[TowerTalk] [Bulk] How far does RFI travel?

[Chuck Dietz]

They installed a HV line (the kind on taller wood poles and long
insulators) just north of me and I had S9 noise toward it.  The noise
turned out to be something arcing in a model home 1/4 mile away in the same
direction.  Now I cannot detect any noise from the new line.

Chuck W5PR

On Mon, May 9, 2016 at 9:32 AM, Grant Saviers <grants2 at pacbell.net> wrote:

> One thing I noticed when driving around with a PC+ USB spectrum analyzer
> to find a new QTH, was how much quieter neighborhoods with in ground
> utilities were from those with the old "poles and pigs" distribution
> systems.  Another observation was that big HV transmission systems were
> quieter than expected when a few hundred yards from them.  My conclusion is
> the buried systems shield and choke the rf, just as happens with buried
> coax.   IMO, much of the rf trash we hear is generated by bad devices and
> then radiated from pole systems.  60 acres NW of me were recently
> developed, 20 homes on 2 acre lots plus open space and underground
> utilities and so far so good.  A plasma TV SW from me is an S4 problem, but
> I haven't tracked it down.  Hopefully, the new subdivison near you will be
> all buried.
>
> Several local hams here are seriously affected S9+ all bands by large grow
> lights for recreational substances that are clearly not FCC compliant re
> radiated and conducted emissions.  The distance can be significant - 1/4
> mile or more.  Most are probably illegal but of no interest to law
> enforcement given trends of the new laws.  The FCC either "doesn't have the
> resources" or "won't investigate where illegal activity may be happening
> without law enforcement present". A perfect Catch22.  In the past, when
> growing was clearly illegal, law enforcement used AM radios to find the
> grow sites.
>
> Grant KZ1W
> Redmond, WA
>
> On 5/9/2016 0:21 AM, Ray Benny wrote:
>
>>   body {height: 100%; color:#000000; font-size:12pt; font-family:arial,
>> helvetica, sans-serif;}This may seem a strange question to ask and there
>> maybe many answers, so I will try to be specific as to what I am looking
>> for.
>> A new subdivision is being built about 1/4 mile away, east and north
>> east, towards EU. The homes are custom build on 1 acre parcels. What I am
>> trying to find out: can I expect my noise level to go up as more homes are
>> built?
>> I spend a lot of time on 160m. I have a RX 4SQ and 2 wire beverage, and I
>> do hear a number of small RFI noises in a number of directions from nearby
>> homes in my rural area. Most of the time they do not cause any long term
>> problems. My thought is that when new housing comes in, new and more
>> electronic gadgets will be inside that can generate more RFI.
>> I have done some RFI tracking, mostly electric fences and
>> leaking/defective power line hardware, but these sources are usually very
>> distinctive and usually easy to fine. Finding wall wart, LED, etc RFI is
>> harder to find, especially on someone else's property. Another way to ask
>> my questions: "Does this type of RFI noise typically radiate more than
>> several hundred feet"?
>> Any thoughts or experiences are welcome.
>> Tnx & 73,
>> Ray, N6VR
>> Chino Valley, AZ
>>
>>
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