[RFI] Next step visually sighting arc's

[Charles Plunk]

Thanks Dave. Its a spotting scope. Like the ones you look downrange at 
the target to see where you hit and not the scope mounted on a rifle. 
This is the one I have; 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0728C4K7W?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Wish i had not sold my high dollar leupold rifle scope I had years ago. 
It could almost see in the dark. I could see almost nothing in fields in 
the dark but looking through that scope could easily see.

Chuck

W4NBO


On 5/8/21 11:48 AM, David Eckhardt wrote:
> Instead of the 'rifle' scope, I'd suggest something a bit more capable 
> with a larger aperture.  I have the Celestron Ultima 65 used for this 
> purpose and many others.  The 65 mm objective is excellent, it can be 
> either hand-held or tripod mounted, and costs a bit less than twice 
> your 'rifle' scope (in the $100 to $150 range, store dependent).
>
> Dave - WØLEV
>
> On Sat, May 8, 2021 at 3:13 PM Charles Plunk <af4o at twc.com 
> <mailto:af4o at twc.com>> wrote:
>
>     As you may remember, I sighted my first strong arc with binoculars
>     after
>     triangulation, ultrasonic, etc. Its been fixed by the util for over a
>     month and still gone gone :-)
>
>     A not near as strong arc is on the same pole but on the opposite
>     side.
>     This pole is in the corner of my backyard so makes it convenient to
>     experiment with. Playing with the success of the first, I tried
>     binoculars and thought, with some imagination that I could see
>     this arc
>     too. Its tiny.
>
>     So, I bought a stronger spotting scope, like you sight in rifles
>     with.
>     And mounted it on a tripod. Last night the source was active and
>     still
>     think I see it in the same spot. A crusty old ground lug wired to the
>     bottom of a fused disconnect. Connects to the wire stapled to the
>     pole.
>
>     One has to be careful as reflections off the ceramics from distant
>     street lights (~200' away) can look like arc's. But a crusty
>     ground lug
>     should not reflect. This area is also where I hear it with
>     ultrasonic.
>     Its a very narrow place to stand on the ground to hear it with
>     ultrasonic. Another issue is its so dark its hard to make out the
>     outlines of the pole in the dark to tell where you are seeing. But I
>     could see enough. The bigger the lens on the front of the
>     scope/binoculars the better to capture more light to see the pole
>     I suppose.
>
>     My experiments so far with digital cameras, one with the IR/UV
>     filters
>     removed, have resulted in failure. Cannot even see the pole in the
>     dark.
>     Nothing but a grainy picture. Even trying to capture a picture
>     through
>     the scope. The scope came with a phone mount for capture.
>
>     I am going to look at the same spot when the source is inactive.
>     If the
>     suspected tiny arc is absent then going to request the util
>     replace that
>     connector unless anyone has any further suggestions.
>
>     The spotting scope I bought was ~$60 so another low cost tool
>     maybe for
>     your rfi toolbox.
>
>     Underneath this one, at night I am hearing a repetitive noise. One
>     minute on ~0.5 - 4 seconds off. But thats another story, lol and does
>     not sound like power line arc.
>
>     Chuck
>     W4NBO
>
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>
> -- 
> *Dave - WØLEV*
> /*Just Let Darwin Work*/
>