[Elecraft] AC Pole Interference

[Fred Townsend]

Jim I might agree with you except whacking poles is an industry standard
method. (It gives you some sort of manly satisfaction too.) I have seen the
power company do it. If the pole is so fragile that whacking it causes a
problem it needs to be replaced anyway. Better to do it when the sun is
shining than when the storm is raging. I have heard some companies use pole
shakers but I have never seen one.
Some utility districts are very responsive to RFI complaints and other
districts within the same company will just blow you off. You will get much
better results if you tell them 'I see sparks up there when the wind blows'
than 'You have an RFI problem'.
One problem I have seen that is easy to fix is the ground coming down the
pole for the transformer. You can sometimes spot them by visual inspection.
Point it out to the power company and they will jump on it.
73
Fred, AE6QL 

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Wiley
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 8:38 AM
To: Tony Estep
Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] AC Pole Interference



Seriously wrong move.  Several reasons:


The pole is the utility company's property, not yours.  If "whacking" 
the pole causes any sort of damage, you are liable, for both direct costs
and and damages caused to other users due to your actions.  It is dangerous.



Electrical noise can be caused by failing hardware on the pole.  
Assaulting the pole could cause the entire pole, or anything connected to
it, to fail completely, dropping live wires on you or others - again with
serious consequences. 


Also, if someone from the utility company discovers your activities, they
can reasonably claim your actions were the cause of any failures associated
with the pole for years to come.  Not kidding about this - it can happen. 


Report your suspicions to the utility company, that's for sure, but stop
there.  Let them fix it.  If they don't act in a reasonable time (2 
weeks to 30 days max),  then you can call in the FCC.   They WILL help 
you, but like any government agency, it may take a while.    Better 
results may be obtained if other neighbors are having problems with 
interference to their  TV or radio reception.   Several complaints from 
different sources will cause faster action.


- Jim, KL7CC



Tony Estep wrote:
> However, if it is something loose on the pole, you may be able to verify
it
> by whacking the pole with a sledge hammer (seriously). If that makes the
> noise start and stop, you can prove it to the electric company guy when/if
> he comes out.
>
>   
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