[RFI] FCC Complaint Filing

Fri Nov 22 12:00:02 EST 2019

Hi Brad,

How much time have you allowed for the neighbor to add the filters, 
prior to your complaint?

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

On 11/22/19 8:44 AM, N8GLS wrote:
> Thanks Dave,
> 
> Have kept my diplomacy intact throughout the entire process.  I purchased
> all the chokes needed (at my cost) and gave them all to him with the
> repeated offer to install myself.  Thus the reason for the FCC complaint as
> I see no other recourse.  I did again last night reach out to the ARRL for
> any possible intervention while this is in the FCC's "inbox" for action.
> 
> 73, Brad N8GLS
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RFI <rfi-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Dave Cole
> Sent: Friday, November 22, 2019 7:59 AM
> To: rfi at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RFI] FCC Complaint Filing
> 
> Brad,
> 
> It seems like your neighbor was being helpful at one point...  If this is
> the case, protect that relationship at all costs...  It is useful, and will
> get your RFI solved a LOT FASTER, which is the goal...
> 
>   From your description, it sounds like some sort of outside light was
> installed, and is without a doubt causing your RFI, be sure to keep notes on
> all of this in the event the relationship turns sour, and you do need the
> FCC.
> 
> Sidestep all the photos, graphs, and charts, and just offer to replace the
> light at your cost.
> 
> I know that by rights you could force the issue with them, and make them pay
> for replacement, but why?  The goal is to get your RFI gone...  I have done
> this with several neighbors, it works, the RFI goes away, and in most cases,
> the cost has been less than 50 bucks, and the time is around a week to
> solve...
> 
> Again, you are in the driver seat here, but why make it hard by involving
> the FCC, solving it that way will take months and months.
> Replacing the light will take a weekend...
> 
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
> 
> On 11/21/19 8:52 PM, N8GLS wrote:
>> Thanks Mike,
>>
>>    
>>
>> The RFI started occurring on the Sunday I returned from Hamvention.  Just
> installed the new IC-9700 and the band scope was showing pulsating band wide
> noise.  Also the s-meter on the 2m FM rig was fluctuating up to almost full
> scale even though no signal was present.  Going outside I noticed the newly
> installed deck lights, called my neighbor, and sure enough he just finished
> Saturday installing them.  I asked him to turn them off for a minute and the
> noise disappeared, turning them back on brought it back.  I was able to get
> a spare light he had, took it in the shack and regardless of being powered
> off pure DC or low voltage AC it was emitting RFI like I never saw before.
> See my QRZ page for links to the videos (intentionally non-technical) for my
> neighbor, the Mfg and for the ARRL.
>>
>>    
>>
>> 73 de Brad, N8GLS
>>
>> Mentor, OH
>>
>>    
>>
>> From: Michael Martin <mike at rfiservices.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, November 21, 2019 8:32 PM
>> To: n8gls at arrl.net
>> Cc: rfi at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [RFI] FCC Complaint Filing
>> Importance: High
>>
>>    
>>
>> Hey Brad I'm sorry to hear about your issue too bad it's not uncommon!
>>
>> I don't remember seeing or hearing about how you determined that there's
> lights were the issue!
>>
>> I'm not second-guessing you I'm just curious as to the method you used to
> determine they were the cause of the problem.
>>
>> I'd also be interested in knowing where this is, the state & town.
>>
>> Best wishes to you
>>
>> Get BlueMail for Android <http://www.bluemail.me/r?b=15726>
>>
>> On Nov 21, 2019, at 7:12 PM, N8GLS <n8gls at arrl.net <mailto:n8gls at arrl.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> I filed an "informal" complaint with the FCC a month ago regarding RFI
>> emanating from a neighbor's installation of LED Deck Lights done back
>> in May 2019.  I did receive one response that a ticket number was
>> assigned and have been regularly checking the status but no further
>> "action" yet.  I realize this may be a fairly long process and may not
>> go anywhere but was curious if anybody here has ever filed a complaint
>> and if so how long it took before some indication of status was received
> ??
>>
>>    
>>
>> A little history:  The interference affects almost the entire 2m band.
>> This neighbor was initially cooperative and once I found a solution (a
>> simple combination of Chokes) I bought and gave him all the chokes
>> needed for the entire deck as well as offering to install them myself
>> or at least help.  A reply of "no help needed, I can install myself no
>> problem" gave me an indication of sincerity ..that was back in July.
>> These lights have turned on at dusk and off at about 1am every single
>> day since May.  I politely called him again the beginning of Oct
>> reminding him the interference was still emanating from the lights and
>> I would still install if he didn't have the time.  That call ended
>> with an agitated response of  "its not my problem" and "I don't
>> believe by merely buying these lights in any way makes me responsible
>> for anything", followed by "If they were so bad they wouldn't be
>> sold".  It was clear there was no intention of installing anything at
>> any time and further conversation about the situation would be
>> fruitless.  Left with no other solution I filed the informal complaint
>> and included a summary of the issue, timeline of events and links to a
> couple videos showing the interference being received as well as one
> solution to remedy it.
>>
>>    
>>
>> Frustrating to say the least, and sadly, words like "cooperation",
>> "politeness", "neighborly" and "respect" don't seem to mean much these
> days.
>>
>>    
>>
>> 73 de Brad, N8GLS
>>
>>    
>>
>>
>>     _____
>>
>>
>> RFI mailing list
>> RFI at contesting.com <mailto:RFI at contesting.com>
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> RFI mailing list
>> RFI at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>>
> _______________________________________________
> RFI mailing list
> RFI at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
> 