[RFI] New RFI Filter For Neighbors Solar Edge Installation

[Hare, Ed, W1RFI]

Steve Anderson, W1EMI, is ARRL’s RFI engineer now, so he should be the first point of contact. He is W1EMI at arrl.org<mailto:W1EMI at arrl.org>.

If you go to Laura Smith at the FCC, for an RFI problem, she will hand it over to us to do the initial work.  We were a bit behind on cases while the position was open, but almost caught up at this point.

Our role is essentially:

o Determine that the interference is harmful interference, matching the FCC’s long standing but informal interpretations.
o Determine as best we can that the correct source has been identified.  Misassumptions about the source are actually common
o Determine that the amateur has read the applicable material related to his/her problem and has taken the right steps
o The amateur must kill all power to his house and determine that the noise is still present at the same level as when his/her power was on
o If the source is cooperative, ARRL staff will work with the ham and neighbor to help identify solutions
o If the source is not cooperative, ARRL contacts the operator of an offending device by latter, beginning the FCC process under our agreement
o If that secures cooperation, this is great. We will then try to help.  Generally, if the source operator (neighbor, utility) is trying to resolve it, the best course of action is to keep local problems local. Going to FCC prematurely sometimes grinds cooperation to a halt.
o If all of this fails and the involved parties are not willing to keep trying, we then turn a well-documented case over to the FCC. At that point, if their initial letter creates more interest in resolving the problem, we pick up on the case again.

FCC does have interest in helping amateur radio with interference issues, but it has only a limited amount of time it can devote to our service.  This work by ARRL not only helps hams, but it ensures that what time the FCC does have can be used effectively.

Ed, W1RFI
ARRL Lab





From: David Eckhardt <davearea51a at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 2, 2022 12:57 PM
To: Hare, Ed, W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org>
Cc: Tony <73guddx at gmail.com>; Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] New RFI Filter For Neighbors Solar Edge Installation

These days, if there is a legitimate RFI problem and you've done your absolute best in attempting to resolve the problem (maybe even posting to the RFI/contesting site), don't go directly to the FCC.  You will be ignored.  In all respects, keep a level head.  Report the problem to ARRL, work with ARRL, and let them serve as the liaison between your problem and the FCC.  In many cases, ARRL (Ed Hare) has already gotten a leg up on your problem.  ARRL has a good working relationship with FCC in this respect and can accomplish far more than dealing directly with FCC  (again, you'll be ignored).

Ed Hare, I believe this works best.  If I'm wrong, please correct us on the list.  Somehow, this should get out to all of hamdom, member of ARRL or not.

Dave - WØLEV

On Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 12:51 PM Hare, Ed, W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org<mailto:w1rfi at arrl.org>> wrote:
Well, you didn't give up either, Tony, so what "ARRL" does is always a teamwork between staff, members, FCC and companies.

Ed

________________________________
From: Tony <73guddx at gmail.com<mailto:73guddx at gmail.com>>
Sent: Tuesday, February 1, 2022 10:59 PM
To: Hare, Ed, W1RFI <w1rfi at arrl.org<mailto:w1rfi at arrl.org>>; Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com<mailto:rfi at contesting.com>>
Subject: Re: [RFI] New RFI Filter For Neighbors Solar Edge Installation

On 2/1/2022 7:12 AM, Hare, Ed, W1RFI wrote:
> And Tony, keep ARRL posted directly, too. We have this one as an open
> case and I don't always read this reflector and do miss posts.

Will do Ed.

Thanks for working with Solar Edge and not giving up on tough cases like
mine. The company went from denying any RFI issues with their products
to actively working to find a solution. I don't think that would have
happened without you and the league so thank you for that.

Tony -K2MO

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--
Dave - WØLEV
Just Let Darwin Work