Topband: Low band noise

[Bruce]

Hi Brian,

Thank you for your input and sorry to find that the windmill farm noise 
caused ZL6QH to close down.

It will become evident that each country will need enforce RF noise limits 
on windmills, or start  rule making if none exist.

In the USA complaints to the ARRL should bring guidance in this matter.

Some of the low band reflector DXers may wish to ask questions, if that is 
all right with you.

Thanks again,
73
Bruce-K1FZ




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Miller" <brianmiller at xtra.co.nz>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: Topband: Low band noise


> Hi Bruce et al
>
> Radiated noise from a new wind farm eventually forced us to close down and 
> exit the ZL6QH contest station. A detailed report on the noise levels is 
> available at 
> http://www.zl6qh.com/rf-noise-measurements-quartz-hill-2009-v3.pdf .
>
> The ZL6QH wind farm used Siemens 2.3 MW variable speed turbines. We 
> believe the noise was generated by the water cooled electronic power 
> converter technology that was used to convert the variable output of each 
> turbine to the fixed voltage and frequency of the national grid.
>
> Our observations suggested that an HF contest station would have be 
> located at least several km from the wind farm to reduce the interference 
> to an acceptable level on the low frequency bands.
>
> 73
>
> Brian VK3MI ZL1AZE
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 13:09:51 -0500
> From: "Bruce" <k1fz at myfairpoint.net>
> To: <topband at contesting.com>
> Subject: Topband: Low band noise
> Message-ID: <A683AF2F3AEA44CE9BF4F857A9034DDC at k1fzPC>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Thank you for those who emailed information. They basically thought the 
> larger windmill arrays did not generate much noise. One test, checking all 
> bands, was from a mobile K3 with a 9 foot whip antenna.  Unless the whip 
> was loaded to 1.8 Mhz it may not pick up much noise at one mile. The most 
> probable windmill installation noise source is the inverter.
>
> Smaller home/farm  1 phase  type may give off more wideband noise. Some 
> are using transformer-less inverters.
>
> Noise is ever increasing in many areas. There is a need to monitor noise 
> sources, and installing more directive receiving antennas.
>
> http://www.solacity.com/connections.htm
>
> Watch the inverter video for more info. Highly informative.
> http://www.power-one.com/renewable-energy/products/solar/string-inverters/aurora-uno-single-phase/pvi-30363842-north-america/series
>
> _________________
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>