[RFI] RFI - A Losing Battle

[Hare, Ed W1RFI]

Yes, and in response to a related question about how to approach a neighbor, this can be the real stumbling block.

First, that neighbor does not have our understanding of the RFI issues.  To our neighbors,  some nutty ham radio operator is knocking on their door telling them that a device they bought at Walmart is being operated in violation of some federal law that they don't understand.  Know this going in and be prepared to be diplomatic and informative.

I usually recommend talking about this as an "interesting" problem. THis is much easier with a neighbor we know, and I, for one, would dread having to do the knock on the door or the letter to a neighbor I don't know.  ARRL can help by writing a letter if a ham feels that to be best, although we usually recommend direct contact, keeping a local problem local.  For things like suspect grow lights, FCC has sometimes bypassed the usual steps and written a letter directly. In that one case, they will allow the amateur to remain anonymous, or in any case where the amateur alleges some potential danger to any encounter, but that is less effective.  The ham with the big tower will have trouble remaining anoymous, anyway.

If you do need to contact a neighbor, call W1VLF, who reads every word I post.  He can usually offer some advice.

Ed

________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 5:42 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI - A Losing Battle

On 9/22/2020 12:39 PM, Hare, Ed W1RFI wrote:
> In almost all cases, if actions can secure cooperation, cooperation and help from ARRL staff to the utility, neighbor or ham will be a more effective solution than taking a crap shoot with the FCC.

In this excellent post, Ed articulates what, in the architectural design
meetings for the large sound systems I made my living designing, we
called "an electro-political problem" or an "acousti-political problem."
In other words, something that must be worked out between people, when
some of those people have no clue (and are unlikely to gain a clue)
about the technical aspects of the problem. Nor or they likely to be
sympathetic to the victim.

73, Jim K9YC
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