[RFI] RFI Digest, Vol 220, Issue 7

[Charles Plunk]

Never claimed to be a master of the english language :-). I was 
attempting to distinguish between two arc's I had on a utility pole 
causing rfi. One was "stronger" (about 25+db over S9 on 80m) vs the 
weaker one which was barely heard on 80m due to natural noise levels but 
could be heard on the upper bands. Visually both were tiny arc's but 
both could be seen with binoculars in the dark. The "stronger" one was 
fairly easy to see with binoculars. The other not so much but I could 
see it better with a spotting scope. Neither would conjure up visions of 
Tesla. Hope that helps.

Chuck
W4NBO

On 5/9/21 12:00 PM, Joe Locascio via RFI wrote:
> WHAT is a 'strong arc'???
>
>
>
> Joe
>
>      On Sunday, May 9, 2021, 09:00:37 AM PDT, rfi-request at contesting.com <rfi-request at contesting.com> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: Next step visually sighting arc's (David Eckhardt)
>    2. Re: Next step visually sighting arc's (Charles Plunk)
>    3. Radar Engineers Model 251 Parabolic dimensions? (Charlie Delta)
>    4. Re: Radar Engineers Model 251 Parabolic dimensions?
>        (n0tt1 at juno.com)
>    5. Fwd: RE250 Sighting? (Charles Plunk)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 8 May 2021 16:48:19 +0000
> From: David Eckhardt <davearea51a at gmail.com>
> To: Charles Plunk <af4o at twc.com>
> Cc: "rfi at contesting.com" <rfi at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [RFI] Next step visually sighting arc's
> Message-ID:
>      <CAODdWWE0tJP1pRHH_6-2KVuukKroZyQxM0adkB==asj045DfWg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> 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 - W?LEV
>
> On Sat, May 8, 2021 at 3:13 PM Charles Plunk <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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>