[TowerTalk] Line Noise Problem

[k6ll@juno.com]

On Sat, 29 Apr 2000 09:42:30 -0500 Lee Buller <k0wa@southwind.net>
writes:
> 
> 
> 
> A question to the group please.....
> 
> What is the best way to get the power company to come out here and 
> look for
> some line noise hash.  This has been going on for quite some time 
> and I am
> tired of it.  S-9 to 5 over on the IC765.  Comes and goes....but 
> more comes
> than goes.
> 
> Do you call the power company?  Any suggestions?  I know that you 
> west
> coasters have been fighting this a long time....  Just some hints as 
> to
> where to start.

Here's how it is supposed to work:

1. You call the power company and report the problem to the service
department. 

2. Within a day or two, the RF interference specialist
calls you back, and then shows up in your neighborhood with an
armada of test equipment, including specialized hf/vhf/uhf receivers,
directional antennas, ultrasonic microphones on 40 foot fiberglass
poles, etc. He locates the problem, right down to the component
level, and writes a repair order for the line crews.

3. Within a day or two, the line crew fixes the defective device.


In reality, there is usually a problem with step 2. There may be
NO RF specialist, or he may be undertrained, or be lacking in
equipment. 

He may also be very competent, but stretched very
thin over a wide service area. If this is the case, loud squeaking
on your part may get some grease. Get your local ham friends to
squeak, too.

In my experience, the BEST way to handle line noise is to become
proficient in locating the source of the interference yourself.
Nobody else is as interested in solving the problem, or is willing
to dedicate as much time as you are. It is similar
to fox-hunting, and can even be fun, if you keep a positive
mental attitude. This requires some investment:

Purchase "Interference Handbook," by William R. Nelson.
Obtain a shielded VHF AM receiver, such as a 2 meter rig with AM.
Build an attenuator in a shielded box.
Build a rigid metal dipole for the vhf receiver. Use the null
   off the ends for direction-finding.

Once you locate the problem, probably down to the pole level,
report the pole number to the power company, and try to convince
them to have a line crew come out to fix it. If you can develop
a relationship to the line crew boss, and develop some personal
credibility in finding problems, I have found that the line
crews are very willing to fix the problems. It helps if you can
be there, with your VHF AM receiver monitoring the noise when the
crew shows up. Good luck.

Dave Hachadorian, K6LL
Yuma, AZ
K6LL@juno.com





















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