[TowerTalk] Weird RFI at remote location - Solved

[K9MA]

I only wish I had less experience tracking down RFI. At least here in 
the city, dogs and guns aren't a great hazard. I do wish, however, that 
my utility was as responsive as Ignacy's.

73,
Scott K9MA


On 1/21/2021 7:03 PM, Ignacy Misztal wrote:
> A few weeks ago I asked for help with RFI on my "dream" rural ham-radio
> property. A powerline-type noise was present 24h/day and was strongest on
> 15m peaking S5. Readings from beverages and 4 sq were inconsistent  but a
> 15m beam indicated 270 degrees towards the main road a quarter mile away.
> However, 3 el sniffer (MFJ-856) could not copy anything strong, and a
> magnetic loop indicated  a different direction every couple of steps.
>
> Solving the problem required overcoming fear of dogs (nearby), guns (heard
> almost every day)  and the courage to walk a private dirt road from the
> main road. In a quarter mile I found an abandoned industrial building, with
> a pole next to it.  The sniffer was overloading! However, the sniffer did
> not provide consistent readings until about 300 ft from that pole. When
> called, the local power company fixed the issue the same day.
>
> A few lessons. It seems that 15m travels really well on the power lines
> (more than 1/2 mile in this case), and the combined re-radiation from many
> poles leads to false directions. Second, the VHF sniffer needs to be really
> close to get consistent readings.  Third, in the country a ham needs to
> overcome the fear of dogs and guns, and walk on private dirt roads if
> necessary. Finally, rural EMC may be much faster than those in the city but
> they need locating the source of RFI.
>
> I owe a great deal to Scott K9MA who has immense expertise in solving RFI
> and guided me to solve the problem.
>
> Ignacy, NO9E
>
>
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-- 
Scott  K9MA

k9ma at sdellington.us