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

[K9MA]

I can only dream of such a response. Here (Madison Gas and Electric), it 
takes months.


73,

Scott K9MA


On 2/19/2020 06:27, Michael Martin, RFI Services wrote:
> 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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-- 
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us