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

Wed Sep 18 22:38:08 EDT 2002

Since I dont own a 75S3 and my R-390A is a bit bulky for a back pack or
bicycle bars I opted for a different approach some years ago.

The 160MHz range Weather Cubes that RatShack used to sell are AM and make
excellent portable sniffers.
With the telescoping antenna its easy to adjust sniffing sensitivity.
Ive also used real cheap CB walkies, I think those were TRF and broad as a
barn door.

However the ultimate was a few years ago when the power company engr showed
up with an IC706 in his van.
We used that to find a computer birdie that was getting into the town police
repeater (154 MHz) at my house. Turned out to be a computer geek almost 2
miles away that was networking his PC's with zip cord and they ran right
past windows that looked in my direction.

Carl
KM1H

----- Original Message -----
From: "Del Schier K1UHF FN31" <k1uhf at snet.net>
To: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
Cc: <vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu>; <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>;
<wsvhf at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:10 PM
Subject: Re: [WSVHF] RFI/Power line noise problem

> Like most of us, I have been plagued with line noise for years.  I was
> unsuccessful at my old QTH even though I knew it was the pole at the
corner
> of my driveway; shaking the pole would make the noise go on and off.  They
> sent a guy out twice, he said he had no experience with this type of
> problem, had no way of checking for it, but he tightened some connections.
>
> The second time, at my present QTH, I had a beam heading for 10 over 9
noise
> on 144. There were no power lines in that direction nothing but woods and
a
> lake. I went out with the 144 SSB mobile across the lake and found an area
> within three or four poles that the noise was strongest.  I was sure it
was
> the same noise source as I cross band linked my receiver at home and could
> hear it with an HT across the lake from home.  I shook a guy wire on a
pole
> and sure enough it went on and off.  I persistently called the power
company
> until I got a repair foreman instead of a clerk, I explained to him how I
> found the noise and gave him the pole number.  He said that with the pole
> number he could probably fix the problem. He told me when they were going
> out but the problem was not fixed.  He said he would go back and that he
> would go along with the guys.  The next time the problem was gone and it
has
> been for 5 or 6 years, at least in that direction.  It is interesting how
> loud the noise was considering it was over a mile away.
>
> BTW, I went back to those poles and they had removed all of the 100 year
old
> purple glazed ceramic insulators and had replaced them with new light gray
> plastic ones.  This corresponds to what a CL&P representative said at a
> radio club meeting. The guy that gave the talk showed us sophisticated DF
> receivers and also a high directivity ultrasonic mic. that they use.  He
> also said that all of the old insulators were prone to having a corona arc
> over problem from years of collecting pollution from the air.
>
> The moral to the story is get a technician on the phone, tell him how you
> found the offending pole and make sure that you give him the pole number.
>
> If you have an irresolvable problem send the details to w1rfi at arrl.org .
Ed
> Hare does not directly deal with this but he has an associate that does.
> The ARRL will send a letter from the F.C.C. to the president of the power
> and light company.  If the problem remains unresolved they will get a
> similar letter directly from the F.C.C. and be required to comply.
>
> Now if we could figure out how to get rid of the ever increasing number of
> birdies from consumer electronics.
>
> 73, Del
> K1UHF
>
> Everything below 50MHz is D.C. !!!
>
> FN31fh 6M, 2M, 222, 432, 903, 1.2, 2.3, 10.3.......144 EME
> http://www.qsl.net/k1uhf
> http://www.csflyers.org
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
> To: <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>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 9:17 AM
> Subject: [WSVHF] RFI/Power line noise problem
>
>
> > Turning to the reflectors for some help in this
> > problem.  I seem to have a decent amount of static
> > (s5-6) at times on HF (especially 30 meters and below)
> > and on 6 meters.  I even bought a FT100D to use on the
> > reputation of its noise blanker,and the NB does work
> > on it at times.  Other times it even overcomes the NB.
> >  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-it isn't this
> > house that is affecting me as we tried some tests
> > yesterday turning off their power, etc.
> >
> > The power companies conclusion is "Sorry, it is not
> > our lines, we can do nothing more, good luck."  So
> > what do I do now?  This noise is frustrating at best,
> > and really interfering with my receiving at worst.  I
> > am not ready to conclude that it is not power line
> > noise, 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.
> >
> > I have tried to locate the offending source in my own
> > house, and nothing here seems to be causing it.  Cant
> > seem to null it out using my miniquad-it seems to be
> > coming from all directions and it is worse still on my
> > G5RV dipole.
> >
> > I do have some noise on 2 meters, not as bad, that is
> > coming from the NE-I can null this with my 13B2.  I
> > also can't figure out what this is, or if the two are
> > related.
> >
> > Anyone else been through something like this, and any
> > help or ideas?
> >
> > 73s John NE0P
> >
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