Topband: Wideband interference

[N1BUG]

I think Jim and Barry both have valid points. Let me attempt to 
throw some perspective on it.

For a ham faced with going out in the bitter cold to hunt down RFI, 
getting input and advice from others who have found the source of 
noise with similar sound or spectrum plots can help narrow down the 
likely source and save time in the field. There's certainly nothing 
wrong with that.

On the other hand, if a ham approaches a professional working for a 
utility company (or whatever) about their RFI and says they believe 
it is coming from such and such a device based on the sound and 
spectrum plots, it may have a detrimental affect on the 
professional's estimate of the ham's approach and claims. It may 
affect their response to the problem. This isn't always going to be 
the case, of course, but it certainly can't hurt if the ham has 
already done some footwork to identify the source in a manner 
consistent with how it is done in professional circles. You want to 
make the best first impression you possibly can.

The other issue that often comes up with hams is not having the 
portable equipment to track down a source, and budget concerns 
related to acquiring it. As a ham on a fixed income and extremely 
tight budget, I get this. I also get that there will be some reading 
this who are thinking I've got no clue whatsoever what a tight 
budget is. :-) That was me for many years. When I really started 
looking into cleaning up my RF environment, I realized the DF 
equipment had to be a priority, even though it meant downsizing my 
ham station and/or not replacing some gear that is badly outdated or 
on it last legs. I now consider the DF and RFI hunting equipment to 
be vital tools for survival in the modern RF jungle.

I am personally experiencing a strong topband RFI issue that I 
haven't gone out to find. It will require a three mile walk with the 
relatively heavy and bulky DF equipment just to get to the likely 
source area, some walking to find it, and a three mile walk home 
after! In Maine that is brutal this time of year. On the other hand, 
even if I become 95% certain I knew what it is, I won't be calling a 
utility or other business/professional to report my RFI until I have 
been out to DF it myself. First impressions can be everything.

This is just my opinion, of course.

73

-- 
Paul Kelley, N1BUG
RFI Committee chair,
Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club
http://www.k1pq.org