if 
>>>> anyone
>>>> thinks that would help.
>>>>
>>>> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. It has really put a damper 
>>>> on
>>>> my 160 operation.
>>>>
>>>> Doug - K1ZO
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