[RFI] FCC Complaint Filing

Fri Nov 22 17:56:35 EST 2019

Hi Brad,

You want to handle this at the lowest level possible and move up in 
steps, ending with the FCC.

Check out:

https://www.nk7z.net/presentations/

Look for the RFI presentation...  then check out:

https://www.nk7z.net/rfi-now/

The top link goes to an RFI presentation that touches on keeping logs, 
etc, while the second link goes to a three part set of blog entries 
covering RFI in general, and a good portion of it is devoted to 
logging/record keeping, and what you need to do in order to move forward...

After you have a few weeks of logs, you might consider contacting the 
ARRL lab...  They should be able to assist you.

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 12:58 PM, N8GLS wrote:
> At the beginning of July I had given him all the materials for the install.  More than a fair amount of time.
> 
> Brad, N8GLS
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Cole <dave at nk7z.net>
> Sent: Friday, November 22, 2019 12:00 PM
> To: n8gls at arrl.net; rfi at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [RFI] FCC Complaint Filing
> 
> 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
>>>
>>>     
>>>
>>>
>>>      _____
>>>
>>>
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> 