[RFI] Tesla's Response to Solar Panel RFI

[Dave Cole]

Hi Rob,

I am not sure how I could be "spectacularly incorrect" in the comment 
you quoted, when I did not draw a conclusion from the data presented, 
but reported only what I found...

Jim already pointed out that my initial comment:

"The problem with that approach is that most AM stations are strong 
enough to override RFI, in most locations, on the AM broadcast band."

was overbroad, and I should have added in my experience.  I corrected 
that oversight on my part with the comment you quoted.

You drew the conclusion from that corrected comment, that I am saying it 
won't happen to others, and that I am saying it is not an issue for the 
broadcast industry...  I used to be assistant CE for a local TV station, 
(prior to retirement after 40 years in the BC industry), so I was in the 
Broadcast industry...  Not AM, but TV, and I was exposed to AM CEs all 
the time at SBE meetings, in 40 years not one of them brought up a 
single RFI incident...  Not to say there were none, just not enough to 
prompt even a passing discussion...

In the primary coverage area for one of our 50KW AM locals, I have sat 
in the driveway, or at the curb, less than 50 feet from the lights 
causing major RFI, and heard nothing while tuned to an the 50KW 
station-- in all cases, save one...

I desperately hope the broadcasters get in the mix more than they are 
already.  One of the first things I do, is to check the AM radio, 
looking for a local station that I can contact to involve them...  I 
just have not had that happen more than once in the last 15 or so 
events...  That is what I am saying.

I am not saying that it is not a problem for broadcasters, just that for 
me, it has not been a venue I can use to help solve the issue because it 
is not happening for me.  It will not happen to everyone either.

I hope this clears up my position in this...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 12/16/19 3:48 AM, Rob Atkinson wrote:
> <Respectfully, in every case here but one, (and I have been involved
> in maybe 10 to 15 in the past three years), the RFI from grow ops were
> unheard on the AM band with a local station tuned in, and while in
> front of the offending grow op. I am sure that in some cases it is
> hearable on an AM channel, but so far here, (and I have expressly,
> checked at each location), I have had very little luck with this. It
> is one of the first things I check for, so I can involve the CE of the
> AM station being affected...>
> 
> Dave you could not be more spectacularly incorrect.  You're mistake is
> generalizing based on your own limited experience.  The broadcast
> industry is extremely concerned about the noise floor.  Around here,
> even 50 KW AMs are affected, and you don't have to be outside their
> primary service contour to tell.   All you need do is google SBE AM
> noise floor.   This is probably the single biggest issue in medium
> wave AM today.
> 
> 73
> Rob
> K5UJ
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