[RFI] Working with Utilities

[Hare, Ed, W1RFI]

<So let me get this straight. If hams make false complaints then the utility is ok to blow us off.>​

 I never said it was okay, so i am not sure how you got that out of my words.  What I did say is that if hams make complaints to utilities about non-utility sources, it is very possible that the utility will stop responding to those complaints, so it is pretty important to get it right the first time.

There are a few premises at play here.  First, th utility is responsible only for interference  its equipment creates.  Under the rules, if they are causing harmful interference, it is their responsibility to find it and correct interference they create.  Some utilities do a great job at this. In other cases, they do not have the equipment or skills to do this, so the process will generally go much better of amateurs can find the source.  This also eliminates the false report problem.

Under FCC rules, power-line sparking and arcing sources are incidental emitters. As such, they have no specific limits on radiated or conducted emissions, just a requirement that the operator of incidental emitters not cause harmful interference.  So all those noises we hear driving around are not necessarily illegal in and of themselves.  If they are causing harmful interference, then they are actionable, but FCC generally does not consider transitory interference to mobile operators to be harmful interference.

Ed


________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Charles Plunk <af4o at twc.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2021 12:04 AM
To: rfi at contesting.com <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Working with Utilities

So let me get this straight. If hams make false complaints then the
utility is ok to blow us off. But if they make false statements or
findings, then its ok. Got it. I think 120hz noise is a much larger
problem than most hams realize are quite possibly oblivious to its
existence. Just drive around anywhere there are power lines with your AM
car radio on.

Power line RFI is often intermittent. And of course they show up when
the noise is absent, thus false complaint. RFI guy from the supplier is
obviously not very skilled and cannot find anything, thus false
complaint. Both has happened to me.

The very reasons why I go to all lengths i can to find it myself. And to
be honest, I think they like it that way as they know many of us will
eventually burn out trying to find it and go away and leave them alone.
It is though very satisfying to find it yourself, they fix it, and
garner respect that way. Just very ^&% time consuming........

Still have dreams of that QTH way out in the sticks.

Chuck
W4NBO


On 9/11/21 7:08 PM, Stephanie WX3K via RFI wrote:
> “They are not responsible for noise from non-utility equipment and a few false complaints can quickly put amateurs to the bottom of their priority list, often not scheduled until Nevuary.
>
> Ed, W1RFI“
>
>
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