[RFI] TinySA as an RFI research tool

[Dave]

Chuck,

What a cool idea, RFI from RX in one ear, and re-transmitted RFI in the 
other...  I have to try that.

I guess I am lucky...  For some reason, (I know not why), I have been 
able to match RFI source noises easily by ear, from memory.  I can hear 
several sources at once, and as I turn the loop easily pick out which 
one is dropping into the null, even if it is far, far, below the other 
sources in level...

While helping hams in the past, I have asked others if they hear any RFI 
in the static, and they say no, they hear nothing but static, while at 
the same time I hear the RFI at what seems an unmissable level...  I 
have never been able to figure out why.  In any case, thank you for the 
new tool!  I have used a cell to listen to RFI at the same time as a 
portable rig, looking for on/off times, but never thought to use 
Headphones, and 440, biaural.  Better than a cell any day!  THANKS AGAIN!

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 6/16/21 10:50 PM, Charles Plunk wrote:
> Lots of good tools available nowadays to track this stuff.
> 
> Agree Dave. Lots of noise out there.
> 
> Of the last 2 power line issues I successfully found, the single thing 
> that helped me the most to find the correct pole was matching the noise 
> pattern by ear of the portable receiver (I currently use a FT817 or 
> FT60, AM mode, yagi or loop) to the re-transmitted noise (440mhz 
> transmitter with mic held close to the hf receiver to another portable 
> HT) and listening to both portable receivers at the same time. Using the 
> analytical tool between my ears.
> 
> Next time I may rig up a set of stereo headphones. Triangulation 
> receiver on one side and re-transmitted noise on the other. Its also 
> helpful to use a HF station receiver with squelch capability, receiving 
> the noise, to squelch it just above background noise. Thus no noise on 
> the re-transmitted signal and the rfi noise is not active. It gets a bit 
> confusing hearing re-transmitted normal background noise if your RFI 
> source is intermittent.
> 
> Chuck
> W4NBO
> 
> Tonight on TS830s with doublet at ~35' (no RFI)
> 
> 80m Around S5 not including TStorm crashes
> 
> 40m S4-S5
> 
> 30m S1-S2
> 
> 20m -10m S1 or less
> 
> 
> On 6/16/21 11:24 PM, Dave Hachadorian wrote:
>> Another thing about the Tiny SA is that the screen is very difficult 
>> to see in bright light.
>>
>> When you get out in the field tracking down a noise, you will 
>> encounter many noise sources.  You don't want to be watching squiggly 
>> lines on a dim screen, trying to figure out if that's the same 
>> signature you saw at home. If you track a noise by ear, with 
>> directional antennas such as an HF loop or flag with a SW receiver, or 
>> a yagi/AM VHF receiver, you are pretty much assured by the sound of it 
>> that you are onto the specific noise of interest.
>>
>> Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
>> Yuma, AZ
>>
>>
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