[RFI] Seeking opinions about origin of this major RFI...

N2CBU listmember at list.n2cbu.com
Thu Jan 28 21:26:34 EST 2021


I haven't been able to identify the source of this RFI, only that it's strongest at an intersection about 1000 feet
from my QTH. It's been plaguing me for months now. There doesn't seem to be any regularity, but it is affected by
weather, wind, rain, snow, etc. I see peaks and nulls in multiple directions with my rotor-mounted loop, and see one
significant null in the direction of that intersection. The electric utility investigated the area but reported
nothing found.

The RFI has several "modes" of operation, and this is an example of when it's in "Fukushima mode" - sorry about the focus:

https://n2cbu.com/RFI/VID_20201109_110348.mp4

At 30 seconds as I pass 5.2MHz, you'll hear another "mode" that sounds like a searing arc. At 1:04 minutes, when I
tune to VLF, you'll hear another "mode" that sounds like vibrating transformer plates. Later, note the peaks and
sounds around 60kHz and 10Khz.

Other "modes" sound like a continuous crackling spark, or a intermittent crackling spark. Sometimes the continuous
crackling spark lasts for days. Depending upon the "mode" there are RFI signals up through about 130MHz. Peaks and
valleys in the HF range make it seem like the power lines are acting as antennas. It's all related because on rare
moments there's no RFI across the spectrum, then the wind will blow and it comes back in some mode.

I'd been hoping that whatever it is would explode, or at least halt and catch fire, but no such luck. Maybe someone
recognizes what this could be?

Thanks!

Andrew, N2CBU


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