[RFI] Help with tracking power line noise

[Tom Thompson]

If it peaks up on 40m, don't rule out a grow light ballast.

Tom   W0IVJ

On 2/21/2016 5:27 PM, David Winarsky wrote:
> Thanks, what has me puzzled is I have S7 noise on 10 meters and with the loop antenna, I believe I have it tracked to a utility drop for a house 2 doors down; however I don't pick anything up on 2 meters or 440.
>
> Perhaps there is something in the house that is generating the noise, that I will be able to locate when the owner gets back to me. Once inside, would you recommend using the loop or perhaps just the Tecsun with the built-in antenna?
>
> Appreciate the help, I've tracked down a couple poles in the past, which PG&E confirmed and repaired, but something is different about this one.
>
> David
> NY6W
>
>> On Feb 21, 2016, at 2:14 PM, dalej <dj2001x at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> I use an aircraft band capable walk-talki and walk the area with it.  118 Mhz AM.  I wouldn't pay too much attention to anything at HF it can fool you.  The air band radio can get the noise source down to with in a pole or two.  If you hear it at 10 meters it's most likely a power line issue. Use your directional beam antenna at 10 meter band to get a general direction then use your feet to walk and locate with the air band radio.  If you hearing the noise on low bands then it might be a switching PS, plasma tv, etc.
>>
>> Hopefully it is a power line issue and not a neighbor's TV or charger. Cooperative utilities can work with you to fix the power line issue if that is what you have.
>>
>> GL
>> 73
>> Dale, K9VUJ
>>
>>
>> On 21, Feb 2016, at 15:41, David Winarsky <david at winarsky.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I’m a long time lurker first time poster. I’ve been having serious noise issues at my location and have been on a quest to track them down.  The noises are broadband “buzzing” which are loudest across 40 meters, but go all the way to 10 meters.
>>
>> I bought the Tecsun PL-660 and built the loop antenna described in this article (http://www.arrl.org/files/file/RFI/Thompson%20Noise.pdf) and also have a Yeasu FT-60R and an Arrow 440 handheld Yagi.
>>
>> I went around the neighborhood walking a circular block around my house and believe I tracked, with the loop antenna and Tecsun, 6 different poles producing the loud buzzing .  However, when I went back out with the Yagi and my FT-60 tuned to 440 mhz on AM, I couldn’t pick up the noise.
>>
>> Is it common for a pole to produce noise on 40-10 meters, but not be able to identify it on 440 mhz?
>>
>> Also, one of the noise sources seems to be emanating from a utility service drop to a residence.  I haven’t been able to get close because it is on their property, but the service drop seems to be going through a dense orange tree.  I left a note with the neighbor hoping to investigate together.
>>
>> Thanks everyone for help and I appreciate all the great advice that has already been posted on this list.
>>
>> David
>> NY6W
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