In some cases the power company engineers have been known to tap the pole with a large hammer to see if the noise is affected, sometimes the RFI is an early warning that an insulator is breaking down. Of course that is best left to them to do, I am sure prisons are full of radio hams that have been picked up in the street carrying receivers and cameras. I feel lucky that our ower distribution in this village is underground. The utilities are sometimes grateful to know that there is a problem...hope it is resolved soon 73
lol, I'm still here and not in prison. The utility company called me and found a few problems. They submitted a ticket to replace an equipment. He didn't say what equipment need replacement. Maybe in 2 weeks, it would be quiet on HF.
Hey Darren, when you get to what you think is a source go up in frequency. AM band, then check 80/40 for harmonics. And as you go higher up in frequency, I switch to an HT FT-3D or whatever that also has AM Band. If you are close the AM aircraft band (your specialty) will be lit up with the same arcing noise. Your are much closer to the true source (pole, garage battery charger, pool cleaner/heater motors etc). You need multiple tools. I used my KX3 then my FTM 400 (while driving, IC705 is great for all in one) then I gout of the truck and walked, a lot. To make sure the pole was truly suspect. I ended up getting an MFJ cone / RF device that covers low frequency until I got right under the pole to hear the low frequency arc. An HT with a simple 3 element hand Yagi on AM band is great. Best. NM6E
Thanks Javier! I forgot I have a portable ICOM Air band HT I could of taken with me. Welp, the utility is cooperating with me and found a few spots that he corrected and is having equipment replaced.
@@DarrenN4VFR exactly, Air Band HT can pretty much put you within 50-100 feet of a power pole. And an ultrasonic receiver (MFJ DISH) can hear the arc’ing as you get closer, the. AM band HT is the source of truth.
I have a similar problem, in my case I took the Icom 7300 in the car connected to my vhf/uhf mobile antenna. The noise dropped as soon as I left the driveway, I still went around the block and didn't encounter any significant RFI, Next I took a loop antenna and used the meter on the 7300 to help determine the source. I also noted that the noise is intermittent it usually start around 10am to 11pm. I've found it's very likely that it's my neighbors TV. When it's ON it obliterate the whole HF spectrum S9+20.
That's what I was getting S9 +10. I think it's best to call your utility company and submitting a trouble call ticket. You may need to explain about what HAM Radio is and that you suspect that RFI is coming from somewhere near your home on a power pole.
Hi Darren. Well done you'll get it sorted out I'm sure. There is a few videos on KE4BFG RUclips channel where he had same the problem and he and a fellow HAM walked around, think he got the utility company out to sort it pretty quick. There is that MFJ noise eliminator you could purchase temporarily to get your remote ops back to normal? Best wishes Darren. 2E0OBM
been there done that, am radio is not the best, a little shortwave radio much better, ic 705 ultimate tool but handheld directional antennas for various freq ranges are a must, small loops for lhf, yagis for vhf when close in
I've tried, it brought the noise floor down by 3 S units but not the RFI. The power company called me and mentioned that he has taken care of one issue causing the major RFI and found another issue where they will have to replace equipment. He put in a trouble ticket to have it fixed. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks. 73's
In some cases the power company engineers have been known to tap the pole with a large hammer to see if the noise is affected, sometimes the RFI is an early warning that an insulator is breaking down. Of course that is best left to them to do, I am sure prisons are full of radio hams that have been picked up in the street carrying receivers and cameras. I feel lucky that our ower distribution in this village is underground. The utilities are sometimes grateful to know that there is a problem...hope it is resolved soon 73
lol, I'm still here and not in prison. The utility company called me and found a few problems. They submitted a ticket to replace an equipment. He didn't say what equipment need replacement. Maybe in 2 weeks, it would be quiet on HF.
@@DarrenN4VFR that is good news, better than being jailed pending psychiatric assessments. :-)
7:54 Incredible:
Trees close to power lines and unprotected, descending cables within reach.
Good to see you wishing you well💯👍
Hey Darren, when you get to what you think is a source go up in frequency. AM band, then check 80/40 for harmonics. And as you go higher up in frequency, I switch to an HT FT-3D or whatever that also has AM Band. If you are close the AM aircraft band (your specialty) will be lit up with the same arcing noise. Your are much closer to the true source (pole, garage battery charger, pool cleaner/heater motors etc). You need multiple tools. I used my KX3 then my FTM 400 (while driving, IC705 is great for all in one) then I gout of the truck and walked, a lot. To make sure the pole was truly suspect. I ended up getting an MFJ cone / RF device that covers low frequency until I got right under the pole to hear the low frequency arc. An HT with a simple 3 element hand Yagi on AM band is great. Best. NM6E
Thanks Javier! I forgot I have a portable ICOM Air band HT I could of taken with me. Welp, the utility is cooperating with me and found a few spots that he corrected and is having equipment replaced.
@@DarrenN4VFR exactly, Air Band HT can pretty much put you within 50-100 feet of a power pole. And an ultrasonic receiver (MFJ DISH) can hear the arc’ing as you get closer, the. AM band HT is the source of truth.
I have a similar problem, in my case I took the Icom 7300 in the car connected to my vhf/uhf mobile antenna. The noise dropped as soon as I left the driveway, I still went around the block and didn't encounter any significant RFI, Next I took a loop antenna and used the meter on the 7300 to help determine the source. I also noted that the noise is intermittent it usually start around 10am to 11pm. I've found it's very likely that it's my neighbors TV. When it's ON it obliterate the whole HF spectrum S9+20.
That's what I was getting S9 +10. I think it's best to call your utility company and submitting a trouble call ticket. You may need to explain about what HAM Radio is and that you suspect that RFI is coming from somewhere near your home on a power pole.
magandang araw sayo kapitan!
Hi Darren. Well done you'll get it sorted out I'm sure. There is a few videos on KE4BFG RUclips channel where he had same the problem and he and a fellow HAM walked around, think he got the utility company out to sort it pretty quick. There is that MFJ noise eliminator you could purchase temporarily to get your remote ops back to normal?
Best wishes
Darren.
2E0OBM
Sometimes on the main power line could also be a bad insulator
Do you have solar power the distribution box can be the problem or a neighbor
Hello Captain Darren
have you got a h t will pick up the AM Aircraft band ON VHF
73
Yes.
The AM picks up interference better. Next time I will use both radios, AM radio and Air Band HT to hunt for RFI.
So many electricity centre near your home Capt ..
Yes, a lot and it bothers me when I'm on HF.
been there done that, am radio is not the best, a little shortwave radio much better, ic 705 ultimate tool but handheld directional antennas for various freq ranges are a must, small loops for lhf, yagis for vhf when close in
Hey captain i just my noise again to wth😣
use the qrm thing
I've tried, it brought the noise floor down by 3 S units but not the RFI. The power company called me and mentioned that he has taken care of one issue causing the major RFI and found another issue where they will have to replace equipment. He put in a trouble ticket to have it fixed. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks. 73's
20 and 40 iam getting😣
why are americans still using overhead cables? in europe they are all buried armoured cables on 220v with true 3 phase and earth
This house was built in the 70s with overhead powerlines.