[RFI] Noise - where do I start?

[Patrick Dyer]

To reinforce the "check-home-first" strategy a slightly-embarrassing 
tale from here in late December 2012.

I suddenly had a very strong "hung-arc" noise thru 144-MHz one morning 
that sounded like the return of some never-located RFI from early 2008.

So with that in mind I got the 4-el 2-m RDF Yagi (part of an old 11-e 
Cushcraft) connected to my IC-4A (which goes to 136-MHz) and took some 
bearings.

It didn't peak west (where the 2008 RFI had), but after several bearings 
made in the front and back yards it seemed to be coming from my house.  
I pulled the main breaker and it quit.  Then it was on the individual 
circuit breakers.

That isolated it to the lines feeding the "radio room" itself.  With 
some fear that it might be some in-wall wiring problem (place was built 
in 1971) I started turning off equipment.  I finally touched an antenna 
rotator box (for TV-FM antennas) and it quit.  This had all taken the 
better part of an hour to locate an RFI source that was literally only 
inches from my face!
http://www.qsl.net/w/wa5iyx/fmdx2012.htm (near bottom).

Pat - WA5IYX
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/index.html

On 9/26/2016 04:57, James Gordon Beattie, Jr. wrote:
> Ed,
>
> Bravo!
>
>
> That is why I started with the recommendation that you cut the power to your own house first and run your radio on a battery as you bring up circuits one at a time to take measurements.  Taking detailed notes on the observations of signals both home, and eventually if you end up going around the neighborhood, is also key.
>
>
> There have been a lot of other good suggestions, but doing the basics are essential for the reasons you provided.
>
> 73,
>
> Gordon Beattie, W2TTT
>
> 201.314.694
>
>
>
> Sent from AT&T Mail on Android
>
>