[RFI] Solar Farm Mobil measurement

[Hare, Ed W1RFI]

That is great data, Mike, thanks.  In this case, it doesn’t even look like a ham located nearby would have harmful interference, although there may be some noise.  This actually matches my own experiences making local spot checks.

From: Michael Germino <ad6aa at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 8:59 PM
To: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>; rfi at contesting.com; Hare, Ed W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org>
Subject: Solar Farm Mobil measurement

Date/Time: 5pm 9/22/2020

Location (GPS coordinates and/or street
address. Describe location if necessary).

30560 Mc Cabe Road
Gustine, CA
Next to the National Cemetery at Santa Nella


How far was the measurement location from any part of the solar system?

Less than 100 feet

Sun conditions:  Sunny

Band:  40 meters

Receiver: Icom 7000

Antenna: HI-Q antenna- tuned to 40 meters

Antenna height: pickup mounted

Mode (AM preferred, SSB useful): AM

Bandwidth (6 kHz preferred, 3 kHz useful): 6khz

Preamp off, if possible: Off

Noise level:  Possible S3 on on one frequency that cleared up as I drove away.

Is the noise relatively constant across a large part of the band, or does it get louder and weaker at regular intervals as the receiver is tuned.

At this time it appears to be mostly quiet on 40 meters.


Maybe 600 acres, in two locations. The first location was clean all thru the band S1 to S2 noise level. The second location had one Frequency that had the S3 level. Was it from the array???? Driving thru Santa Nella I had a higher noise level.

Appears to be well engineered, the fence under the local power lines are totally bonded and grounded.  Each post is grounded and bonded. I assume for inducted current off of the power line.

Forgot to turn off Noise Blanker and the DSP NR.
NR set at level 1
NB set at 60%  width at 80

Not too scientific, but some data.


Mike
73, AD6AA