[RFI] Mystery Noise (Aren't they all)

[Wes Stewart]

 Hi Chris,

Thanks for checking this.  I can confirm, much to my chagrin, that your numbers are correct.

Everybody


Armed with this I just got back from walking the line from the corner pole to the west and then south to the pumping station.  I should note that with more attention I saw that the line to the west is three phase all the way, but does seem to carry a neutral.  One phase is feeding "my" line that runs to the north and another phase feeds the line running to the south.

With my Sony receiver tuned to 1705 kHz and the loopstick active, there was plenty of sensitivity, but little directivity, to hear the raucous noise under the pole feeding the pumping station.  Subject to changing my mind, I'm now 99% sure the source is there. Whether it's the power co-op or the water co-op at fault remains to be seen.

More to follow.



    On Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 08:19:16 AM MST, Chris L. Parker <parker601 at earthlink.net> wrote:  
 
 Hi Wes,

To answer your question, experience (been there, done that) and experimenting.
I pulled out the old Wavetek 3001 signal generator to confirm the antenna transition frequency yesterday.
Don's (WD8DSB) very effective flag antenna is now a kit on DXEngineering.
Specified usable for DF down to 1.8 MHz.
The flag will need a preamp for use with the Sony 7600GR (and blocking cap). They sell a preamp as well.
I built a much more "stealthy" 6-inch ARDF loop for my MW DF work. (QST, Sep 2005, Dale Hunt, WB6BYU)
I have an unidentified 160 meter RFI source in a strip mall 1/4 mile away from me.
Noise conducts (not radiates) through the powerlines towards my residence. Very tricky to locate due long wavelength.
I suspect my RFI is HVAC, commercial refrigeration, or similar variable speed drive electric motor.

Hope this helps.
Chris
AF6PX

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