[RFI] Unbelievable (amazing) response time from utility company

[Michael Martin, RFI Services]

Awesome job Don

⁣RFI Services
Michael Martin
240-508-3760
rfiservices.com

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On Feb 18, 2020, 8:31 PM, at 8:31 PM, Don Kirk <wd8dsb at gmail.com> wrote:
>Yesterday afternoon at around 3pm EST I tracked down a power pole 1.69
>miles away from the QTH of KB9AX that was causing Dan RFI on 160 and 80
>meters.  Dan then reported the pole number to his utility company, and
>they
>completed repairs to this pole at 11:15am EST today (about 20 hours
>from
>the time I located this power pole).
>
>The utility company provided a detailed repair report as follows:
>"02-18-20 Checked pole 05N2001. Found tie wire on B phase loose and
>arcing.
>Neutral wire was not on insulator. Replaced B phase tie wire and fixed
>neutral. Also replaced porcelain cut out and riser arrestor. Tightened
>all
>hardware on pole. Hopefully this will take care of the RF noise. 11:15
>RD
>RH"
>
>I wanted to post this info as this is the fastest response time I have
>every encountered from a utility company, and it sure improved my
>attitude
>regarding how some utility companies can indeed be very responsive.
>
>Dan KB9AX just confirmed that repair of this pole solved his 160 and 80
>meter noise problem.
>
>You can see an unedited video I posted showing the last part of my
>DFing
>using 136 MHz on youtube at the following link :
>https://youtu.be/l2bGvih-2JE
>
>
>Note: I started the DFing using my new portable terminated flag to get
>direction, then used higher and higher HF frequencies with a tuned loop
>as
>well as attenuation to narrow in on the signal until I could finally
>hear
>it on 136 MHz.  Started to hear it on 136 MHz about 0.25 miles away as
>I
>recall.  I will soon release basic info on my portable terminated flag.
>Had to use 30 dB of attentuation when I was up close to the pole using
>136
>MHz, and in this case I wish I would have had 10 or 20 dB more
>attenuation
>to try when I was near the bad pole.  I had previously never needed
>more
>than 30 dB of attenuation on 136 MHz, but in this case I believe
>slightly
>more attenuation would have been helpful.
>
>It should also be noted that almost all the power lines (and power
>poles)
>between Dans house and this problem pole were radiating massive amounts
>of
>RFI when listening on HF, but I could not find anything up on 136 MHz
>AM
>when looking at them until I finally got within 0.25 miles of the
>faulty
>pole.  This is really a good reminder for readers of this post on how
>valuable 136 MHz (or higher) is for finding the pole that really is at
>fault.
>
>Just FYI,
>Don Kirk (wd8dsb)
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