[VHFcontesting] Re: [Yaesu] RFI/Power line noise problem

[Robert Oler]

Hello.

Jim Dellwood W5PH and I (Robert Oler WB5MZO) had a similar problem here in 
Clear Lake TX.  We DF'ed if down to a particular house and then called the 
power company (HL&P).  The guy came out in his truck confirmed it was the 
house and then identified it as a doorbell transformer that was going bad 
(amazing it was audible over 2 miles away).

we got the folks in the house to replace the door bell transformer and it 
was gone.  I dont know what yours soundlike...but Jim and I learned a thing 
or two.

Robert


>From: Glen Zook <gzook at yahoo.com>
>To: John Geiger <johngeig at yahoo.com>, dx at mailman.qth.net,   
>dx-list at yahoogroups.com, yaesu at mailman.qth.net, FT100 at yahoogroups.com,   
>FT-100 at yahoogroups.com
>CC: vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu, vhfcontesting at contesting.com, 
>wsvhf at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: [VHFcontesting] Re: [Yaesu] RFI/Power line noise problem
>Date: Wed, 18 Sep 2002 08:34:48 -0700 (PDT)
>
>You need to get with the ARRL and the FCC.  The FCC
>has started coming down "hard" on power companies that
>are causing problems.  However, your power company
>seems to be willing to work with you, not like some
>that have refused to assist.
>
>Now, it could be sources other than the power company.
>  The VHF "sniffer" normally locates in the high 90
>percent of the source of the problems (like 98 or 99
>percent).  I was with the telecommunications
>department of a very large utility company for over 10
>years (until they eliminated the department in 1999).
>One of my jobs was to coordinate field personnel who
>located RFI.
>
>One major source of noise is loose hardware on the
>poles.  Another is loose "tie wires" around "cross
>over bells".  A third is loose connections on guy
>wires and grounding wires.  However, these normally
>show up the strongest in the VHF region.
>
>If you can beg, borrow, steal (if you don't already
>have one) a portable receiver that covers the 1.8 to
>30 MHz range.  Tune this to the frequency at which the
>noise is the strongest and then start walking your
>neighborhood.  Remember that noise can be conducted by
>the power line for a considerable distance.
>
>There are all sorts of things like heating /
>airconditioning thermostats, fish tank heaters, door
>bell transformers, electric fences, and a thousand
>other household and industrial items that can be the
>source of problems.
>
>Are there any signs, especially neon types, in the
>area (like at a convenience store, gas station, etc.).
>  Those are notorious for RFI.
>
>The fact that the power company did come out with
>their RFI locating equipment shows a willingness to
>co-operate with you.
>
>Now, you do realize that, especially during the summer
>months, the inherent background static is much worse.
>Often, especially on 160 and 80 meters, this can reach
>well over S-9 (and this on a receiver with a
>calibrated S-9 = 50 microvolts "S" Meter, not one of
>the newer ones that 5 microvolts will give S-9).  On
>40 and even 20 meters it can reach S-9.  This noise
>level is why many amateurs do not even try to operate
>on 160 and 80 until October or even November and cease
>operating around May 1.
>
>This noise is caused by all sorts of things, distant
>thunderstorms not the least!
>
>Glen, K9STH
>
>
>--- John Geiger <johngeig at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>I called the local power company who came out to check
>for power line noise-using some equipment that
>received in the VHF range.  They found nothing from
>power lines, but did locate 1 house several blocks
>away that was throwing out some static
>
>The power companies conclusion is "Sorry, it is not
>our lines, we can do nothing more, good luck."
>
>as it seems to me that most people with line noise
>problems, get them in the lower HF range, not in the
>VHF range like the power companies equipment tested.
>
>
>=====
>Glen, K9STH
>
>Web sites
>
>http://home.attbi.com/~k9sth
>http://home.attbi.com/~zcomco
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do you Yahoo!?
>Yahoo! News - Today's headlines
>http://news.yahoo.com
>_______________________________________________
>VHFcontesting mailing list
>VHFcontesting at contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting




Robert Oler WB5MZO Houston TX


_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com