[RFI] Powerline noise question

[Charles Plunk]

There maybe (likely) lots of noise out there unrelated to the noise in 
your receiver. Seems to me like most every pole around here has some 
noise when dfing. If you think its a power pole and you think you have 
located this pole via all the great suggestions so far, here is a crude 
method I used to make sure before calling the power co. If you have the 
gear or want to acquire it. I know I have acquired a lot of gear over 
the years to find power line arc's. Money well spent to me.

Takes patience. You say it goes away with a rain. I bet at some point it 
becomes intermittent (random pattern) for a while before ceasing. Oh I 
see now you say its 0.9 seconds bursts apart, that maybe enough. At this 
point (it has a pattern and not solid noise) re-transmit the audio from 
your station receiver to an ht you are carrying. Then take a second HT 
(2m/440 etc) with portable yagi and point at the pole. If the 
intermittent pattern matches on both ht's to your ears, bingo. Its a 
great sound to hear if they match. Or confirmation you are at the wrong 
pole.

Just another tip that helped me a lot.

73

Chuck
W4NBO


On 12/29/22 21:15, Richard Karlquist wrote:
> I have a powerline noise coming from about 2 miles away, which is
> nevertheless quite strong at my QTH.
>
> Here are the symptoms:
>
> 1.  A 120 Hz noise burst at regular intervals, about 0.9 seconds apart.
>
> 2.  The noise goes away after a rain; then comes back after things dry
> out.
>
> 3.  Can be heard from 500 kHz up to a few MHz.
>
> 4.  The noise is very strong along a road for a few miles.  There is a
>
> power line that follows the road.  I haven't been able to localize it
> better than
>
> that so far.  From my QTH, though, it is definitely coming in at a
> specific azimuth
>
> which is consistent with the noisy road a few miles away.  (Using a loop
> antenna
>
> for DF'ing).
>
> Any help appreciated.
>