Topband: sudden increase in noise level on topband

[Dennis Peterson]

Just wondering if anytone else experienced the scenario I did this morning around 1000 UTC.  Upon getting on the band this morning the noise level had risen from it's normal level of S3-S5 to S9 +5 and 10.  Nearly impossible to hear anything on the band locally let alone DX.
Last night I was able to work 4 DX stations between 0437 and 0530.  Those stations were SV5/DJ7RJ, HA9RE, I8SAT and TI5/AJ3G.  All were rather weak but copyable and the noise level on the inv-L was only S5.  

I noticed that when switching the mode switch to AM, the noise has a DC hym or buzz on the level.  It is the same level al,l the way from 1760 thru 2.0  The entire 160 meter band appears to be suffering from this level and scenario of nois3e.  Inspection this morning of 3 separate poles that carry the power to the service entrance did not show any signs of arcing or carbonization of the glass insulators.

There is a popping sound or arching sound ever second on the second and the NB does nothiig to kill the noise or the arcing sound.  I have unplugged all wall warts and other paraphenalia in the shack and home and have determined that everything here is fine.  I checked all ground connections for possible diode rectification on or loose connections and shorts and found them to all be secured.

There is a 100 turn static discharge coil from the feedpoint to ground and disconnecting it makes no difference whatsoever.  All ground connections on the 6 radial ground grids are secure and connected securely.  All RF connections at the feedpoint of the antenna are solid and tight.  All connections on the ground terminals of the equipment are solid and secure.

I called the power company and told them that the noise was and is better than 300+hZ wide with the humm or buzz and they said that when they get someone freed up and available they would try to get someone over here...............................

I have never seen anything like this in my 35 years as a ham operator.  I have had issues maybe three times with various power companies that were resolved within a matter of days or minutes like carboned insulators and or loose insulator, cracked insulators, loose transformer mounting hardware and transformers that were ready to quit.  But nothing like this, anyone with any suggestions as to where I might begin my search for the SOURCE?

de K4CKDennis













Dennis G. Peterson
326 East Jefferson Street
Apt 2
York, SC  29745
803-389-9366

Read my story below by clicking the URL:

http://www.yananow.net/Mentors/DennisD.htm 

http://www.k4ckd.com