[RFI] Topband: Tecsun 660

[Michael C Martin]

If Stan's friend is that lucky he should attend the casino with me.

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On February 16, 2016 4:25:01 PM donovanf at starpower.net wrote:

> Hi Stan,
>
>
> There are countless thousands of poles within five miles of my
> QTH, his method could not possibly work here. If I tried, I
> would lose my excellent reputation with my power company
> RFI crew.
>
>
>
> I prefer to leave my shack and verify the pole rather than guessing
> which one it might be. Its not difficult and a little exercise is a
> good thing!
>
>
> tks
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Stan Stockton" <wa5rtg at gmail.com>
> To: donovanf at starpower.net
> Cc: "Top Band Contesting" <topband at contesting.com>, rfi at contesting.com
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 5:19:55 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: Tecsun 660
>
> Frank,
>
> I have a friend who has used the RF Gain control as needed, balanced 
> antenna and accurate, equal measurement of the strength of the noise off 
> center by an equal number of degrees CW and CCW from the actual direction 
> to determine with great accuracy the direction of the noise. Then plotting 
> a line using GPS mapping has actually called the power company telling them 
> the exact pole where the problem is located without ever leaving his shack. 
> He said he could have given them the pole number where the line went right 
> through the pole on the map except for the fact that they had blacked out 
> the number like they do on license plates. The address had to suffice. 
> Pretty neat!
>
> 73... Stan, K5GO
>
>> On Feb 16, 2016, at 9:18 AM, donovanf at starpower.net wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jeff,
>>
>>
>> My consistent practice is to identify the highest frequency where
>> I can hear the RFI in my shack. I then use my directive antennas
>> to determine the bearing on which I should search. I can
>> consistently determine azimuth within better than ten degree
>> accuracy on any band. I begin my search on that frequency
>> with the PL-660 in wide band AM mode, walking or driving
>> along the line of bearing.
>>
>>
>> The PL-660 has a built in loopstick antenna very useful for
>> direction finding but active only in the AM broadcast band
>> (540-1700 kHz). Above 1700 kHz it uses a short retractable
>> whip antenna (slightly useful for direction finding) or an
>> external antenna.
>>
>>
>> Usually (but definitely not always) the RFI can be heard on higher
>> frequencies as you get closer to the source, in many cases up the
>> the aircraft band or all the way up to 450 MHz (on a different
>> receiver). So far my most distant RFI was AC power line RFI
>> very strong at my QTH that originates four miles away, It was
>> a serious visible arc on a 34 kV subtransmission line (not a local
>> 13 kV distribution line). The power company was very
>> motivated to repair it quickly.
>>
>>
>> This recent RFI was very different than anything I've ever
>> experienced, I could hear the RFI only on the 160 meter band
>> (about 1500- 2000 kHz) It sounded like white noise with no
>> audible 60 Hz (or 60 Hz harmonic) component, The only
>> way I could locate it was by using the PL-660 S-meter with
>> the PL-660 in wideband AM mode. It turned out to be a
>> malfunctioning Travellers' Information Station transmitter
>> at 1700 kHz. Local hams have an excellent relationship with
>> the county Office of Emergency Management that operates the
>> transmitter and they turned it off within hours of being notified
>> of the problem.
>>
>>
>> This is only the second RFI that I've experienced that affects
>> only 160 meters. The first one was very intense RFI that
>> sounded exactly like classic AC power line RFI but strangely
>> it affected only 160 meters and the AM broadcast band.
>> It turned out to be a malfunctioning electric fence charger
>> one mile away that was stuck continuously on, not pulsing.
>> Unfortunately the landowner (an electrician!) was very
>> belligerent about refusing to replace his fence charger, but
>> some aggressive "social engineering" motivated him to
>> change his behavior.
>>
>>
>> 73
>> Frank
>> W3LPL
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> From: K1ZM at aol.com
>> To: donovanf at starpower.net
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 10:08:22 AM
>> Subject: Tecsun 660
>>
>> Hi Frank
>>
>> I read your emails on your RFI search.
>>
>> Youmay have mentioned it, but what FREQ BAND did you use on the TECSUN in
>> your search for the source?
>>
>> Was it the AIRCRAFT BAND on FM?
>>
>> The reason I ask is that I have a similar radio - that is very similar to
>> the radio you used - just made by SONY.
>>
>> I wonder if I could use it like you did? I am 99% sure it has the aricraft
>> FM band in it.
>>
>> Pls let me know when you can.
>>
>> Tks
>>
>> 73 JEFF</HTML>
>>
>> _________________
>> Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
>
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