[ILHam] Help with ComEd EMI issue

[Mike Swiatkowski]

Does anyone know a good person to talk to help solve EMI issues originating from ComEd powerlines?  I have a website (ccraa.net/emi) listing EMI recordings and maps of where I have tracked the sources to using a walkman in AM mode and an yagi and HT at 136/145 MHz AM. I called ComEd and I was told a ticket had been issued but so far nothing has been done in the last couple of weeks and now the holidays are coming up. I get the feeling that the customer service people are ineffective and I need to speak to someone who can get things done. I would appreciate any names or numbers you may have from your experience.

Thanks,
Mike, AA9VI 


-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: "Gruber, Mike W1MG" <mgruber at arrl.org>
To: "Mike Swiatkowski " <aa9vi at comcast.net>
Subject: RE: EMI wiping out HF at my QTH
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:26:45 +0000
> Mike,
> 
> It sounds like you have power line noise, at least in some of the
> recordings.  Given the number of potential sources that you describe, it
> probably would be almost essential to use signature analysis for a
> speedy resolution.  This process is described in the FAQ Page.  There
> are typically many more sources in the field than actually can be heard
> at the affected station.  Knowing which sources to fix out of the many
> you might encounter is a very powerful tool.
> 
> My suggestion would be to handle as a power line noise case and report
> it your local utility.  Hopefully your utility will have someone that in
> trained in this area.  Let me know how you make out.
> 
> Thanks,
> 73,
> 
> Mike Gruber, W1MG
> 
> ARRL EMC Engineer
> 
> ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
> 
> 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400 USA 
> 
> Telephone: (860) 594-0392 
> 
> FAX: (860) 594-0259
> 
> Email: w1mg at arrl.org
> 
> World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Swiatkowski [mailto:aa9vi at comcast.net] 
> Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 11:21 AM
> To: Gruber, Mike W1MG
> Subject: RE: EMI wiping out HF at my QTH
> 
> Mike,
>     I recorded some audio files of the EMI at http://ccraa.net/emi/
> The frequency, time, and mode is indicated in the file name.  The files
> from yesterday night have worse noise than this morning.  The
> characteristic power line rasp is very clear on the 6, 15, and 20m
> recordings.  The noise floor 80m 
> is S9+ and the rasp isn't as obvious, but that band has by far the worst
> noise floor of the bands I use.  I suspect there are multiple noise
> sources in my neighborhood.  I called my local utility and they told me
> they dispatched a ticket a week ago. The 80m band is completely unusable
> and the other bands are pretty bad, as the original email suggests
> below. Weather last night during recordings: cloudy and humid 35 degF.
> Weather this morning during recordings: rain 34 degF. Ironically,
> usually when it rains my noise level is usually worse then in dry
> conditions.  These recordings contradict that this time, however.
> Finally, I updated the suspected noise source maps on the website .
> Search gear consisted of a 145.0 MHz AM mode HT and a yagi with
> attenuator box.
> 
> Thanks,
> Mike, AA9VI
> 
> 
> 
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Gruber, Mike W1MG" <mgruber at arrl.org>
> > Mike,
> > 
> > I am unable to open the link in your email, but if you will send me an
> > audio file of the noise, I will see if it looks like power line noise.
> > Make the recording in the AM mode using the widest filters available.
> > The recording should be about 30 seconds to one minute long, with no
> > other stations, signals or interruptions.
> > 
> > Also, I am assuming that you have read the Power Line Noise FAQ Page,
> > which provides details on how to ID power line noise.  Please be sure
> > that the suspect noise meets all the other criteria for proper
> > identification, such as being relatively continuous across the
> spectrum
> > and interfering with the AM broadcast band.  Here is the link:
> > 
> > http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/powerline-FAQ.html
> > 
> > The FAQ Page provides our best advice on how to handle this type of
> > problem.  Also, it describes the ARRL / FCC Cooperative Agreement,
> which
> > is an option in cases where the utility fails to make a good faith
> > effort to correct the problem.  And finally, for local help, you may
> > wish to discuss the problem with your Section Manager or ARRL
> Technical
> > Coordinator.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 73,
> > Mike Gruber, W1MG
> > 
> > ARRL EMC Engineer
> > 
> > ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio
> > 
> > 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400 USA 
> > 
> > Telephone: (860) 594-0392 
> > 
> > FAX: (860) 594-0259
> > 
> > Email: w1mg at arrl.org
> > 
> > World Wide Web: http://www.arrl.org/
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mike Swiatkowski [mailto:aa9vi at comcast.net] 
> > Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 11:56 PM
> > To: rfi
> > Subject: EMI wiping out HF at my QTH
> > 
> > Hello, I have an EMI problem at my home.  I have been reading the
> ARRL's
> > website about locating the problem.  I have a good suspicion that it
> is
> > power line interference.  I live in Northbrook, IL.  My electric
> utility
> > provider is ComEd.  I went around the neighborhood with an HT in the
> > aircraft band (136 MHz) in AM mode  with a Yagi antenna and attenuator
> > box and tried to find the source of raspy buzzing sound.  I also
> > searched with a walkman in the AM broadcast band.  I wish my findings
> > were more conclusive, but perhaps I have multiple sources of
> > interference in my neighbrohood.  I have posted the top 7 sources of
> EMI
> > from my search at http://ccraa.net/rfi.png   The top 3 sources are
> > probably the worst.  Notice that source 1 is right near an electrical
> > substation.  The substation didn't seem terrible, but the wooden pole
> > near the substation is the noisiest.  What can I do?  I have contacted
> > my utility company and I get the impression that they are thoroughly
> > confused, at least th
> > e customer service  operators.  Is there someone that has more
> > experience in these matters that can help?  What do you suggest I do
> > that I have not done already?  I am maintaining a log.  But, to give
> you
> > an idea of how bad this EMI is, I have listed the noise floor in
> S-units
> > below:
> > 80m - S9
> > 40m - S8
> > 20m- S7
> > 15m- S5-S7
> > 6m- S9
> > 
> > The noise seems to be horizontally polarized like my HF G5RV antenna.
> 
> > 
> > Thanks for you help,
> > Mike Swiatkowski, AA9VI
> > ARRL Member
> > Northbrook, IL
>