[RFI] Another possible problem?

[Jim Brown]

On 7/30/2014 8:15 AM, Kenneth G. Gordon wrote:
> Might anyone here know whether or not these things have been tested for
> RFI output, and what was the result?

Remember that RF is radiated by current flowing on conductors. We call 
them antennas. :) To be a good antenna on the HF bands, a conductor must 
be fairly long. Most street lights are on metal poles, and the wiring is 
inside those poles, so that wiring isn't going to radiate. That leaves 
current within the lighting fixture itself, which is probably short, and 
current in wiring to the pole, which is often buried. One of the reasons 
linear fluorescent fixtures radiate is that the lamp itself is long 
enough to radiate, and is not shielded. We also hear noise from 
electronic ballasts (switching power supplies) if wiring to them is not 
shielded.

All of this is a way of saying that while there COULD be a problem, we 
should not assume that there WILL be a problem. From what I understand 
of noisy street lighting, it mostly happens when a lamp fails.

73, Jim K9YC