[GCARC] HF RFI - 17m Nasties and Portable Radio Recs

[Christopher Wawak]

TLDR - need a gadget to track down some gnarly noise on 17m. Can you
recommend a gadget that will help?

The problem:
Today at my home around 3PM I noticed crazy S9 broadband noise starting
around 17m all the way up past 15 and on. ( https://imgur.com/a/6VcmFPB )

Not a lot of noise of this type noticeable lower than 17m, with no noise at
all below 20m. It repeated every 100khz, with S9 at each 100khz peak.
Anyone else notice a similar mess today?

The facts:
1. I picked up the noise on both an IC-7300 and a yaesu FT-857d. The noise
only shows up when plugged into the only antenna I have up right now. No
noise when either radio is unplugged.
2, I have a ~90 foot unshielded 4 conductor control cable going from my
shack to the AH-4 remote antenna tuner, which is connected to a "30m
dipole". I wonder if this is the culprit. I do have shielded 4 conductor
cable ready to go if necessary.
3. A LOT of neighbors put up xmas lights today. I, a slacker, have not.
4. I did a full survey of the house, and absolutely no new electronic
devices were turned on, brought into the house, or otherwise
5. I tried walking around inside and outside with my FT-3D HT tuned (on AM)
to the frequency, and it just picked up static but nothing like the noise I
was getting. I noticed no difference in the noise no matter where it was
tuned, which makes me thing it wasn't picking up the noise.

Next steps:
1. I plan to do the "turn everything off and see if the noise is still
there", but that will have to wait until tomorrow. My kids are afraid of
the dark.
2. Once the rain stops tomorrow, I'm going to try replacing the ATU wtih a
balun, and see if the noise is still there.
3. If the noise is still there, I guess it's time to go hunting. If the
noise goes away, I'll try the shielded cable.

Questions:
1. Other than a few SDRs and that FT-3D, I don’t have a portable HF
receiver - is there something cheap that I can pick up from HRO or Amazon
that will let me tune up around 17/15m?
2. Is there an antenna that's ideal for finding noise while walking around?
I have a VHF RX loop which I'm not sure will work in this use.

Thanks and 73,

Chris