[Lowfer] power line interference

Stan, W1LE stanw1le at verizon.net
Mon Dec 20 14:18:30 EST 2010 

I recently saw a ad in QST about a plastic parabolic refelector for 
sniffing out interference.
RADAR Engineers used to make a ultrasonic sniffer that could easily be 
placed onto a hot stick
for very close sniffing at a suspect joint.
HP/Delcon  had their model 4918A untrasonic sniffer with ~ 12" diameter 
(deep dish) parabolic accessory.
It had a pistol grip with a sight.

Stan, W1LE    Cape Cod



On 12/20/2010 1:40 PM, jrusgrove at comcast.net wrote:
> 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
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>

More information about the Lowfer mailing list