[RFI] RFI case where I could actually hear the power pole arcing with my naked ear.

[Hare, Ed, W1RFI]

If you can hear an arc or heavy spark taking place on a pole, that pole is certainly making a lot of RF noise!  It really is also a maintenance issue because it is possible that the arc is eroding metal, possibly dropping a line to the ground.

Utility people can use the "bang the pole" technique because they cone off the area, don't stand under the lines and wear hard hats.  (Or they should!)  Something is wrong on that pole and if you bang it, you may diagnose the problem by dropping the bad insulator through the windshield of the passing car.  Leave that to the pros.

Ed Hare, W1RFI
ARRL Lab

________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Don Kirk <wd8dsb at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2022 9:01 PM
To: RFI <rfi at contesting.com>
Subject: [RFI] RFI case where I could actually hear the power pole arcing with my naked ear.

Today I tracked down RFI to a power pole that was causing problems at
N4TZ.  This was an interesting case as the pole was located in front of a
house out in the country and the homeowner saw me looking at the pole with
my portable RF direction finding gear and she came out to talk with me and
to apologize about her barking dog. The homeowner immediately mentioned
that the pole makes a lot of noise and sure enough I could hear the arcing
with my naked ear (you can hear it at the 2:30 mark in my video).  She also
mentioned that she recently saw an employee of the cable company
banging/hitting the pole.

Here is a link to a video I just uploaded to youtube documenting this case
for those interested.
https://youtu.be/TVjKANTmVEc

73,
Don (wd8dsb)
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