[RFI] KC2IEB’s RFI Journey
Hisashi T Fujinaka
htodd at twofifty.com
Sat Apr 17 13:43:23 EDT 2021
Thanks for the tip. I don't mind modifying/repairing MFJ equipment. I'm
a ham after all and even worked in a ham radio repair shop where I
developed my wariness of all things Swan. :)
On Sat, 17 Apr 2021, David Eckhardt wrote:
> You may have to totally enclose the electronics with aluminum foil. I used one of these a couple of months ago and had to do a
> major shielding job to get rid of the hum which overwhelmed the operation of the unit. You may also have to common (ground) the
> microphone mount, itself. It's quite a good instrument after some major surgery to basically place the electronics from the
> microphone mount through the electronics in a Faraday cage. Remember to treat all conductors in and out of that implanted
> Faraday cage within the cage. MFJ should have addressed this short coming, but plastic is the least expensive option.
>
> Dave - W?LEV
>
> On Sat, Apr 17, 2021 at 4:10 AM Hisashi T Fujinaka <htodd at twofifty.com> wrote:
> Good to hear yours works with no mods. I was getting a lot of hum on
> mine so I was thinking of modifying it. I like using MFJ equipment as a
> starting point.
>
> On Sat, 17 Apr 2021, David Eckhardt wrote:
>
> > that is a good tool for coronal and arc discharges.
> >
> > Dave - W?LEV
> >
> > On Fri, Apr 16, 2021 at 9:31 PM Christopher Wawak <kc2ieb at wawak.org> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all! I ended up splurging on this doohickey -
> >> https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-5008 . It's an ultra-sonic
> >> receiver
> >> that purports "to pick up the noise generated by the corona discharge and
> >> arcing connections". For those who may not be following my saga, I
> >> determined using a portable SDR radio that the same noise that obliterates
> >> 40m up through 10m comes strongest from one of two electric poles near my
> >> house. No other poles exhibit the noise. Using the MFJ-5008, I immediately
> >> heard a very strong ringing from one of the two poles, which doesn't show
> >> up when I point it at other poles, houses, etc. There's a little sight hole
> >> you can use to pinpoint the noise, which I did - it seems near the top of
> >> the pole is where the sound is loudest. Very easy to use, and seemed to
> >> work as advertised. Totally understand why this is expensive, it's a very
> >> niche item. I'll need to find a lot of RFI to make up the price tag, but
> >> additional evidence helps!
> >>
> >> I called the power company, who initially said they'd have a crew out in 4
> >> hours. After days with no visit, and numerous calls to PSEG, they have no
> >> information to provide. I filed a complaint with the NJ Board of Public
> >> Utilities asking that they follow up with PSEG and compel them to consider
> >> my complaint. If anyone has a contact with PSEG, I'd really appreciate a
> >> connection off list.
> >>
> >> If folks are interested, I'll try to make a little video of using the
> >> device. Also, if you're in the Southern NJ area and need to borrow it, I
> >> accept beer! :)
> >>
> >> Thanks again for the help and moral support!
> >>
> >> 73 Chris KC2IEB
> >>
> >> On Sun, Apr 11, 2021 at 3:05 PM Christopher Wawak <kc2ieb at wawak.org>
> >> 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
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> RFI mailing list
> >> RFI at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > *Dave - W?LEV*
> > *Just Let Darwin Work*
> > _______________________________________________
> > RFI mailing list
> > RFI at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>
> --
> Hisashi T Fujinaka - htodd at twofifty.com
> BSEE + BSChem + BAEnglish + MSCS + $2.50 = coffee
>
>
>
> --
> Dave - W?LEV
> Just Let Darwin Work
>
>
>
--
Hisashi T Fujinaka - htodd at twofifty.com
BSEE + BSChem + BAEnglish + MSCS + $2.50 = coffee
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