Topband: electric fences

[jljarvis]

We have electric fence problems all the time here in Vermont.
Horses and cows kick into them, knocking wires down.  
Insulators crack.  Humidity rises;  stuff arcs.
It's probably short-range, not propagated.

I've found that my car radio, tuned to 1700 works as well 
locating them, as did my ic706 listening on 1820.  A portable
am/ssb radio can help a lot, as you move into the field, to
wiggle posts and tap insulators.

(It helps to make friends with your neighbors, before doing that.)

In general, you should find that the farmer or horse barn will welcome
your help in finding the fence problem....because it may save them
from having to go critter fetching.  Also because they may have worse
interference on their TV or barn radio than you do in your SW gear.

Keep smiling, while you explain that you suspect they may have a small
fence problem, and you'd like to help them find it before it becomes
a real problem for them.  And, oh by the way....they may find the source
of that noise that's been bugging them.   

Walking fences is a regular farm activity.  Just bear in mind, there is 
nothing on this planet more stubborn than a dairy farmer whom you've just
pissed off.  Also, bear in mind that his work priorities may not have
walking his electrics as high as, say, milking the ladies, or laying up
hay.  You will probably have to fit into his schedule. 

I think the W1RFI interference book as a chapter on electric fences in it.   

Jim, N2EA