[RFI] Base Power Company

[Richard Karlquist]

In general, most SA's have a very high noise figure.  And a built in
whip is an inefficient antenna on 40 meters.  So this "measurement" is
probably fairly meaningless.  To get a meaningful measurement, you need
a combination of an antenna and a receiver that is sensitive enough to
hear noise off the air.  For the antenna, I like to use a tuned loop
antenna.  For a receiver ... well a real "communications receiver" (not
an entertainment device) with a noise figure below 10 dB. (turn on the
built in preamp).  I like to use an Icom 706 running off a gel cell. 
The off the air noise should peak as you tune the loop.  (Do not use an
untuned loop with a preamp; you will only hear preamp noise, not off the
air noise).

---
Rick Karlquist
N6RK 

On 2025-07-08 10:13, John Warren wrote:

> Has anyone in Texas installed whole house backup batteries from Base Power in Austin, Texas? I am considering installing their batteries and am looking for any insight on potentional RFI issues. My neighbors have their batteries installed and they were kind enough to allow me to take some rough measurements.
> 
> I used a TinySA spectrum analyzer with the built-in telescoping antenna and did find that at the inverter enclosure for each battery there was around a 10 dB increase in noise from around 7 to 10 MHz and another similar peak in the area of 14 MHz. The noise level dropped quickly as I moved away, disappearing completely around 3 to 4 feet from the inverter enclosure. Around the other sides of the battery and conduit that connected to the house, there was no excessive noise.
> 
> I plan on going back over with a portable AM/FM/SW radio  and the TinySA again to make some better measurements and document what I find.
> 
> Thanks for any input anyone may have.
> 
> 73,
> 
> John K5QX
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