Topband: the mystery at hondo canyon

[Rick Stealey]

I had a similar problem with noise killing topband and 80 meters.  It was also 
originating at a transformer.  Direction finding using a 2 ft loop (which worked
FB on AM broadcast band so I know it was directional) was futile because
the 160 m noise was propagating essentially unattenuated on the lines.  When I 
roamed the neighborhood with a 6 meter AM setup I was able to identify
several noisy areas.  Then going to 2m and 70 cm got me to two poles
separated by 0.4 miles.  An 8 ele quagi identified the pole to my satisfaction
but the power company guy was perplexed because his ultrasonic detector
could not identify it.  Eventually they unhooked the transformer and my noise
disappeard instantly.
I'm interested in this subject enough that I would like to know what you were 
using and why it was insufficient to get you to the transformer.  This will enable
me to have more confidence that my technique will work for when noise
returns to my neighborhood as it certainly will.
There was no audible noise at the defective transformer here but it showed 
up as S7 noise on my FT100 on 440 MHz AM and easily pinpointed when 
I got to within 50-100 yards of it.  

Rick  K2XT

 		 	   		  
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