[Lowfer] power line interference

Mon Dec 20 13:40:15 EST 2010

Tom

Yeah ... just Ram the pole ... chainsaw and shotgun are other alternatives.

Using the e probe it's pretty easy to single out the offending pole and  then an attempt is made to 
determine the actual problem on the pole. Sometimes it's obvious like a street light (luckily not 
many of those out here) and other times it's less obvious bad connections etc. This time it appears 
to be a problem with a top insulator (2 wire system with an upper and lower wire) that is cocked 45 
degrees from straight vertical. It's an old pole with some deteriorated wood up top so this may be a 
damaged insulator and/or loose hardware issue ... probably the result of a branch down some number 
of poles away in a past wind or ice storm. I'm in the process of building an 18" parabolic reflector 
'big ear' that operates at 40 kHz to help pinpoint the less obvious problems on a pole. This one 
will be a good test for the 'big ear'.

Once the detailed information is gathered I contact the local power company. Having the names of 
folks that I've worked with in the past helps 'grease the skids'. Telling them that the problem is 
causing "radio and TV interference" seems to get the most attention. Having the pole number, nearest 
cross street and the suspected problem on the pole also helps let them know you're serious about 
wanting it resolved. I only mention 'ham radio' in passing and usually lump it in with shortwave 
interference. Complaining about interference to a ham radio setup alone doesn't seem to generate 
much urgency. Usually within a week a crew is dispatched to correct the problem.

Jay W1VD  WD2XNS  WE2XGR

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "n8tl" <n8tl at woh.rr.com>
To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, December 20, 2010 10:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] XGJ in CT

> Hi Jay:
>
> After you verify a noise source that impacts you, what are your next steps?
>
> Tom N8TL
>
> On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:45:23 -0500
> <jrusgrove at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> Warren
>>
>> Before I answer your question here's the setup:
>>
>> Vehicle is a 2000 Dodge Ram pickup. A short length (18") of 2X3 is inserted in the bed rear 
>> corner
>> 'stake' hole and the e probe is attached to he 2X3. The e probe sits a foot or so above the bed 
>> rim
>> and uses the standard 1 meter whip. The connecting coax runs along the flat surface of the bed 
>> and
>> into the cab through the rear sliding window. A transformer isolated dc injector is used between 
>> the
>> e probe coax and the R75 receiver. For low noise operation a separate 'floating from chassis 
>> ground'
>> power source is a must. I use a 12 volt Dewalt battery from my cordless drill ... because it's
>> convenient, lasts a long time and is easy to recharge. Note that the e probe is not grounded to 
>> the
>> back corner of the bed.
>>
>> This setup is the quietest of anything I've tried and was 'perfected' back during the days of 
>> lowfer
>> beacon VD. I can hear the 'natural' noise floor at just about all frequencies and one would never
>> know that they were mobile - except for the dead giveaway when driving under overhanging trees. I
>> can't say that there are no frequencies where the vehicle noise causes interference but they are 
>> few
>> and far between. It's great for tracking down power line noise ... which was today's mission.
>>
>> Jay W1VD  WD2XNS  WE2XGR/2
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <k2ors at verizon.net>
>> To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 9:08 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] XGJ in CT
>>
>>
>> > Hi Jay,
>> >         Thanks for the report - how quiet is the e-probe in the mobile?
>> >
>> > 73 Warren K2ORS
>> >          WD2XGJ
>> >          WD2XSH/23
>> >          WE2XEB/2
>> >          WE2XGR/1
>> >
>> >
>> > Dec 19, 2010 08:01:54 PM, lowfer at mailman.qth.net wrote:
>> >
>> > Warren
>> >
>> > Was driving around the area this afternoon looking for a power line noise source. XGJ was
>> > bodacious
>> > on the modified Amrad e probe / R75 mobile setup.
>> >
>> > Jay W1VD  WD2XNS  WE2XGR/2
>> >
>> > ______________________________________________________________
>> > Lowfer mailing list
>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> > Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>> >
>> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> > ______________________________________________________________
>> > Lowfer mailing list
>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> > Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>> >
>> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Lowfer mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>
> -- 
> n8tl <n8tl at woh.rr.com>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Lowfer mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 