[RFI] KC2IEB’s RFI Journey

[Christopher Wawak]

Good point. I compared waterfall signature with a IC705 using the flag
antenna with the signature from my 7300. I also validated by plugging the
705 into the same antenna as the 7300. We have fancy toys nowadays. :)

On Sun, Apr 11, 2021 at 4:09 PM Charles Plunk <af4o at twc.com> wrote:

> Good video.
>
> One tip; make sure you are tracking the right noise. I found out the
> hard way that many power line utility devices/poles emanate "noise" when
> you are nearby but may not be "the" noise that you are hearing in your
> station receiver. A break thru on my latest hunt was I re transmitted
> the noise over 440mhz FM from my hf station while it had a distinctive
> but varying pattern. Then compared to my 2m HT on AM with portable yagi
> by listening to them both while triangulating. Made a world of
> difference to tracking the right noise.
>
> Chuck
> AF4O
>
> On 4/11/21 2:05 PM, Christopher Wawak wrote:
> > Hi All!
> >
> > I wanted to share where I was currently with my noise issue.
> >
> > Surprise surprise, I don’t think it’s solar panel noise! After doing some
> > more direction finding, I seem to have nailed the source down to either
> my
> > electric meter, or one of two telephone poles. Initially I used an IC-705
> > with the Flag antenna that was in QST recently and a DXE
> > preamp/attenuators. Once I verified the signature of the same noise that
> > I’m getting in my antennas, I went back with a cheap AM antenna, since it
> > was easier to record a video.
> >
> > I do have an RFI log I can share on request.
> >
> > I’m curious what you all think of my radio direction finding based on a
> > short video I created.
> >
> > https://youtu.be/v3oJLtUBrlc
> >
> > 73
> > KC2IEB Chris
> >
> > On Sun, Mar 14, 2021 at 3:00 PM Christopher Wawak <chris at wawak.org>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi RFI List,
> >>
> >>
> >> I'm faced with S7-S9 noise across 40m-15m at 200khz intervals. I'm
> looking
> >> for assistance resolving this RFI I suspect is coming from a neighbor's
> >> solar installation. The owners are elderly, and I'm not sure they'll
> >> understand and be able to remedy the situation. HF is next to unusable.
> >>
> >>
> >> Some questions:
> >>
> >> 0. So far, do I seem on the right path?
> >>
> >> 1. What tactics have worked in the past with getting owners to respond?
> >>
> >> 2. Right now I have an AH-4 with a wire antenna. If I switched to, say,
> a
> >> fan dipole or a beam antenna would i be able to reject the solar panel
> >> noise? If my antenna were higher up, would that help?
> >>
> >> 3. Am I doomed to not have workable HF at home?
> >>
> >>
> >> 73 Chris KC2IEB
> >>
> >>
> >> (if the pictures are filtered, click here
> >> <
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSKoiPx-5huAG5M1gLmYFyMPRZ_WY0PxxoC-CH7c-dpXMQZzHuvLzNX2AB8_nb8RIsN7Ri0rmXJp6Ju/pub
> >
> >> )
> >>
> >> RFI Location
> >>
> >> Appears to be coming from solar panels on a house behind my own, about
> >> 275’ away. I traced this with a loop antenna and a cheap AM radio
> >> following to where the noise seemed loudest.
> >>
> >> Characteristics
> >>
> >> Heavy S7+ “hash” noise every ~200 khz, starting around 40m and going all
> >> the way up through 15m.
> >>
> >>
> >> Generally starts an hour or two after sunrise, and shuts down before
> >> sunset.
> >>
> >> Noise Log
> >>
> >> 3/13/2021
> >>
> >> 4:00 PM Local - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQZr1xXIf0Y whole house
> >> power off test @ 3:14 in the video - no improvement
> >>
> >>
> >> Gone by 7:53 PM
> >>
> >> 3/14/2021
> >>
> >> 8:38 am
> >>
> >> Some squiggles
> >>
> >> Showed up almost on the dot at 9am
> >>
> >> It’s moving down the band some
> >>
> >> Most noticeable from 20m on up
> >>
> >> .
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> -- Chris
> >>
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